BY E. MEYEICK, B.A. 205 



number forty-two are new to science. One species appears to 

 liave been introduced, sixteen are confined to New Zealand, the 

 remaining thirty-six are confined to Australia. Before giving 

 the descriptions, I will offer some general remarks upon the 

 classification of the families forming the subject of the paper. 



Amogst the Glyphiptenjgidce'Lh.SiYQ included the genera Simaethis 

 and CJioreutls, usually separated by European entomologists as a 

 distinct family, under the title of ChoreuUdce. These insects have 

 long been held to be of doubtful location, but our recent increased 

 knowlege of the group has caused unprejudiced minds to have 

 little hesitation in referring them at least to the neighbourhood of 

 of the Glyijlupterygidce ; so near do the}' come to this family in 

 structure that no definite point of distinction can be alleged, 

 except the abnormally broader wings, a variable and insufficient 

 character. I am decidedly of opinion that there is no ground for 

 separating the two families ; were they regarded as distinct, it 

 would certainly be necessary to form a third family for the 

 Australian genera Hypertropha, Eupselia, and Aeolocosma, which 

 are aUied to but differ from both. Perhaps this might eventually 

 be done, but at present I think it would be at least premature. 

 It must be admitted, however, that it is hardly psssible to define 

 the family as a whole so as to distinguish it from the OeGoplioridcE, 

 to which it comes nearest. The best points on which to rely 

 consist in vein 1 of fore-wings not being furcate at base, veins 7 

 and 8 not being stalked, and the antennte of $ not being 

 conspicuously ciliated ; but to all these points there are several 

 exceptions, though I think one or more will always be found to 

 hold. The characters of the Oecoplioridcd proper (which family I 

 hope shortly to take in hand) are remarkably uniform in them- 

 selves. 



Of the Glyphipterygidce three European genera occur here, but 

 only two f Simaethis and Glypliipteryx) are represented by native 

 species, the single species of Choreutis being doubtless introduced 

 and tolerably cosmopolitan. The development of the genus 



