G 



Gen. PHALvENA. Fam. BOMBYX 

 Hornby x Nasuta. PI. 5. 



SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION'. 



Bombyx with wings of a reddish buff colour, the anterior crossed by two dark streaks, one dark 

 dot in the middle, and a row of the same near the end of the wing : palpi stretched forward as 

 long as the thorax in an extraordinary manner, closed, terminating in a point, and having the 

 eyes at their base. Antennae bent, thick, and serrated. 



The larva of this singular moth feeds on the leaves of the Mimosa, which 

 resemble those of Plantain. It conceals itself during the heat of the day on 

 the stem of some shoot, with it's head against the body or a main branch of the 

 tree, adhering always to the under part of the shoot in a very firm manner, 

 and stretched at full length, so that, owing to it's colour and regular position, it 

 is not easily distinguished from the bark. It changes to a pupa in March; 

 spinning a white angular web or case between several leaves on the top of 

 some shoot, the adjacent leaves of which it brings together and secures bv it's 

 silken cords. In this state it remains twenty days, and is on the wing in 

 April, when it frequents rocky situations near Sidney. The sexes differ con- 

 siderably in size, and in the richer colour and stronger marks of the male, 

 which is shown at 3; the female at 4; the pupa and it's web at 2; and the 

 larva, as it adheres to the shoot, at 1. 



Obs. We consider this moth as singularly curious in it's head and palpi, which together with 

 the antenna; are of such a construction, as hardly to admit the moth into the family the character 

 of which we have given in the preceding page. We admit it, however, from general circum- 

 stances; but should others of the same character be found hereafter, we think they would he 

 highly worthy of being set apart as a section of the Bombyx. 



