30 AUSTRALIAN LEPIDOPTBRA 



The lai'VEC partake of sovoi-al kinds of food, but our specimens appeared to prefer chick-weed (Stellaria media) and the 

 dead leaves of the Native Pig, (Picus Australis), but no doubt in their natural state they must exist upon various kinds of 

 smaU lichens or mosses, grass, and the dead leaves of indigenous plants. The head and thoracic segments shining brown ; 

 the abdominal, whitish, with two rows on each of short dark brown lines, the dorsal ones transverse, tlic lateral smaller and 

 oblique : in length f mch (fig. 1, ? ) ; the case being considerably longer. Tlic habits and mode of progression arc very similar 

 to those of the first species described, CE. Pelderi. 



When about to change to the pupa, they seek concealment, and the case losing the flattened form becomes inflated 

 and cylindrical, caused by the extra lining of silk which the caterpillar has added for its comfort and protection during the 

 dormant state. 



The Chrysalis S , (fig. 3) somewhat under J inch, slight, attenuated, and ycUowish red ; ? (fig. 2) barely over I inch, 

 dull brown. 



The perfect insects, having remained nearly five weeks in the pupa state, took wing at the latter end of November ; the 

 male measuring in expanse of wings nearly ,V inch ; the female, only partially developed, about the same. 



The Anlemue, long; Male, (fig. 4) articulations produced beneath, resembling serrations, and each with four brushes 



of long eilijc. Female, slightly fusiform, thickly covered with feathery scales. 



The Labial palpi, small, porrected, and covered with longish hairs ; Male, (fig. 5, and 6, divested of hair) rather slender, 

 terminal joint acute at the tip, and about equal in length to the basal, which latter however is more 

 robust ; the middle joint the longest. Female, joints almost of an equal length, the basal slightly 

 globular. 



The Leys, Anterior pairs (fig. 7, ?) long, robust, the eoxaj and femora being greatly developed; 2nd pairs 



smaller, containing 2 longish spurs, and posterior pairs (fig. 8, S ) with 4 long spurs at apex of tibiije. 

 Tibiie and tarsi thickly covered willi liair-like scales. 



The Avings deflexcd at rest, and the moth diurnal. 



The whole of the upper surface of the male is rich chocolate brown, minutely speckled with gold, with the exception 

 of a broad band on the anterior margin of the primary wings which has instead three or four large transverse bars of golden 

 yellow ; and of the disc of the secondary wings occupied also by golden yellow. 



The colouring of the Female is widely different, being throughout deep metallic blue ; the exterior margins of the 

 upper flings deeply bordered with bright yellow, which in some specimens is continued rmder the costa towards the base. 

 The antennae are tipped with white, and the abdomen terminates with a frijage of pale coloured hairs. The thorax and 

 abdomen are very large in comparison with those of the other sex, and were the wings perfect their expanse would be con- 

 siderable ; they are, however, so unformed as to preclude the insect from flight, and it proceeds along with a running jerk 

 and an occasional bound, and this transition from place to place is effected with considerable rapidity by the agency of its 

 long and powerfully formed limbs. When at rest the wings slightly droop, the body recurves, and an ovipositor of considerable 

 length is kept continually in motion. 



This representation contains tlie figures of the male and two females in the perfect state, with the larva feeding on 

 the Poa annua. 



It is manifest that in the two species of CEcinea we have illustrated, there exists so great a dissimilarity in certain 

 portions of their conformation as might justify their separation into genera : we allude to the imperfectly formed wings of 

 the female of the (Ecinca Scotti and its powerful anterior legs, providently supplied to overcome that deficiency of flight ; 

 but viewing in both the habits of the larvas residing in similar dwellings and localities, together with the correlation of the 

 antennas, the palpi, and the males of the perfect insects, we conceive wc do right in still retaining them under the one 

 genus. 



