BY E. MEYRICK, B.A. 335 



23. Petalanthes Meyr. 



Head smooth, sidetufts rather small, appressed. Antennae 

 moderate, in $ with long fine cilia (3-4), basal joint rather 

 elongate, moderate, with thin pecten. Palpi rather long, second 

 joint reaching or somewhat exceeding base of antennae, densely 

 scaled, somewhat loosely beneath, terminal joint as long as second, 

 slender, recurved. Thorax smooth. Fore wings elongate, narrow, 

 apex obtuse, hindmargin very obliquely rounded. Hindwings 

 slightly narrower than forewings, elongate-ovate, hindmargin 

 rounded, cilia f , scaled at base. Abdomen moderate. Middle 

 tibiae with a dense median whorl of projecting hairs ; posterior 

 tibiae with short stiff hair-scales. Forewings with vein 7 to hind- 

 margin. Hindwings normal. 



I am unable to satisfy myself as to the affinity of this curious 

 genus, concerning which more information is required. Structurally 

 it presents no peculiarities, and differs little from Peltophava, to 

 which it may be allied. It is however, quite exceptional in the 

 curiously spotted hindwings of two of the species, evidently 

 intended for display, though I know very little of their habits. I 

 have not been able to obtain a specimen for dissection, all the 

 species being retired and scarce, and it is possible the neuration 

 may present further characters, 

 la. Forewings with a white discal spot. 



2a. Hindwings with a white subapical spot 124. hexastera. 



2b. , , without subapical spot 123. sphcerophora. 



lb. ,, without white spot 125. periclyta. 



123. Petal, sjihcerophora, n. sp. 



Parva, alis ant. nigris, macula disci parva nivea ; post, nigris, 

 macula ad basim flavido-cana, altera disci nivea. 



$. 10 mm. Head and thorax blackish-fuscous, face with a 

 few whitish scales. Palpi black, irregularly mixed with white. 

 Antennae, black, annulated beneath with white. Abdomen dark 

 fuscous, mixed with coppery-metallic scales, with a yellowish- 

 white basal band, and a whitish-yellow band midway between this 

 and apex. Anterior tibiae black irrorated with white, tarsi black 



