VoL- I. 
148 The Queensland Naturalist. 
Life History Notes, etc. 
Egg : The eggs of this moth were found on the under 
surface of an Oleander leaf, about five feet from the ground. 
They were laid side by side to the number of fiO or more, 
occupying an area of about 15 m.m. by 5 m.m. (fths of 
an inch b}^ Y^<dhs), and were covered by a pale pinkish-brown, 
felt-like substance, composed of fine hairs. This habit of 
hiding eggs under a layer of dow n stripped from the abdomen 
is practised by other moths, such as species of the genera 
Teara and Limacodes- Species of lepidoptera that deposit 
one only, or a few eggs at a time (Papilio and Anfheroea, etc.), 
do not as a rule take as mucli precaution for their preserva- 
tion as others that lay a number in a batch ; but it is interest- 
ing in this connection to notice that in cases such as that, 
for instance, observable in some of our large Avood feeding 
moths (Hefialidae) — AA'hich do not in the strict sense of the 
term lay their eggs, but appear to eject quantities at a time 
in a loose condition — this exceptional habit is not followed 
by effects detrimental to the persistence of the species ; a 
fact Avhich may be accounted for by the vast number of 
produced by one female (often amounting to tens of 
thousands) and their minute size, inconspicuous coloura- 
tion. and seed-like appearance. The eggs of Pielus hyali- 
natus might easily be mistaken for the tiny seeds of the 
“ Snapdragon ” (Antirrhinum) or Tobacco. ' I have more 
than once observed the eggs of S. mauritia on “ Camphor 
laurel ” leaves (Cinnam,omum camfhora), but oftener on 
Oleander, and in every instance noticed that grass (one of 
the food-plants) was growing plentifully under such trees 
or bushes. The batches are not always oblong in shape, 
but occasionally nearly circular, like those laid by Lima- 
codes longerans on the foliage of Eucalypts ; and each 
female propably deposits from six to eight, producing in 
all about 350 to 400 eggs. 
Larva : The larvae are sluggish, and of omnivorous 
tastes, feeding mostly at night on various kinds of grasses, 
and doubtless attacking a large variety of other herbaceous 
plants. 
IMAGO. 
This moth affords a somewhat interesting illustra- 
tion of a small section comprising species that — unlike 
the majority of lepidopterous insects — do not deposit 
eggs upon the food-plant of the larva. In the present 
instance it seems probable that the above-mentioned omni- 
vorous tastes of the larva are partly responsible for the 
acquirement of a habit that might at first sight look like 
indifference on the part of tire imago for the welfare of her 
offspring, but which in reality will, upon investigation, be 
found to be quite the reverse. The following notes, tendered 
in possible explanation of some of the motives influencing 
