B0MBYCIDJ5. 123 



veniently convey away at a time, and which it 

 partly forces down its cell, where in security it 

 feeds and sleeps during the whole day. Within 

 this dwelling it is transformed to a pupa, generally 

 in January, remaining twenty-two days in that 

 state, is on the wing in February, and is then 

 found on Banksia shrubs near Sidney. 



BOMBYCID^. 



The family of the Bombycid^ ( Bomby cites, Lat.) 

 contains an extensive assemblage of moths very 

 varied in their aspect, but" agreeing in having the 

 organs of the mouth generally in a rudimentary 

 or undeveloped state; the wings either extended 

 horizontally or deflexed at the sides; antennas of 

 the males pectinated; larvae naked, often with 

 transverse insulated tufts of hairs rising from tuber- 

 cles; 16-footed; living exposed on plants. When 

 about to change to pupae, they enclose themselves 

 in cocoons of silk ; and the pupae are destitute of 

 teeth on the margins of the abdominal segments. 



Of all the genera included in this family, the 

 pre-eminence must be assigned to Saturnia, whether 

 we regard the number, size, and beauty of the 

 species, or their utility to man. As at present con- 



