182 DORATIFERA VULNERANS. 



of the wings not exceeding an inch and two lines. 

 The anterior wings are ferruginous, with a silvery- 

 margin, the surface with numerous transverse lines 

 formed of tufts of a chesnut colour, changeable in 

 different lights. The posterior wings are dull white ; 

 thorax and abdomen light brown. 



The larva (Plate XXII. fig. 3) is of very singular 

 aspect, broad, thick, and massive, with four reddish 

 protuberances on the anterior part of the body, and 

 four behind. These knobs it has the power of open- 

 ing at pleasure, and darting out eight rays or bunches 

 of little stings of a yellow colour. The general hue 

 of the body is grey, with numerous black spots and 

 streaks, the back with a large pale-coloured patch, 

 marked with several curved black figures. There are 

 likewise two reddish tufts on the head, and two 

 others at the hinder extremity. It feeds on the leaves 

 of the stringy bark tree of the colonists ; changes to 

 a pupa in the beginning of February, fastening itself 

 to the stem of a leaf, and spinning a close case 

 in the form of an egg, which it agglutinates by the 

 moisture of its mouth into a hard crust of a brown 

 colour, appearing like a kind of fruit hanging on 

 the tree (fig. 4). It remains in this state twenty-two 

 days, and is on the wing in the same month. 



The wound inflicted by the little fascicles of 

 stings is described by Lewin as very painful and 

 venomous, and it darts them forth whenever it is 

 alarmed by the motion of any thing approaching. 

 They must prove a very powerful defence against 

 birds and many other enemies. It is to be regretted 



