130 TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
closely-allied moth, belonging to the genus Diauthcecia , is remark- 
able both on account of the beautiful colours, vivid tints, and 
the elaborate ornamentation of the wings of the moth, as well 
as from the habits of the caterpillars. They choose the buds 
and the flowers of the pink tribe for their food ; they eat the 
seeds, and before they are much grown they roll themselves up 
in the buds. The chrysalis terminates in a sharp point, and those 
parts of it which cover the wings of the future moth protrude 
considerably. 
The family of the Leucanidce , belonging to the group Noc- 
tuina , has many genera. The moths are small ; their bodies are 
smooth ; their wings are of pale colours without ornamentation ; 
their palpi are projecting, and their antennae are usually pubescent. 
The caterpillars are almost white in colour, or sometimes are 
rather rose or yellowish ; they live on grasses, and always hide 
themselves. The colourless decorations of the moths and cater- 
pillars of some of these kinds are very remarkable. The common 
Wainscot Moth is one of them. The larvae of the allied genus 
Nonagria are also uncoloured, for they feed in the dark, inside 
the stems of reeds and grasses ; they are long creatures, and 
have very distinct horny plates, and shining spots upon them. 
The pupae are found enclosed in the stems in which the larvae 
have lived. 
Another family, that of the Xylinidce , has some very beautiful 
caterpillars ; indeed, Mr. Stainton says that no figure can give 
any idea of the beauty of the living caterpillar of Catocala 
exolita , and that when he saw it he nearly screamed with delight. 
They are very long, cylindrical, and attenuated at each end ; 
their colour is a bright green, and the spiracles are connected 
with pale yellow lines, intersected by a slender scarlet streak. 
There are also white spots upon them, edged with black, and 
those of the back are joined together by black patches. The 
pupae bury themselves at a considerable depth in the ground. 
One kind has its chrysalis enclosed in a cocoon, which is very 
papery, and placed on the surface of the ground. 
The genus Cucullia has some very pretty moths and cater- 
pillars. The moths have long pointed wings, long bodies, and 
a sort of hood to their thorax, and are called Sharks. The 
