xviii INTRODUCTION. 



"It is unnecessary to trace back the descent of the Lepidoptera further; but it 

 may be worth while to point out that we may assume as the primitive type of 

 Trichopterous neuration, a system of numerous longitudinal veins gradually diverging 

 from the base, mostly furcate terminally, and connected by a series of irregularly placed 

 cross-bars near base, and another series beyond middle." 



The following is Mr. Meyriek's method of arrangement, which has been adopted 

 in this book : — 



" The natural order of arrangement, which is that of a much-branched tree, 

 cannot be adequately expressed by a simple linear succession, such as is alone 

 practicable in a book. It is, however, possible to devise a linear succession which 

 shall be consistent with the natural genealogical order, if some additional explanation 

 can be given. The method here adopted is as follows: — 



" Suppose the accompanying diagram represents a portion of the genealogical tree ; 

 then the order will begin at M and descend to K, recommence at L and descend 

 to K, and thence to G, recommence at H and descend 

 to G, and thence to B, recommence at F and descend to 

 D, recommence at E and descend to D and thence to 13, 

 recommence at C and descend to B and thence to A, and 

 so on. Thus the order begins with the most recently 

 developed forms and descends gradually to the earliest 

 or most ancestral, which are the last in the book. To 

 understand the order in practice, it may be assumed that 

 each genus • is descended from that which immediately 

 follows it in the book, unless its actual descent is expressly 

 stated otherwise ; such statement will, of course, require to 

 be made before every recommencement of a fresh branch. 



This system has been adhered to throughout, and after a little use will not be found 

 unintelligible. If adopted in the arrangement of a collection in the cabinet, it would 

 be a good plan to indicate the recommencement of a fresh branch by a special mark, 

 such as a red bar drawn above the first (or highest) species." 



Phylogeny of Lepidoptera. (After Meyrick.) 



Notodontina Papilionina 



Caradrinina Lasiocampina Pyralidina 

 l_ I I 



Psychina Tortricina 



I I 



I 



Tineina 



I 

 Micropterygina 



