416 DESCRIPTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTEKA, 



genera which are found elsewhere, if not stragglers from this 

 centre, may be regarded as very old. 



"With the exception of one South American genus ( Gonionotd) 

 nearly allied to the New Zealand Semiocosma, the family is hardly 

 known as yet outside Europe and North America. Nearly all 

 the genera of these regions are derivable from Oecopliora and 

 Pleurota, w^hich, on the grounds recently pointed out, may be 

 assumed to be very old. The exceptions are Anchinia and 

 (7«coc^rO(7, allied to TracTiypepla ; Hi/percallia, sdiied to Veltopliora; 

 and the single European species of 'Peltoplioni ; all these together 

 number only half-a-dozen species, and they may possibly be 

 stragglers, a point which can only be determined by a knowledge 

 of other regions. The relationship between the Australian and 

 New Zealand genera will be discussed elsewhere \ it will be 

 sufficient here to remark that the only genus considerably 

 developed in both lands is Oecopliont, whose antiquity is thus 

 further corroborated. 



The special developmental origin of each genus, so far as it can 

 be traced with probability, will be indicated in each case in the 

 general remarks ; and anyone can therefore, if he pleases, draw 

 up for himself a genealogical table to express my conclusions, 

 which are offered as probable only. It may, however, be of 

 assistance, if I here sum up briefly the general lines of develop- 

 ment of the family. The oldest existing genus is Oecopliora ; 

 immediately connected with this is Pldoeopola ; thence arise 

 collaterally jE'2^Zec/ir/« and. Phil ohoia ; irom PJiihhota originates 

 the extensive group including Peltopliora and Coesijra ; from 

 Philohota also, through HeliocaiLsta, is derived Hoplitica, and 

 through Eocliroa, Palparla. The remaining genera can be 

 arranged in groups round these centres. 



The most valuable structural character for classification is 

 afforded by the termination of vein 7 of the f orewings, by which 

 the family is divided into two main natural groups ; in the first 



