170 LIEUT.-COL. J. M. EAWCETT ON THE 



Copaxa plavinata Walker. (Plate VI. figs. 25, larva; 26, pupa.) 

 C'opaxa flavinata Walker, Cat. Het. B.M. xxxii. p. 373 (1865). 



Larva. Head ferruginous; body black, marbled with a series of fine white lines 

 arranged longitudinally and generally parallel to two dorsal white longitudinal lines, 

 which enclose a dorsal black line. Each somite bears six paired bi'ight ferruginous 

 tubercles on paler raised bases, subdorsally, laterally, and spiracularly ; each tubercle 

 bears on its apex five or six reddish hairs capable of inflicting a painful sting if the 

 larva is handled incautiously. Legs, abdominal claspers, and anal somite bright 

 ferruginous ; spiracles black, defined by thin white lines. 



Feeds in companies on a species of Schmidelia (Linn.), Natural Order Sapindaceae, 

 and is a night feeder. The transformation is carried out underground, the pupa being 

 red-brown and of the usual form, but furnished with a sharp spur or horn at its anal 

 extremity. The moth is not uncommon in the Durban district. 



Mr. J. F. Quekett, who has reared the larva, informs me that this species is single- 

 brooded. This larva presents a striking resemblance in structure to the Durban form 

 of the larva of Ludia smilax (Westwood), although the perfect insects are so different 

 in appearance. 



Cirina forda (Westwood). (Plate VI. figs. 27, larva, early stage ; 28, larva, full-fed ; 

 29, pupa.) 

 Saturnia forda Westwood, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1849, p. 52. 



Larva (early stage). Head red-brown ; body, ground-colour pale yellowish brown, 

 with seven longitudinal red-brown lines, the dorsal line being broader and darker than 

 the others ; legs and spiracles red-brown, abdominal claspers pale yellowish. A few 

 white hairs are scattered over the body. 



The later stages of the larva are very different : — 



Head and ground-colour of body velvety black, crossed on each somite by a silver 

 band of moderate width composed of minute silver spots coalescing together ; round 

 the spiracles (which are black) is placed an irregularly-shaped bright yellow spot 

 also composed of minute yellow spots coalescing together; in some specimens the 

 band across the somites is yellow. A few silky-white hairs spring from the cross-bands 

 and the bases of the abdominal claspers, and from small reddish tubercles situated just 

 above them. Legs black, abdominal claspers red. 



Feeds on Rhus longifolia (Sond.), Natural Order Anacardiacese. 



Pujm. Dark red-brown or black, and of the usual kSaturniid form. The transforma- 

 tion is effected underground. 



I have not met with many examples of this moth, but it is not uncommon in the 

 Durban district. 



