Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/147

Rh convey away at a time, and which it partly forces down its cell, where in security it feeds and sleeps during the whole day. Within this dwelling it is transformed to a pupa, generally in January, remaining twenty-two days in that state, is on the wing in February, and is then found on Banksia shrubs near Sidney.

BOMBYCIDÆ.

The family of the Bombycidæ (Bombycites, Lat.) contains an extensive assemblage of moths very varied in their aspect, but agreeing in having the organs of the mouth generally in a rudimentary or undeveloped state; the wings either extended horizontally or deflexed at the sides; antennæ of the males pectinated; larvæ naked, often with transverse insulated tufts of hairs rising from tubercles; 16-footed; living exposed on plants. When about to change to pupæ, they enclose themselves in cocoons of silk; and the pupæ are destitute of teeth on the margins of the abdominal segments. Of all the genera included in this family, the pre-eminence must be assigned to Saturnia, whether we regard the number, size, and beauty of the species, or their utility to man. As at present