153 



and new to us, required further confirmation, and consequently many more of a similar 

 kind (of course all females) were caught and attached to corks previously covered with 

 black paper, and subjected to the closest scrutiny. These moths shortly commenced 

 to deposit their living progeny wilh rapidity, the small white fleshy hirvae being seen 

 with great distinctness on the black suifice of the paper, thus affording clear and satis- 

 factory proof that this insect — the only one of its order at present known to be so — is 

 unquestionably ovo-viviparous, and will represent in future this peculiarity among the 

 Lepidoptera, similarly to those few species existing in the hemipterous and dipterous 

 orders. 



" ' This fact having been ascertained our attention was incited to the care of the 

 little strangers, and to procure suitable shelter and food for them, iu the hope that we 

 should be able to rear them, and thus to supply a correct account of their metamor- 

 phoses. In this we were guided by the form of the perfect insect, and accordingly 

 placed before them grains of maize, pieces of flannel and woollen cloth, shreds of 

 partially decayed paper, some fungus and lichen, and other materials known to be the 

 food of caterpillars belonging to the genus Tinea and neighbouring genera. Unfor- 

 tunately they turned with distaste from all these supplies, wiih the exception of the 

 cloth and flannel, and even to these they attached themselves with reluctance. We, 

 however, persevered, and put them in a dark and roomy box, aware of the marked 

 dislike to light of larvae possessing depredatory habits, and left them undisturbed for 

 a week, at the end of which we were pleased to find that small silken tunnels or tubes 

 had been constructed on the surface of the brown cloth, and that the denuded appear- 

 ance of several places exhibited signs of their ravages. From this cloth they shortly 

 afterwards transferred themselves to the flannel, where they fabricated small portable 

 cases, composed of two separate pieces of an irregular oval form, joined at the sides, 

 but leaving apertures at each end, and being thus comfortably housed we entertained 

 sanguine hopes of rearing them. These hopes, however, were not to be realized, for 

 towards the end of November (nearly two months from their birth) they ceased to 

 thrive, and eventually all perished. * * * * 



" 'As we failed in afibrding proper nourishment to the larvae, we think it probable 

 that they exist in their natural state upon decaying animal or vegetable matter, as 

 found to be the case with the Sarcophaga carnaria (or common blowfly) and some 

 others which produce their young in a living state.' — (Trans. Entom. Soc. of N. S. W. 

 Vol. i. part 1). 



" It will now be a problem for European Micro-lepidopterists to ascertain whether 

 any of our European species of the genus Tinea have a similar habit. When Dr. 

 Slaudinger was in Spain he met with one larva of this genus (if I remember rightly) 

 which fed on dry dung. Is it not possible that some species of the genus may feed on 

 the freshly dropped dung of animals, and hence the larvae require to be deposited in 

 an active state ? Many of the larvae of the Tinese of Europe are still unknown to us ; 

 possibly a clue is now furnished which may prove of service." 



Mr. Stainton read the following : — 



Notes on the ' Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia.' 



" I have before me the ' Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia ' 

 from March, 1861, to the close of 1862, forming nine parts of variable bulk, and extend- 

 ing to 311 pages. These ' Proceedings ' are well printed on good paper, and contain 

 several memoirs of considerable importance, so that it is extremely desirable that the 



