612 



INSECTA. 



The sixth section of the Nocturnal Lepidoptera, that of the Phal^na tortrix, Linn., has the 

 greatest relation to the preceding species, the upper wings having the outer margin curved at the base, 

 and subsequently narrowed ; and their short, broad form, like a truncated oval, gives these insects a 

 remarkable appearance ; the proboscis is distinct, and the palpi generally nearly similar to those of the 

 Nocture, but rather more advanced. They are small Moths, agreeably coloured, with the wings nearly 

 horizontal, or rather slightly defiexed at the sides ; the upper pair slightly crossing the lower. The 

 caterpillars are 16-footed, the body being generally smooth, or but slightly hairy ; they roll up the 

 leaves, fixing them by threads in a parallel direction, and thus forming them into cases, whereby they 

 devour the parenchyme of the leaves at leisure ; others make retreats by fastening several leaves or 

 flowers together, and some reside inside fruits ; some of these caterpillars have the body slender at the 

 tip, and their cocoons are in the figure of a boat turned upside down ; these cocoons are sometimes en- 

 tirely of silk, and sometimes of silk mixed with other matters. They form the subgenus 



Pyralis, Fab. [Tortrix of English authors]. 

 P. pomana, Fab., the Codling Moth, P. vitis, P. prasinaria, [and a great number of species, divided by more 

 recent authors into a great number of subgenera]. Latreille in a note adds indications of the additional sub- 

 genera Xylopoda (Tortrix dentaria, Hb.), Volucra (P. rutana, umbellana, Heracleana), and Procerata (P. saldo- 

 nana, Fabr.). 



The seventh section of the Nocturna, that of the Phal.enites, Latr. (Phal. Geometra, Linn.), has 

 the body generally slender, with the proboscis either wanting or but little elongate, and nearly mem- 

 branous ; the palpi small and subcylindric ; the wings ample, extended, or like a nearly flat roof; the 

 antennae in many of the males are pectinated ; the thorax smooth ; the caterpillars have generally only 

 ten feet ; sometimes, however, they have an extra pair ; the anal feet always exist. From their mode 

 of walking, they are called Geometers, or Loopers, described above (p. 604). Their attitude of repose 

 is singular ; fixed to a branch or twig, and holding only by the hind pair of feet, the body is stretched 

 in a straight line, and at an angle with the branch immoveably. In their colours, also, and the rugo- 

 sities in their bodies, they also resemble branches : in this position they will remain for many hours, 

 and even for entire days. The chrysalides are naked, or are inclosed in a very slender cocoon. When 

 the caterpillars are not taken into consideration, this section only forms a single genus, — 



Phal^ena. 



The caterpillar of P. margaritaria, Fab., the type of my subgenus Metrocampa, has twelve feet, but the rest 



only ten, such as P. sambucaria, the Swallow-tailed Moth, formed 

 by Leach into the subgenus Ourapteryx ; P. grossulariata, Linn., 

 the Magpie Moth, [a very abundant species, the larva and pupa of 

 which are figured in a preceding page. The females of P. brumata, 

 and some others, have only very slight rudiments of wings. The 

 latter species appear only in winter. One species, P. sexalisata, 

 is remarkable for the males possessing a small appendage at the 

 inner edge of the hind wing. These species form my subgenus 

 Hybernia. 



[This is a very extensive tribe, formed into the family Geome- 

 trida.; and divided by recent authors into a very great number of 

 genera.] 



The eighth section of the nocturnal Lepidoptera, that of the Deltoides, presents to us species very 

 nearly allied to the Phalaenae proper, but of which the caterpillars have fourteen feet, and roll up leaves. 

 In the imago, the palpi are elongated and recurved. The wings form with the body, at the sides of 

 which they are horizontally extended, a kind of delta, of which the posterior edge has at the middle 

 an indented angle, or appears furcate. The Deltoid Lepidoptera form the subgenus 



Herminia, Latr., belonging to the division of the Phalana Pi/ralisof Linn., Hybhea and part of Crambus, Fabr. 



The ninth section of the Nocturna, that of the Tineites, Latr. (Phalcena Tinea, Linn.), and the major 

 part of his Pyralides, comprises the most minute species of the order, and of which the caterpillars are 

 always furnished with sixteen feet at least, are rectigrade, and live hidden in fixed or moveable cases 

 which they form. In some, the wings form a kind of elongated triangle, nearly flattened; such are the 

 Ph. Pyralides, Linn., which have four distinct palpi, and generally exposed. In others, the upper wings 

 are long and narrow ; in all, the hind wings are always broad and folded ; the four palpi of these are 

 also often exposed. 



Fig. 131. — PhaljEua grossulariata. 



