BY E. MEYRICK, B.A. 133 



though it is now difficult to say whether it has or has not been 

 introduced by man into this and other countries : the rest are all 

 endemic. 



The families here treated of form (with the addition of the 

 genus Nepticula, of which I am acquainted with at least fifteen 

 Australian species, though not yet prepared to describe them,) a 

 natural group, sharply terminated at both ends, though admitting 

 of a wide range of structural variation. The materials collected 

 are sufficient to give a fairly accurate conception of the form in 

 which the group appears in this region, and enable me to make 

 a few remarks upon the classification and order of development 

 of the genera. Excluding Nepticula, these are generally classed 

 in three families, — Gracilaridm, LitJiocolletidce, and LyonetidcE' 

 Wocke has wished to split up the Lijonetidm into two or more 

 families, on the ground of differences in neuration, but this seems 

 very unnecessary. I am clear, however, that Lithocolletis and its 

 allies cannot be kept apart from the GracilaridcB, with which they 

 agree in the structure of the head, and especially in respect of the 

 f ourteen-legged larva, found in no other Tinema, and of the larval 

 habits. There are however a few very small genera fTischeria, 

 Bedellia, TIrodeta, Arctocoma (described hereafter), and perhaps 

 Oetiophila, of which the larva is hardly known) which are some- 

 times referred to the ZitlwcoUetidce, and sometimes to the IJ lack is f idee 

 but do not agree with either, being separated from the former by 

 the sixteen-legged larvse, and from the latter by the roughly tufted 

 head. I would place these in a separate family, which I have 

 below called Bedellidcd, a step which appears to me to be in 

 accordance with nature, and to simplify the systematic discrimi- 

 nation of the families. The Lyonetidce form a natural group, 

 distinguished from both the preceding by the basal joint of the 

 antennee expanded into an eyecap. The NepticididcB also possess 

 the eyecap, but have well-developed maxillary palpi, peculiar 

 neuration, and larvse with 18 imperfectly developed pro-legs, not 

 found elsewhere in the Tineina. 



