﻿32 Journal New York Ent. Soc. [Vol. iii. 



Josia from Jalapa, Mexico, in my collection ; the peculiarity is the 

 origin of veins II2 and III3 from a common stem, in which Phry- 

 ganidia apparently differs from some if not all other Dioptidse. 

 But the venation of the Dioptidai (including Phryganidia) and of 

 the Cyllopodidce is nearly identical with that of ]\TcIa/ic/iroia, and 

 the latter is a true Geometrid in its venation, and in the shape of 

 its larva, being a looper; of its pupa we know nothing. The 

 venation of the Geometrids is very persistent. Hence I conclude 

 that the day-flying usually bright colored Dioptidae and Cyllopodidae, 

 as well as the Hypsidae, are direct off-shoots from the Lithosian 

 stem, and their general resemblance to such Lithosiansas Crocota 

 and Ei/diile, as well as Ameria, is based on real affinity. The 

 day-flying habits of some Geometrids is also well known. The 

 larva of Eiip]iancssa is a Geometrid, but its moth has been usually 

 associated with the Lithosiidae, though its venation is Geometrid. 

 Riley describes the larva of Octa aurea as having " extremely small " 

 anterior abdominal legs, the anal being much larger. Probably 

 when we learn more of the transformations of the families we have 

 mentioned it will be found that the presence or absence of certain 

 abdominal legs will be found to be a secondary adaptational 

 character. It is noticeable that the dull colored Pluyganidia with 

 only incipient clouds instead of bars and spots is a primitive form as 

 regards markings. 



After an examination of the pupal and imaginal characters of 

 Geometrids, Dioptids, Hypsids and Syntomids it seems to me that 

 all these groups represent more or less parallel lines of development 

 which originated from the generalized Lithosiidre, the latter, with 

 the ZygaenidK, having sprung from generalized Tineina. The 

 Nolidae represent a side branch, which evolved from a Lithosian 

 perhaps like Clemensia. The Arctiida^ have also apparently directly 

 descended from the Lithosiidce. The Syntomids and Nyctemeridae 

 which seem closely allied by larval characters have also directly 

 descended along another line from the Lithosiidae. 



Finally it appears that the Geometridas are a more primitive 

 type, and have no relationship to the Noctuida^, the latter having 

 more or less directly descended from the Agaristidae, the latter 

 from the Hypsidae or allied forms perhaps extinct. The fact that 

 the young larvae of many Noctuidai have only two pairs of legs 

 has no phylogenetic significance. 



\\-\ this preliminary abstract space has prevented giving details 

 and figures to prove the truth of the assertions and conclusions 

 here presented. 



