578 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



arising very near the apex of the wing, far beyond the origin of the 3d 

 subcostal (Illg). The 2d median (IVo) forms an independent vein, as 

 in Ceratocampidae. The discal cell is very small, and the discocellular 

 veins form a reentering ancfle. In the hind wing the discal cell is re- 

 markably short, not much longer than wide. The subcostal vein (II), 

 instead of being remote from the subcostal as in all Ceratocampidae, 

 is very close to the subcostal, nearly touching it a little beyond the 

 discocellulars. 



The ^ genital armature is of the Cei'atocampid type ; the suranal plate 

 being large, broad, slightly bilobed at the end, while the claspers are 

 very broad, rounded at the end, and not mucronate. 



While B. certhia is regarded as the type of the genus, it, or any of the 

 Asiatic species, scarcely appears to be the stem-form. For this we shall 

 have to turn to the West African B. luchia, in which the fore wings are 

 produced towards the apex which is somewhat falcate, and (he markings 

 suggest the South American Arsenura ; the apical oval dark spots recall 

 those of that genus. 



Although there are certain striking superficial resemblances in the 

 larva and pupa to the Ceratocampidae, the antennae are, however, as 

 in Bomhyx mori and Lasiocampidae, there being but a single pair of 

 pectinations to a joint. The larva before the first moult is as in B. mori 

 and Endromis, the flattened tubercles giving rise to several (6-10) 

 setae. The head is as in B. mori, the epicranium short and broad, the 

 clypeus sunken; the suranal plate as in B. mori and Lasiocampidae. 

 The Brahraaeidae should be associated in a group for which we propose 

 the name Symhombycina, with the families Bombycidae, Endromidae, 

 Lasiocampidae, Liparidae, and Eurypterotidae. 



We have, from our studies, been led to infer that the original home of 

 the Brahmaeidae may have been in Africa south of the Sahara region, 

 and that the Asiatic and southeastern species are derived from African 

 forms. They are certainly rather more modified, the wings shorter 

 and broader, and the markings more specialized than in the African 

 B. lucina. 



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