BY K. .T. TILLYARD. 289 



more freely in front of tlie wings, while the approximation of 

 the two pairs of wings towards the mid-vertical plane is not so 

 great. The Psychopsi(/a' rest quite dilierently, with the wings 

 forming a very fiat roof over the body, the angle between each 

 forewing and the restiug-plane being very small. The resting 

 position of Ithone resembles that of a Hepialid moth. 



Having thus indicated the principal characters of this (as it 

 seems to me) exceedingly clearly defined family, we may summa- 

 I'ise them in the following short definition. Small, short-bodied 

 insects with short jyrothur ax. Antennoi (yf t)ioderate length, mon- 

 ili/orm, finely pectinate. Ocelli absent. Wings held almost 

 vertically in repose, ivith custid ■margins downwards, completely 

 hiding the body. Generalised form of Rs(not zig-zagged), and 

 numerous branchings of the veins at the margins of the wings. Sc 

 and Ji not fused distally. M fused basally vnth E in forewing, 

 ivilh v)eak base of Rs in hindivvng At least two radial sectors in 

 forewing; only one in hindicing, bid this one strengthened by the 

 development of at least one false origin, formed from a cross vein 

 placed distad from the true origiti.. Absence oj all unspecialised 

 cross-veins; tlie feio that are present forming either gradate series 

 or special braces between the main veins. A coupling apparatus, 

 in the form of juyal lobe and process, nearly always present at 

 base of icings. 



The Hemerobiidcc, then, are distinguished from the other 

 families with which they are likely to be confused, as follows 

 (the characters are numbered as above;:— 



From all except the Ithonido' and Dilaridif, by (1): from the 

 Ithonidcs and DilaridcB by (2). In particular 



From the Psychopsida- by (1), (3j, (4), (5), (9), and (10). 



From the Osmylidce by (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (8;, and (9), as well 

 as by the peculiar, elongated and upcurved mandibles of the 

 Osmylid larvae. 



From the Chrysopidw by (I), (4), (6), (7), (9;, and (10). 



From the Sisyridct by (1), (5), and the important dilierences 

 in larval form and life-history. 



From the Berothidce by (1), (3), (4), and (5), and the absence 

 of any scales on the wings of the female. 



