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MACROLEPIDOPTERA "''^'^r>. 



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



In this paper are included all the Lepidoptera except the Pterophoridae, Tortricina, 

 and Tineina, which have been entrusted to Lord Walsingham. I propose to give a 

 complete enumeration of all the species hitherto observed in the Hawaiian islands, 

 describing the very numerous new species, and also redescribing those species of which 

 our former imperfect knowledge has been enlarged by the acquisition of new material ; 

 and also to discuss some general considerations arising from the study of these forms. 



I have not thought it necessary to quote the synonymy of the species, or to give 

 references, except in so far as these have actual relation to the Hawaiian Islands. The 

 accurate record of localities is in the case of this fauna so important for purposes of 

 comprehension, that I have thought it best to particularise the number of specimens 

 obtained from each locality, so as to indicate the value of the available evidence. On 

 the other hand, the season of capture seems to depend in most cases only on the 

 presence of the collector, and the impression derived from the records is that many 

 species are probably obtainable throughout the year. 



§ 1. General considerations on the Macrolepidoptera. 



In the following enumeration 292 species are recorded, of which number exactly 

 200 are now described for the first time ; these are assigned to 49 genera, of which 

 6 are new. 



Relation of Genera and Species. 



Of the 292 species, 31 occur also in other regions, the remaining 261 (or 89 per 

 cent.) are endemic. Future discoveries are more likely to increase this percentage 

 than to diminish it. 



Of the 49 genera, only 10 (or 20 per cent.) are endemic, the other 39 occur 

 elsewhere. The endemicity of the species is therefore four and a half times as great 

 as that of the genera. It appears to me that this ratio, in the case of a highly endemic 

 fauna, is an index of the same significance as is the proportion of species to genera in a 

 highly apodemic fauna. If, as an example of the latter, we take the Lepidopterous 

 fauna of the British Isles, as enumerated in my Handbook of British Lepidoptera, we 

 find 2061 species and 458 genera, the ratio being 4^^ to i exactly. I interpret this 

 index as a measure of the comparative periods of time required to produce specific and 

 M. F. H. 17 



