BY HENRY TRYON. 
S 
under side of the terminal joints horny and devoid of cilia. 
These striking as they would do in flight at the will of the- 
insect against the transverse ribs of the transparent space cause 
the whizzing and characteristic sound that so attracted me, and 
which is doubtless intended as a call of love to the individual of 
the weaker sex, who sits enthroned in the branches listening 
with delight to the noisy homage of her many lovers.” In con- 
clusion, what appears likely to prove a new species of Hecatesia 
was recently brought under my notice by Mr. E. Grieve. In 
November, 1891, Mr and Mrs. Grieve repeatedly both heard and 
saw generally in the early morning what they describe as a 
“ whistling moth.” This was in dry level timbered country, 
the prevailing trees being Casuarina and Scribbly Gum, at Broad- 
water, near Brisbane. Concerning this moth, my informants 
relate that “ it had a quick and jerky flight, and that individual 
examples, thougii perhaps not in every instance, gave forth 
during flight a sibilant legato whistle. The solitary example 
secured by Mr. Grieve formed the object of a pencil sketch by 
him. It proves to be a female, and is remarkable for having but 
one white transverse band on the forewings ; the large orange 
spot on the hind wings is, too, without the usual excavations. 
Strange to relate, as H. Edwards has pointed out, the geographi- 
cal distribution of the species of this genus is peculiar. Of the 
five recorded species four are Australian and one inhabits 
Mexico. 
— Mr. E. Illidge, at a meeting of the Society, held on 
5th May, 1892, exhibited specimens of a small brown noctuid 
named Beressa natalis, Walker, remarking that though a com- 
mon insect the habit to which he was about to allude did not 
appear to have been previously recorded. The moth was a 
small brown insect with a wing expansion of nearly eight- 
tenths of an inch, and the male had a small round tympanum-like 
clear depressioii in the middle of the forewing. Sound was 
produced, by the male only, whilst it was in flight, and though 
slight was distinctly audible. The insect whilst emitting it was 
observed to keep up a hovering motion over or around one spot 
where probably its consort was at rest. 
