420 THE NEW ZEALAND SWIFT. 



large gnats, it is popularly called the Gnat Clear-wing. The caterpillar of this insect feeds 

 upon the pith of the currant-trees. 



A large insect, of tolerably, but not very frequent occurrence, is the Lunar Hornet 

 Clear-wing. Its popular name is given to it in allusion to its singular resemblance to a 

 hornet, the similitude being so close as to deceive a casual glance, especially when the insect 

 is on the wing. In common with all the members of this genus, the Hornet Clear-wing is a 

 rather sluggish insect, being of tener seen at rest than on the wing, and being mostly found 

 while clinging to the trunks or leaves of the trees on which they lived in the larval state. 

 Their flight is rather slow and heavy, and as their tongues are comparatively short, they are 

 not able to poise themselves on the wing, and sip the sweets of flowers while balancing them- 

 selves in the air. 



The larva of the present species feeds upon the willow, boring into the young wood and 

 sometimes damaging it to a serious extent. All these insects inhabit, while in the larval state, 

 the interior of branches or roots, and make a kind of cocoon from the nibbled fragments of 

 the wood. Just before undergoing the transformation, the larva turns round so as to get 

 its head towards the entrance of the burrow, and after it has changed into the pupal form, is 

 able, by means of certain projections on the segments, to push itself along until the upper half 

 of the body protrudes through the orifice, and permits the perfect moth to make its escape 

 into the open air. 



The wings of this insect are transparent, with orange-red nervures and dusky fringes. The 

 head and thorax are shining brown-black, with a yellow collar, and the abdomen is ringed 

 with orange and dark brown. 



Tin-: Uraniidse forma curious and somewhat doubtful family, some authors having con- 

 sidered them to belong to the butterflies rather than the moths. Many of these insects are of 

 most gorgeous coloring ; their form, including the tailed wings, is very like that of a butterfly, 

 and they are diurnal in their habits. Still, the preliminary stages of the caterpillar and pupa 

 are such that they prove the insects really to belong to the moth tribe. All these insects are 

 inhabitants of the hotter parts of the earth, and are most plentiful within the tropics. 



The Urania sloanus is a native of Jamaica. 



The Castnia licus comes from Brazil and Central America. Its coloring is bold and yet 

 simple. The upper surface of the first pair of wings is dark blackish-brown shot with given, 

 the latter color being best seen by looking along the wing from point to base. Near the 

 outside edge of the hinder wings is a row of azure spots, and the narrow fringe is white and 

 brown. A bold white band runs through the centre of both pairs of wings. 



A very curious moth is the New Zealand Swift {Hepialus mrescens). It is a foreign 

 example of a genus well known in Europe by some curious though common insects belonging 

 to a family called the Hepialidse. From the head of the larva rises, in a nearly perpendicular 

 line, a horn as long as the body of the insect. In the typical genus the larva is entirely sub- 

 terranean, feeding on the roots of plants, and, as in some of the preceding insects, the 

 chrysalis is able to ascend its burrow when near the time of assuming the perfect form. 

 All these moths are very quick of wing, darting in a nearly straight line with such swiftness 

 that they look like mere light or dark streaks drawn through the air. Yet they are cap- 

 tured with comparative ease, as they are not so agile as swift, and can be taken by quickly 

 striking a net athwart their course. From their great speed, they are known by the popular 

 name of Swifts. 



The New Zealand Swift is a truly curious insect, not so much for its form or colors, but 

 for the strange mischance which often befalls the larva, a vegetable taking the place of the 

 ichneumon-fly. and nourishing itself on the substance of the being which gives it support. 

 A kind of fungus affixes itself to the larva, and becomes developed on its strange lied, taking 

 up gradually the fatty parts and tissues of the caterpillar, until at last the creature dies under 

 the parasitic growth, and is converted almost wholly into vegetable matter. 



