12 AUSTRALIAN LEPIDOPTERA 



At maturity, the Caterpillar attaiais to about li inches in length, being of a tliick creamy-white, with the exception of the 

 head and 1st segment, wliich are yeUowisli-brown and hard ; the adjoining segment bears, anteriorly, a triangular shield speckled 

 witli brown. The segments arc muscular and well developed, particularly those containing the abdominal feet ; from these 

 segments the body becomes attenuated towards the caudal feet, wliich arc so imited with the ultimate segment that they might 

 be mistaken for a smaU additional one. 



The Chrysalis (fig. 1, female) is 3J inches in length, darkish-brown, with head, thorax, and posterior portiojis of the body 

 covered by minute horny striations, and on the abdomen annular black ridges, which enable the chrysalis, Ukc others of its kind, 

 to force through the coarse and dirty-looking cocoon at the foot of the tube in which it had undergone its change, and to ascend 

 to the mouth of its dwelling when on the point of final emergence. 



In the month of April, the perfect insects appeared with us, and they may then occasionally be seen at sundown with 

 deflexed wings upon adjacent trees, the bark of which they greatly resemble in colour, preparatory to taking their ftight at dusk. 

 This season of the year, we perceive, agrees nearly with that stated by Mr. Hawkcs, of Van Diemen's Land, with respect to " a 

 large grey moth," whose caterpillar is subterranean and subject to the attack of the Sphtcria Gunni, and this moth will prove (so 

 wc think) upon furtlicr investigation to be another species of the genus Pielus. 



The female of the perfect insect is GJ inches in expanse of wings ; the male about 4^ inches. 



The Antemin', ...moderately long, pectinated in both sexes, with the exception of the two terminal articulations, and 

 naked ; of the male (fig. 2) pectinations rather long and obtuse at their tips ; of the female (fig. 3) very 

 small, much rounded at their tips, appearing to the naked eye as if setaceous. 

 The LfibinI pulpi (fig. 1, male, 5 from below) project a little beyond the head, covered thinly witli hair-like scales ; o-jointed, 

 in the male (fig. 0) terminal joint small, the other two much larger, tlic middle joint being rather tlie 

 longest ; in the female the basal and 2nd joints are about equal. 



The Lcffs, spurless ; anterior pairs (fig. 7) long and robust, posterior ones (fig. 8) small ; 2nd pairs of an intorniediatc 



size; anterior and 2nd pairs have their tibia; and tarsi clothed thickly with hair, posterior pairs have 

 only the tibias fringed exteriorly, with the tarsi almost naked. 

 The ground colour of tlic upper surface of the female is throughout of a rich light brown, brightening along the disc of 

 the superior wings, which also possess a broad liglit-coloured band with a silvery hue, nmning obliquely from tlic tip to near the 

 inner margin, edged on both sides by a double undulating line of black, shaded around by blackish brown. The remaining 

 portion of these wings is occupied by numerous wavy circular and contorted dark brown lines, forming a labyrinthie mass of 

 irregular figures. The costa is broadly developed, the tips acuminated ; the exterior and abdominal margins united by a uniform 

 and gentle curve. 



The superior wing of the male is distinguished by a distinct flexuous marking of bright silver, formed by two irregular 

 bands, the one proceeding from the apex towards the anal angle, and the other from the base along the centre of the wing, thus 

 meeting each other obliquely, the outer one being slightly prolonged beyond the junction. These silver bands arc frequently 

 found disunited from each other, or broken in various parts. A dark and broad shading of velvety brown towards the centre 

 adds much to their relief, while the parts adjoining all the marginal borders are of paler colour and silky appearance, covered 

 over with delicate irregular darker lines forming themselves into graceful figures. The inferior wings and body are throughout 

 of a rich pale brown. 



When wc were first in possession of these insects wc concluded that they were identical with the Cossus Argentcus and 

 Cossus Labyrinthieus of Donovan, but upon a careful examination of the original specimens from which he made his drawing, 

 still in the possession of Mr AV. S. MacLcay, we found that these insects were tripectinatcd in the antennas, whereas ours, 

 male and female, are simply pectinated, the markings on the upper wings being different and readily distinguishable. 

 Subsequently a friend connected with the British Museum, has suggested that our Pielus Swainsoni is the Pielus atripalpis 

 of Stephens, MSS., British Museum Catalogue, p. 1577 ; to which we have to observe that our species docs not possess black 

 palpi ; and moreover, the upper wings of both sexes are impressed with the labyrinth-like marks, the absence of which in 

 the P. atripalpis, is so particularly insisted upon. 



We are induced, as being applicable to the matter now in hand, to olfer a few observations respecting those Australasian 

 Lcpidopterous Caterpillars alllietcd by the Splueria which have come under our notice ; conceiving that this subject has hitherto 

 been treated more in a botanical light than the one interesting to the entomologist ; and to do so more effectually, it is necessary to 

 exhibit clear outlines of some of the larva; with which wc arc acquainted. By comparing these with the one similarly affected which 



^ " Sea and River-side Uambles in Victoria," 18G0. 



