582 REVISION OF AUSTRALIAN LEPIDOPTERA, 



SELIDOSEMIDAE. 



Ocelli and maxillary palpi usually obsolete. Forewings with 

 vein 5 rising midway between 4 and 6, parallel, 7 and 8 rising out 

 of 9. Hindwings with frenulum developed ; vein lc absent, 5 

 obsolete or reduced to a thickened fold, not tubular, 8 free or 

 coDnected to cell at a point only. 



A very large and cosmopolitan family. The group of which 

 Chlenias may be considered the type is more developed in Aus- 

 tralia than in any other region, and may be regarded as endemic 

 and characteristic ; yet even here it has evidently suffered much 

 loss, and is now comparatively fragmentary ; whilst the group of 

 Selidosema, dominant in all regions but probably much later in 

 reaching Australia, has already developed numerous endemic and 

 connected forms, and has largely taken the place of earlier types. 



In the following tabulation of genera 38, Neoteristis and 39, 

 Moclilotona are not included, as the characters of the £, which 

 are necessarily made use of, are unknown for those genera ; they 

 must be borne in mind and consulted separately. It should be 

 noted also that the anterior triangular thoracic crest, when not 

 largely developed, is easily rubbed off, and may then be erroneously 

 regarded as absent (this often the case in Amelora), nor can I be 

 sure, where the material has been scanty, that I have not myself 

 passed it over in some instances. The posterior thoracic crest 

 is less exposed. 



The structure here called the fovea (characteristic of the Selido- 

 sema group, but not present in all genera of it) is a circular 

 depression on the lower surface of the forewing, placed at the 

 base of vein lb, and found in the <J only. It has sometimes a 

 striated appearance, and the edges are often thickened, but I 

 know no evidence as to its functions, which are perhaps secretory! 

 1. Antenna? in <J bipectinated or rarely only 



acutely bidentate 2. 



Antenna? in <J not bipectinated or acutely 



bidentate 28. 



