Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/143

Rh such a manner that the larva can pass and repass at pleasure. After sunset it goes in search of food, which it conveys, a leaf at a time, to its dwelling, where it is deposited by being dragged part down the cell. Thus the larva proceeds during the whole night, and on the approach of day retires with precipitation to its retreat, where it lies with its head towards the entrance, feeding on the leaves thus provided, and never ventures out during the day. In this retreat the larva also changes to a pupa in January, spinning no web, remaining in that state fourteen days, and the moth is on the wing in February. The pupa is figured at the bottom of the plate, in a section of its dwelling when in the larva state. The moth frequents the Casaurina, growing in barren forests. Mr. Lewin has described and figured the transformation of three other moths belonging to the same genus, and having the same habits, the characters and peculiarities of which we shall here subjoin.

The larva resides on the Banksia serrata, in the