Neurntion of the Wings of American Tineina. 197 



and Phyllocnistis are very near each other, notwithstanding the dif- 

 ferences in the neuration and palpi, and Phillonome is related to 

 Bxicculatrix. Eulyonetia I place doubtfulW in this family, princi- 

 pally because of its neuration, 'since in many respects it seems to be 

 rather related to tne Elachistidoi. The neuration of the Neiiticiilida' 

 is sufficiently illustrated in Ins. Brit., vol. 3. 



It will be seen that I have followed the classification of Mr. Stainton; 

 yet the remarks above made seem to me to point toward a closer con- 

 nection between the Elacliistidce, Lithocolletiddi and Lyonetidie than 

 appears in Mr. Stainton's system; and I also think Gracilaria is 

 separated too widelj' from LithocoUetis, by placing the Coleophoridcz 

 and Elnchistidce between them; and, as I have elsewhere intimated, 

 there are some facts in the larval history of Nepticula, which seem 

 to suggest for it a place even above Oracilaria.* So if CEnoe hybro- 

 wella belongs in Elachistidoi, as it certainly does, if we rely on pterogos- 

 tic characters alone, it points to a connection with the Tiveidoi; whilst 

 if Dryope luurtfeldtella belongs to Elachistidoi, it shows almost equal 

 affinities with the Gelechidoi. It is too early yet. however, to form a 

 perfect system; but Mr. Stainton has unquestionably the best arrange- 

 ment of the Tineina thus far offered. Many of the species above men- 

 tioned are known only as perfect insects, and their location must re- 

 main merely- provisional until their entire larval and pupal history is 

 known. 



* Psyche, Nov. & Dec, 1879. — The reason there given is that the larvae oi Nepticula leave 

 the egg with more perfect trophi than those of Grucilaria, Lithoeolletin, Leucanihiza and 

 I'liyllocnistis. The former leave it with trophi of the ordinary Lepidopterous larval type 

 (like fig. 3. ante p. 92); the latter with trophi as in fig 1, loc. cit.\ and they are the only Lep- 

 idopterous larvae that are known to possess such trophi. Larvse with trophi of this type 

 must feed internally; those with trophi as in fig. 3 may be miners or burrowers, as many of 

 them are, though most of them feed externally. The four genera above named also assume 

 trophi of the fig 3 form towards the latter part of their larval existence, while still remaining 

 in the mine, and subject to the same conditions, but some of them leave the mine afterwards, 

 their structure having first been adapted to the subsequent functions. The fig. 1 form is 

 always associated with membraneous thoracic larval legs, and at the moult at which the 

 trophi are changed, as just stated, these legs also are shed, and followed by legs of the or- 

 dinary Lepidopterous larval form in Gracilaria, Leucantliiza , and some JMhoeolletis\ but 

 Nepticula, with the fig. 3 trophi, always has membraneous legs, and so has Phyllncnistis and 

 a few LitliocolletiH. It is uncertain whether trophi of the fig. 1 form, and membraneous legs, 

 indicates an earlier stage of development, or are merely degraded or adaptive forms: at 

 any rate their possession by the four genera (not including Nepticxila) indicates a closer re- 

 lationship between them than is usually supposed to exist, and if it indicates an earlier 

 stage, then, perhaps, Nepticula should precede them, notwithstanding that it also has mem- 

 braneous legs. If as Sir John Lubback supposes, Ca7///i0(i«rt, or some similar type, represents 

 the original insect form, then these four genera must be degraded as to their trophi and 

 legs, and Nepticula also as to its legs But if the original insect type was vermiform, then 

 fig. 1 may represent an earlier stage than fig. 3. As stated above, Nepticula also has mem- 

 braneous legs, but neither they nor those of Phyllncnistifi are homologous with ordinary 

 Lepidopterous larval legs, they difi'er in number and situation, and those of Phyllncuiftifi 

 are merely retractile processes. It is diflBcult to understand how by " natural selection," or 

 adaptation, organs of the Campodea type can have given place to organs like those of Gracil- 

 aria, Leucantkiea and Lithocoll^tis temporarily, to reappear in a later stage under the same 

 conditions of existence ; or how in Nepticula and PlujllocnistiH they disappear entirely to be 

 followed by locomotive organs of a different kind and number, and diflferently situated, and 

 then reappear again in the pupa, all under the same conditions of existence. 



