118 
CRYPTOPHASA IRRORATA. 
"Wales, remarkable for their economy in the larva 
state, imitating in this respect the goat moths, 
jEgerim, &c., but differing from them materially in 
the winged state. * The wings are smooth and 
generally glossy ; the antennas of the males pecti- 
nated, but terminated by a thread at the extremity. 
The female antenna! are filiform ; the palpi are 
curved up before the eyes, divergent, round, and 
terminating in a point ; and the spiral tongue is 
described as short or not at all discernible. In 
several respects this genus seems allied to the Arc- 
tiidae, but its true relations are doubtful. 
The species here figured is distinguished by its 
dusky grey anterior wings, thickly speckled with 
brown and white dots, a conspicuous ear-like mark, 
and an angular patch of dark dots near the shoulder ; 
the hind-wings are dark, with a silvery margin. 
The eggs of this moth are deposited on the bark 
of the Casaurina figured, where some branch shoots 
from the stem ; and the larva, when hatched, imme- 
diately enters into the bark, boring downwards a 
cylindrical cell to the centre of the stem, which it 
increases as it grows in bulk, and uses as a retreat 
and dwelling-place, weaving over its entrance a 
convex covering, in which is interwoven the ends of 
leaves, together with some of its excrement, as re- 
presented on the plate. This covering is fastened 
securely at the upper end, while the lower is left in 
* The genus corresponds to Nyctcrobius of Maclcay. Wo 
have placed it provisionally at the end of the Hepialidse, in con- 
sequence of the similarity in the habits of the larvse. 
