1896. SOME NEW BOOKS. 271 



indicating relationship, the extreme importance of larval life to the 

 species should lead us to exercise care in relying on it for classificatory 

 characters. Mr. Meyrick often refers to the comparative mobility of 

 the pupal segments in the various groups, recently pointed out by 

 Dr. Chapman ; and it seems likely that this character, in conjunction 

 with wing-neuration, will give us approximate indications of the true 

 relationships. 



According to Mr. Meyrick's classification, the Lepidoptera are 

 divided into nine main groups, for the names of which the author has, 

 unfortunately, chosen the termination " -ina " ; there is a general 

 agreement among zoologists that '■^ -ina'" shall be a termination 

 distinctive of sub-families. The Caradrinina, which stand at the head 

 of the series, comprise four families — the Arctiadse, Caradrinidae (trifid 

 section of the Noctuids), Plusiadae (quadrifid noctuids and deltoids), 

 and Ocneriadae (Lymantriid^e of authors). Next comes the Notodont 

 group, including the Geometers (divided into five families), Polyplocidas 

 (Cymatophoridas), Sphingidae, Notodontidae, and Saturniadae. Then 

 follow the Lasiocampina, with only three families — Drepanidae, 

 Endromididae, and Lasiocampidae. The butterflies come next, 

 arranged in the usual modern sequence, with the Nymphalidae at the 

 head and the Hesperiadae last. Dr. Chapman's recent work on the 

 pupae of these insects, showing an unexpected relationship between 

 the Pierids and Nymphalids and the isolation of the Lycasnids, 

 probably appeared too late for Mr. Meyrick's use. The fifth group 

 of the series is the Pyralina, including the moths usually known by 

 that name (divided into five families), as well as the Pterophoridae 

 and Orneodidae (Alucitidae). Next we find the Psychina comprising 

 the Psychidae (in which only the three species of Psyche are retained, 

 the other genera being removed to the Tineidae), Zeuzeridae (without 

 Cgssus), Zygaenidae, and Heterogeneidae. The Tortricina form the 

 seventh group, and include the Tortrices (in three families), and the 

 Trypanidae [Cossns). The Tineine group follows, comprising the 

 ^geriadae and the Tineae divided into five families. Mr. Meyrick's 

 arrangement of this most difficult section differs considerably from 

 Stainton's. The degradation of the wing-neuration, owing to the 

 small size of many of the insects, renders that character often un- 

 reliable. Probably an approach to a natural system has been secured 

 by comparing the degree of development of the maxillary palps with 

 the number of movable segments in the pupa, and such apparently 

 non-adaptive characters as the roughness or smoothness of head and 

 thighs. The ninth, and last, section is the Micropterygina — (Hepia- 

 lidae and Micropterygidae) — the Jugatae of Professor Comstock, now 

 generally admitted to represent the primitive lepidopterous stock, and 

 to bridge partially the gap between that order and the Trichoptera 

 or caddis-flies. 



The synopses given will be welcome aids to the student seeking 

 to identify specimens. In his definitions of genera, Mr. Meyrick is 

 disposed to be comprehensive. Unfortunately, he has thought it 

 necessary to disinter a multitude of Hiibner's generic titles published 

 without description, and to set aside in their favour names in use for the 

 last half-century. The descriptions of the species are concise and clear, 

 but it would have been well to devote a little more space to the varieties 

 which the collector may reasonably be expected to meet. The only 

 illustrations are figures of wing-neuration and profiles of heads and 

 palps, which will be of much use for discriminating genera and directing 

 attention to structure as the basis of classification. A short summary 

 of the geographical distribution of each species in the British Isles and 



