2 ATJSTEALIAN LEl'IDOPTEEA 



Although the perfect insects take wing frequently (luring different portions of our summer, yet February, probably the 

 liottcst month, seems to be the destined period for their production in the greatest abundance. It was at this time, our attention 

 being directed to the care of the numerous specimens in our possession emerging from the cocoons, Nvas naturally attracted by the 

 peculiar and loud noise produced by the imago in that operation for freeing itself, which led to a more careful observation and 

 to the discovery tliat the sound thus created was caused by two powerful hooked appendages of a horny substance (fig. 2, 

 magnified) placed one on each side immediately at the junction of the base of the anterior wing to the tliorax, while in tlic act 

 of tearing and destroying the strong fibrous texture of the nest, previously, however, moistened by a solvent fluid, until a rude 

 and irregular aperture was made. During this action the insect maintained a slow rotatory motion, until tlie books were 

 plainly visible to us, appearing and disappearing alternately and quickly, and irrcsistil)ly recalling to mind the sound produced 

 liy the gnawing of that domestic torment— the rat. The knowledge of the existence of these instruments on our insect caused 

 us to search for similar ones on all tlie Colonial Antliera;a; in our collection ; tlie more so as their cocoons have the like forma- 

 tions and firm textures, possessing neitlicr the weak portions nor artful construction necessary for the easy egress of the Imago, 

 as exhil)ited in many of tlic nocturnal Lepidoptera ; and we found them aU furnislied with these weapons to enable them to 

 extricate themselves cfTcctually I'rom their strongly built cells ; thus the A. Janctta, A. Helena, and A. simplex wore as well 

 supplied as the A. Eucalypti, and we may add that on the two foreign species of Saturniidie, which we had an opportiuiity of 

 inspecting, viz., the Tropjea Luna and Telia Polypliemus, these hooks were fully developed. 



Tlie female of the perfect insect measures in expanse G inches, the male an inch smaller. 



The Antenncc ...are l-pectinated on each joint ; the pectinations in tlie male (fig. 3) being long and fringed witli delicate 

 hairs ; while those of the female (fig. 4) are small, slightly hairy and terminated by several minute 

 bristles. 



The Labial Valpl (fig. 5, male) distinct : 3-jointcd, hairy, and curving upwards. 



The Xft(/« densely pilose. In the male (fig. 7, anterior leg) so much so that the tarsi are not visible in front. 



2nd and posterior pairs (fig. 6, female) have two small spurs at their apices. Tarsi 5-jointed and 

 terminated by strong claws, and pnlvilli. 



The wings at rest are horizontal, and the moth nocturnal. 



The plumage of the Antheroea Eucalypti varies so much in coloring that it would be tedious to enumerate the different 

 shades, but the specimens figured, one female and two males, will afford a fair sample of the diversity of tints, which, however, 

 does not interfere with the main and distinguishing features of this species ; and the three may be described as follows : — the 

 general color of the upper surface of tlie female is pale reddish brown ; on the middle of each wing there is a large ocellus, 

 consisting on the superior, of a reddish pupil merging exteriorly into dull green, with a small diaphanous spot in the centre ; 

 over this there is a semicircle of white, and the whole surrounded by a narrow dark brown ring ; on the inferior, the ocelli arc 

 larger, and the pupils bright orange yelloAV, paler at the edges, and a central diaphanous spot ; over this a crescent of light 

 blue, and a broad ring of jet black round the wdiole. On the apices of the anterior wings are waved rose-colored patches, 

 with small triangular spots of black and wliite adjoining; the space towards the ocelli being much crumpled between the 

 nervures. Two transverse dark bands, the outer ones running parallel to the posterior margins, and having whitish borders, 

 divide each wing into three unequal parts, the central division containing the ocelli. The marginal borders of the under wings 

 are fringed with browni, with a yellow band above. The collar and part of the adjoining costa, hoary ; thorax and base of the 

 primary wings fulvous, and a distinct subcostal dental mark. 



The males are much falcated, and of tlie two represented, the one is of a light brownish saturnine ; the other, delicate 

 greenish-drab, with a broad yellowish hand on the hinder margin of the posterior wings. The oeellar spots of botli, bear a 

 general resemblance to those before described in the female, but partake, more or less, of the variations of hue so peculiar to 

 this species. The sami; remarks hold good witli respect to the transverse bands, which are consequently seen either purple, 

 brown, or pink, in accordance with the prevailing color of any particular specimen : but the white subcostal tooth-shaped mark, 

 and the crumpled appearance towards the posterior edge remain unaltered. 



The under sides of both sexes are more subdued in hue, but the oceUar spots are larger and brighter on the anterior than 

 those on the posterior wings, being the reverse to the arrangement exhibited on the upper surface. 



The eggs are of an uniform pale drab color, flattened oval form, and hard. 



The frequency of this species, enhanced by its beauty, must necessarily render the insect an object of interest and desire 

 to the collector, and consequently numerous specimens undoubtedly occur in the many cases transmitted from time to time to 

 Europe, and we can scarcely imagine, therefore, that the cabinets of the Britisli Museum are deficient in examples of this 

 common kind ; yet, after a careful comparison with the descriptions of this group contained in their list, we cannot satisfy our- 

 selves regarding its identity with any one of these four Australian species, unless we except the varieties /3 and 7 of the A. 



