CRYPTOPHASA ALBACOSTA. 119 



such a manner that the larva can pass and repass at 

 pleasure. After sunset it goes in search of food, which 

 it conveys, a leaf at a time, to its dwelling, where 

 it is deposited by being dragged part down the cell. 

 Thus the larva proceeds during the whole night, 

 and on the approach of day retires with precipi- 

 tation to its retreat, where it lies with its head 

 towards the entrance, feeding on the leaves thus 

 provided, and never ventures out during the day. 

 In this retreat the larva also changes to a pupa in 

 January, spinning no web, remaining in that state 

 fourteen days, and the moth is on the wing in 

 February. The pupa is figured at the bottom of 

 the plate, in a section of its dwelling when in the 

 larva state. The moth frequents the Casaurina^ 

 growing in barren forests. 



Mr. Lewin has described and figured the trans- 

 formation of three other moths belonging to the 

 same genus, and having the same habits, the cha- 

 racters and peculiarities of which we shall here 

 subjoin. 



C. albacosta. — Anterior wings silvery grey, the shoulder, 

 thorax, and a broad margin on the anterior edge of a 

 silvery white ; a row of angular yellowish-brown marks 

 near the exterior margin, with a faint ear-like mark and 

 a dusky dot in the middle of the wing. From the shoul- 

 der runs an oblique cloud of chocolate dots or little 

 tufts. Posterior wings brown, with a broad silvery white 

 margin and fringe. Rather larger than C. iirorata; 

 female expanding two inches and a quarter. Lewin, 

 pi. 11. 



The larva resides on the Banksia serrata^ in the 



