BY A. J. TURNER. 835 



(or in exotic genera rarely rudimentary and not reaching costa); 

 frenulum present; retinaculum bar-shaped. 



A family derived from the Arctiadce, usually easily distinguished 

 by the absence of vein 8 of the hindwings, but some of the exotic 

 genera are not so easily separated. With the Zygcenidce, with 

 which it was formerl}" confused, it has no near relationship, the 

 resemblance being only analogical, or probably, in some instances, 

 mimetic. The Australian species give little idea of its extent; 

 there are some twelve hundred known species, which form the 

 subject of the first volume of Sir Geo. Hampson's great work on 

 the Lepidoptera Phalsense. These may be divided into two 

 groups, one comprising three-fourths of the species, being confined 

 to the Neotropical region, with the exception of a few which 

 range into North America, and of the single genus Euch7'omia. 

 The other is restricted to the Eastern hemisphere, being mainly 

 developed in the tropical and subtropical zones, with stragglers 

 into the temperate zone. 



Mr. Edw. Meyrick has published a valuable paper on the Aus- 

 tralian species;* but considerable fresh material has come to hand 

 since that date, and the group, which is one of special difficulty, 

 needs fresh revision. Neither this writer nor Sir Geo. Hampson 

 had an adequate amount of Australian material to work with. 



The Australian sjDecies probably form a relatively inedible 

 group, acquiring protection either from conspicuously brilliant 

 coloration as in EiLchromia, or in close adherence to a common 

 and simple pattern of coloration (synaposematic) in the case of 

 the other genera. To this pattern are also assimilated the species 

 of the genera Thyrassia and Monoschalis among the ZygcenidcB^ 

 and Asura^ and perhaps also Eutane among the Arctiudce. 



A. Hindwings with vein 7 absent. 



B. Hindwings with 8 and 4 absent 1. Ceryx, 



BB. Hindwings with 3 present, 4 absent. 



C. Hindwings with 3 and 5 connate 2. Syntomis. 



CC. Hindwings with 3 and 5 separate 3. Eressa. 



A A. Hindwings with 7 present 4. Euchromia. 



* These Proceedings, 18S6, p. 773. 



