1894-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2OQ 



stages, used to adopt, but the study of their biological relations 

 as exhibited by their eggs, larvae and pupae show that both of 

 these positions (except so far as they relate to the Alucitina) are 

 utterly untenable. 



The " plume" moths must be divided into two distinct families, 

 the Pterophorina and the Alucitina. 



The Alucitina* belong to the Pyraloid section of the Obtectae, 

 the larva of which have a complete circle of hooks to ventral 

 prolegs, and the pupa of which is " smooth and rounded, later- 

 ally solid, inner dissepiments flimsy. The free segments in both 

 sexes are the fifth and sixth abdominal. Never emerges from 

 the cocoon or progresses in any way and dehisces by irregular 

 fracture." 



The Pterophorina belong to the Incomplete, and have no af- 

 finities with Alucitina. Both groups have under the same or 

 similar necessities developed "plume" wings, and this is the 

 only connection. The pupa is attached by a cremaster; "less 

 solid and rounded, appendages often partially free. Free seg- 

 ments may extend upwards to the 3d abdominal. The yth ab- 

 dominal segment is always free in the male, fixed in the female. 

 Dehiscence accompanied by freeing of segments and appendages 

 previously fixed." 



The type of Alucitina may be taken as Alucita hexadactyla, 

 that of Pterophorina as Pterophorus monodactyla. 



The greatest nuisance at the present time is the impossibility 

 of bringing our would-be teachers in the Old and New World 

 into line, so that intelligent scholars in both areas may proceed 

 on the same advanced lines. Professor Fernald's lessons are, I 

 know, called " Elementary," but they need not, therefore, pro- 

 pound exploded notions, nor bring forward as up-to-date science, 

 what recent experiment and observation have pioved untenable. 

 We should scarcely offer as an elementary lesson in Geology the 

 Biblical account of the Flood, and the supposed connection be- 

 tween Pterophorina and the Pyralidina is almost as obsolete. 



I would suggest that American entomologists, who are inter- 

 ested in the broader biological studies as exhibited in the structure 

 of the eggs, larvae and pupae, and who think that biological study 



* Called -by Prof. Fernald Orneodinse, probably a name of Mr. Meyrick's, whose clas- 

 sification of the Pyralidina has not yet been accepted in Britain by any lepidopterists of 

 repute. 



