46 



Mamestra, Tr., adds five, and Rhizogramma, Led., two species ; 

 the chrysalis of the latter is enclosed in a cocoon case formed 

 of grains of soil glued together. Xylina, Tr., is represented 

 by two, and the allied form of Calocampa, Steph., by one 

 species ; all rare. The Plusiidce furnish two species to the 

 collection, but a third is known to exist. The caterpillars of 

 one sometimes attack the potato-plant seriously, feeding at 

 night only, and burying themselves in the loose soil during the 

 day. Catocala, Schr., one of our finest moths, and numerous in 

 individuals at times, seems to occur only in one species, while 

 Salias, Tr., and Chlceopliora, Steph., both green coloured moths, 

 and resembling G-eometra, present two each. There are three 

 species of Ay arista, Walk., and one of another allied genus. 

 They are fine black and white coloured moths, flying high and 

 swift during the afternoons of the summer months. 



The Geometry offer great variety in their numerous forms, 

 but with the exception of Nemoria, with one rare species 

 coloured green, and one species of Simeria, habited in pink 

 and yellow, are of the prevalent sombre hue as the rest. 

 Zerene, Amphydasis, and Crocallis, contain each one species ; 

 Aspilates, nine ; GnopJios and Fidonia, each nineteen ; Acidalia, 

 eighteen ; and JVumeria, six species. 



The ToBTRiciDiE are represented by about 39 species, but are 

 far outnumbered by the Tineid.£:, of which Litliocolletis alone, 

 with, perhaps, some near allies, musters 34, all very small, and 

 many distinguished by black and orange colour. Two species 

 of Tinea are known to cause and inhabit as larvae some curious 

 galls in eucalyptus bushes, within each of which several of 

 them dwell at the same time. One or two species are distin- 

 guished by a small number of hemispherical protuberances 

 upon their upper wings, near their insertion, arranged in a 

 half-circle when at rest, and glittering like veritable jewels. 

 Besides Litliocolletis there are three or four other genera con- 

 taining 72 species, giving a total of 106 Tineidce. Of Pyralid^ 

 there are six, and of Alucita and kindred genera there are five 

 indigenous species. Many more of these tiny Lepidopters are 

 known to exist, but have been neglected in the collection, 

 their small size and extreme delicacy offering considerable 

 difficulty in respect of preservation. Yet, small as they are, 

 they are capable of inflicting serious loss at times. One 

 example will suffice. Annually a large quantity of potatoes 

 are destroyed by premature putridity, caused by a host of 

 larvae of some small Tinea forming tortuous canals within the 

 tubers. 



