98 GEO. D. HULST. 



Epliestia (Index p. 81). The first species under this, ehdella, has 

 always been considered the type of this genus, which is a good one. 



Next in order as a systeniatist came Pi"of. Zeller. He first recog- 

 nized the true relations of the Phycitidae, and arranged the species 

 on the basis of a natural classification, which, however much it has 

 been or may be improved upon, will remain permanently a basis of 

 classification in this family. 



In Isis 1839, he first published his views of the family. He there 

 separated the species from the Tineidie, witli which they had been 

 grouped from the very beginning. He seemed to have had a knowl- 

 edge of what almost all otliers ):)efore him had done, recognized 

 Hiibner's work and gave him due credit for it. He, in this paper, 

 himself describes Acrobasis, Ancylosis, Etie/hi and Plnjcklea = Ho- 

 mocosoma Curtis. Of these all are represented in our fauna, except 

 the second. 



In Isis, 1846, Prof Zeller again touched upon this family, and 

 described Diorydria, Salebria and Psorosa. All of these are repre- 

 sented among North American Phycitid^. 



In Isis, 1848, Prof Zeller a third time reverted to the subject, and 

 gives a synopsis based largely upon structural characters, and thus 

 lavs down a natural and permanent basis of classification. In this 

 synopsis Prof Zeller makes use of the structure of the labial and 

 maxillary palpi, the antennae and ocelli. He, however, ignores ve- 

 nation, or where noticing it seems to regard it of little systematic 

 value. He also emphasizes greatly the frontal scale tuft, as in his 

 classification of the Tineidie, a thing Avhich seems to have compara- 

 tively little or no value in a natural classification. His knowledge 

 of the maxillary palpi was one of appearance, and not of the real 

 structure of the organ. 



In 1863 was published Part 27 of the Catalogue of the Lepidop- 

 tera-HeteroCera British Museum, and in 1866 Part 35, its supple- 

 ment. In Part 27, pp. 22-139, and in the Supplement, pp. 1708-49, 

 Mr. Walker describes many new genera. Of these Stantlra, Sehunta, 

 Benta, MeMtara and Cutina, are based on American species, and 

 Siibrita has an American species under it. The type of Melitara is 

 2jrodenia/is = bollli Zell., as I am informed by Mr. Ragonot. Prof. 

 Fernald, who has examined the type informs me Sehunta is not a 

 Phycitid, but is a synonym of Boils iUibalis Hiib. 



The rest of Walker's new American genera are as yet undeter- 

 mined. It is probable also his genera based on material from other 



