BY E. MEYRICK, B.A. 207 



5 and 6 stalked or separate. Larva sixteen-legged, feeding 

 internally on seeds or bark. 



The normal type of markings consists of a pale central longi- 

 tudinal streak and oblique costal and dorsal streaks on a darker 

 ground. Structurally, as mentioned above, the family approaches 

 the Tineidce, especially in the rough head and folded well-developed 

 maxillary palpi ; the head is however less rough behind, and 

 especially tufted on the forehead, where the hairs commonly form 

 a projecting ridge ; all the wings, especially the hind- wings, are 

 narrower and more lanceolate, though there are exceptions ; vein 

 1 of fore-wings is often not furcate ; the obliteration of the sub- 

 costal veins of both wings on their basal halves appears to be a 

 constant character ; the tyj)e of markings is quite different, and 

 approximates in principle to that of the Ghjphij^terygidcB. I am 

 aware that these points hardly afford sufficient justification for 

 the creation of a new family ; but the insects themselves assort 

 so ill with the Tineidce, that I prefer to regard them provisionally 

 as a distinct group, believing that science will be better served 

 by an attempted arrangement, even if it be proved hereafter 

 faulty, than by throwing all together into a heterogeneous mass. 

 The group as constituted is at least natural in itself. 



The family is probably of some extent in the Australian region, 

 though not at present known to me as occurring elsewhere. I 

 have described ten Australian and six New Zealand species, and 

 have every reason to believe that many more remain to be found, 

 especially in New Zealand, where the typical genus ErecMhias 

 seems to be dominant. 



I purpose reserving until I come to treat of the Oecoplioridce 

 (where they will have an especial significance) some remarks on 

 the meaning and value attached to the group called a family, with 

 reference to the difficulty of limiting these groups when natural 

 by any fixed definition of characters. 



