BY R. .1. TtLLYAKD. 133 



p/ii/a, in certain Megaloptera as well as in some Trichoptera (by 

 no means in all), it is clear that the presence or absence of these 

 structures does not determine the Order to which the Miv.ro- 

 pferygidoe are to belong; it only marks them as archaic. 



(3) Are the Micropterygidce true Lepidoptera ? 



As this question is clearly the alternative to (2), the arguments 

 used against (2) are those that tell in favour of (3). Hence there 

 is no need to repeat them. We have, already shown that (a) the 

 general venational scheme might be regarded with equal reason 

 as either Trichopterous or Lepidopterous; and (b) judged by four 

 outstanding wing-characters, the Micropterygidce are most cer- 

 tainly archaic Lepidoptera. 



It is only necessary to add that the wings do not exhibit a 

 single character inconsistent with the inclusion of this family 

 within the Order Lepidoptera. 



While the final decision still rests to a large extent upon 

 characters to be studied in the other parts of this paper, yet it 

 will be seen that the study of the wings yields results that are 

 strongly in favour of the Lepidopterous nature of the Micro- 

 pterygidce. Et is also strongly in favour of the unity of the group 

 as a whole, either as a single family Micropterygidce, as Meyrick 

 holds them to be, or as three separate but closely allied families, 

 forming the division Jugo frenata of the Suborder Homoneura. 

 The choice between these two alternatives rests, of course, not 

 only upon the wing-characters, but upon the differences to We 

 found in the mouth-parts, and the larval and pupal forms. It 

 is, however, quite feasible to give good definitions, on wing- 

 characters only, for the determination of these three families, if 

 it should be found finally necessary to adopt them, as follows: — 



(1) Family Micropterygidce (s.str. ): — Wings sharply pointed and very 

 symmetrical about their longitudinal axes; costal area of forewing 

 enlarged and crossed near its middle by an oblique branch from ISc. 

 Original dichotomous branching of lis preserved. Scales without 

 scalloping of distal border, cross stimulation, enclosed pigment, and 

 coarsened longitudinal striae. Jugal lobe small, bent under fore- 

 wing; a patch of short, stiff spines placed just distad from it to 



help in the holding of the frenulum 



(Genera Micropteryx, Sabatinca, Micropardalis, Epimartyria). 



