24 AUSTRALIAN LEFIDOPTERA 



thence attenuating to a point which is sliglitly uncinated. Legs tolerably stout ; femora densely pilose, tibia, pilose in some, 

 second pairs with 2 apical, posterior pairs with 4 longish spurs. Larva elongated, thick, striated or 



almost naked in others 



OCUUIH-L I^UILO (> lilt — ILJ^JLV-U.^! J^>UU^V^i.lUi j^».- .- _--j-, ^ 



banded transTcrscly; in some slightly setose, in others with spatulatc appendages; penultimate segment sUghtly protuberant 

 Coeoon composed of particles of earth and eomminuted wood, agglutinated together into a thick covermg of an irregular oval 

 form, devoid of lining, and generally placed on or slightly beloAV the surface of the ground. 



SPECIES 1,— AGARISTA CASUAEIN^,— (Plate 8.) 



Some years have; now elapsed since wc obtained from one of our workmen engaged in clearing the land, a few larvx of 

 this species of Agarista, which he said he had gathered from the bough of a lofty Casuarina ; since which time we have never 

 found them here in our numerous excursions, although wo have ascertained that they are frequent and well known in the 

 suburbs of the metropolis. Prom Ashfield the larva; have liecn forwarded to us during the month of April, feeding upon the 

 Loranthus pondulus, and in the same locality the perfect insects arc repeatedly taken much larger and finer than the specimens 

 wo figure, which we attribute to the fact that the Loranthus and, it may be, other parasitical plants, constitute the proper food 

 of this particular species, as our original larva; feeding upon the leaves of the Casuarina, although sparingly, produced moths of 

 inferior size. The specimens we have seen in the cabinets of the Australian JEusoum, and in the possession of our friends, fully 

 equal in expanse of wing the female of Agarista Agricola figured in the present plate. 



The Caterpillar measures 2} inches in length : the ground colour of a jet black with numerous white bands encircling 

 the body, and a lateral row of white dots immediately above the legs, which with the head and part of the first annulation are 

 of a rich orange yellow. An irregular and slightly tubereulatcd bar of carmine nearly covers the upper portion of the penulti- 

 mate segment, and whorls of rather long filamental appendages, slightly flattened at their ends, like battledores, are placed upon 

 each scment in lieu of seta;. When at rest it throws back its head and thoracic segments as shown in the drav.ing, and if 

 irritated ejects from the mouth a greenish yellow liquid. In March our specimens formed their cocoons of triturated bark, dead 

 leaves, and earthy particles strongly united, in shape an irregular oval. 



The Chrysalis (fig. 1) measures i of an inch in length, reddish brown colour, truncated posteriorly, raid with the spiracles 

 distinctly developed. 



The moths reared by us were in expansion of ^vings 2} inches, but we consider this as small. 



The Antenruc (fig. 2) simple, very slightly ciliated beneath, gradually thickening towards the upper end whence they 



attenuate to a point, terminating in an elongated hook. 

 'I'lie /,aO!til pal/ji (fig. 3 ; 4, divested of hair,) curve upwards, and project to even with the top of head ; covered with 

 hairs except the terminal joint which is almost bare, slightly clavatc, i less in length than the middle 

 joint, and h larger than the basal ; the two latter being more robust. 



The Ijff/s, femora and tibia; pilose, tarsi nearly naked; 2nd pair (fig. ,5) with two, and posterior pairs with four 



longish spurs on tibia'. 

 Wings dcilcxed in repose, and the moth diurnal. 



The upper surface of the perf(,ot insect is throughout of a jet black, with five transverse straw-coloured bands on the 

 superior wing, the two nearest the base thin and converging to a point at the inner margin ; the third, across the disc, and the 

 adjoining one broad and distinct, the latter terminating in the middle of the wing ; the fifth or outer one thin and scalloped 

 towards the exterior margin ; between this band and the exterior margin running along the nervures are whitish streaks. Tlie 

 inferior wing contains across its centre an irregularly scalloped straw-coloured line as if in continuation of that on the superior 

 wing, and over this is a lunuled diseal spot of similar colour. The wings are margined with alternate white and black. ITead 

 and thorax possess three longitudinal lines of yellowish white, and the abdomen is tipped with orange yellow. 



The colouring of the under side is very similar, but whiter in the markings, possessing additionally on the lower wings 

 the whitish streaks in the direction of the nervures. The abdomen, femora, and tibia;, clothed with orange yellow hairs. 



Two caterpillars on a branch of the Casuarina paludosa in seed, and the; perfect insect, arc delineated in our drawing. 



