791 



REVISION OF AUSTRALIAN LEPIDOPTERA. 

 By E. Meyrick, B.A., F.Z.S. 



IV. 



A third family of the Geometrina, the Hydriomenidae, are here 

 presented. I have hitherto called this family by the name Laren- 

 tiadae, but my recent investigations on the European species have 

 led to my recognising that the generic terms Larentia and Cidaria 

 must be di'opped, and the name of the family altered in accordance. 



The number of species which I am able to give is 91, but I am 

 disposed to think that many more remain to be discovered. As a 

 rule, the species of this family inhabit temperate climates ; very 

 few seem to occur in the northern parts of Australia, but the 

 number increases continually as one goes south ; they are plentiful 

 in Tasmania, and my visit to Mount Kosciusko furnished many 

 new species. In Nev/ Zealand also the family is largely developed . 



Xanthorhoe (with Dasyuris) may be taken as the earliest form, 

 of which genera 14-19 are developments; of these Hydrioviena 

 is dominant, and gives rise to the Asthena group and Lohophora 

 group, besides smaller offshoots, as Scordylia. From Lohophora 

 originates the Pasiphila group, of which genera 2-5 form a section 

 specially characteristic of Australia and New Zealand. 



As the markings of the species consist of a series of transverse 

 lines, variously modified, and the colouring is usually very confused 

 and ill-defined, the descriptions require close attention for identi- 

 fication, and any structural points, such as the length of the palpi 

 (expressed hereinafter in terms of the breadth of the eye) or of 

 the ciliations or pectinations of the antennae (expressed in terms 

 of the breadth of the stalk) should be carefully observed. Guenee's 

 descx'iptions, which lack precision, are here not always identifiable. 



The usual structure of the Geometrina is assumed throughout, 

 unless specially stated ; e.g., veins 7 and 8 of forewings rise out of 

 9, unless an apparent exception is expressly affirmed. 



