158 Transactions. — Zoology. 



which, so far as my memory serves me, is a further speciali- 

 sation of a similar type. 



Wing-scales : Towards the base of the inner margin of 

 fore wines I observed some hairs and a few scales without 

 teeth (fig. 1). On the wing-surface are three types of scales — 

 broad with blunt dentation, broad with sharp dentation, long 

 narrow scales irregularly dentate ; the latter appear to be 

 associated in position with the nervures on the wing (figs. 2, 

 3, and 4). Towards the outer margin I only observed the 

 broad scale with sharp dentation (fig. 3). The fringe is com- 

 posed of two patterns of scales : one forms a narrow fringe of 

 scales longer than the surface scales, broad at outer end and 

 more deeply dentate (fig. 6) ; one pattern forms a broad fringe 

 of longer, attenuated scales, the broad end split into very 

 long teeth (fig. 5). Both these patterns are contained in 

 the fringes of fore and hind wings, and they rise from the edge 

 ■of the wing-membrane. 



The study of scale-structure seems to be usually neglected, 

 yet appears to me worthy of attention. Among Lepidoptera 

 of more ancient type — for instance, Hepialidce—the thorax, 

 legs, and abdomen are covered with hair, and the covering 

 of the wings is partly hair, partly — towards the margins 



scales. These scales have smooth (rounded somewhat) 



tips among ancient genera (instance Porina), dentate tips 

 among specialised genera (instance Hecto?nanes, of Australia), 

 and, though the majority of Lepidoptera appear to have 

 dentate wing-scales, and scales on the thorax, &c, the study 

 of their structure would appear to be of value as an indica- 

 tion of affinity. 



Mr. Howes also kindly sent me specimens of Lysiphragma 

 epyxila,* imago, the larvae of which he states have similar 

 habits, and feed on the " soft inner bark of the broadleaf- 

 tree." This species, as regards neuration and wing-scales and 

 antenna?, is also identical with that which forms the subject 

 of my paper. It is, however, a larger insect. The markings 

 are similar, and evidently the two are most closely allied. 



EXPLANATION OP PLATE VIII. (in Part). 

 Imago of Lysiphragma howesii, nat. size. 

 Fig. A. Larva of Lysiphragma howesii; enlarged about 4 by 4. 

 Fig. B. Pupa of Lysiphragma howesii ; enlarged about 4 by 4. 

 Fig. C. Neuration of wings ; enlarged about 50 diameters. 

 Fig. 1. Basal wing-scale \ 

 Fig. 2. Surface wing-scale 



Fig. 3. Surface wing-scale I enlar „ ed aboufc 20 o diameters. 

 Fig. 4. Surface wing-scale ' 

 Fig. 5. Outer-fringe scale 

 Fig. 6. Inner-fringe scale 



Meyrick, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xx., p. 105 (1888). 



