MACROLEPIDOPTERA 129 



have been largely replaced throughout its range by its improved descendants. The 10 

 endemic Hawaiian species form a single group, probably of Asiatic origin. 



Omiodes is a genus of moderate extent, spread over the tropical and subtropical 

 regions of the whole globe. The 13 endemic species form one connected group, in 

 which the characteristic elongation of the patagia is less marked than usual, and 

 the type may therefore be regarded as comparatively early. Their origin would seem 

 to be Asiatic. 



Pyrausta is a very large genus, especially characteristic of the Northern hemisphere, 

 though a certain number of species are found in the Southern. The 10 endemic 

 species constitute a single group, but two of them show a certain structural modifi- 

 cation which might be termed subgeneric. In their general character they so much 

 resemble the species of the allied genus Phlyctaenia, that it seems fair to presume 

 they are an early type, recalling the common ancestor of Phlyctaenia and Pyrausta ; 

 and as Phlyctaenia is characteristic of Europe and N. Asia, we may suppose that 

 they are probably of Asiatic origin. 



The features of this class, which must be of a considerable age, agree, so far 

 as they can be deciphered, in pointing to a predominant Asiatic influence. 



(e) Apodemic genera, with 24 — 57 endemic species. 



These include 3 genera and 106 species. 



Agrotis is a very large and dominant genus of world-wide distribution, but most 

 largely developed in Northern temperate regions. Two apodemic species occur, 

 A. saucia being common to Europe and N. America, and A. ypsilon ranging through- 

 out the Northern hemisphere and extending into the Southern ; the former must 

 be reckoned American, the latter uncertain. Besides these there are 23 endemic 

 species, not nearly related to the two already mentioned, but apparently all connected 

 together ; it is however difficult to affirm this, as change would seem to have taken 

 place on much the same lines as in other regions, and there is great similarity between 

 the species of different regions. The Hawaiian species as a whole certainly approach 

 nearest to those of N. America, some of the forms being so close that at first I thought 

 they might be identical ; hence it seems very probable that their origin is American. 



Phlyctaenia is a large genus, especially characteristic of Europe and N. Asia, but 

 with a few species elsewhere. There are 24 endemic species, forming a connected 

 group, whose origin must be esteemed undoubtedly Asiatic. 



Scoparia includes, so far as known to me, about 30 European species, 12 Asiatic, 

 3 African, 3 Madeira, 6 St Helena, 8 N. American, 9 S. American, 24 Australian, and 

 65 New Zealand. To these must now be added no less than 57 Hawaiian, all endemic, 

 and undoubtedly all belonging to a single group, presumably traceable to a single 

 ancestral form. This multiplicity of species is considered by Mr Perkins to be pardy 



