174 LEPIDOPTERA. 



sometimes pectinated in the males. One of the commonest Indian 

 species is Hypsa Carkce, Linn. The body, hind wings, and base of 

 the fore wings are yellow, spotted with black, and the fore wings 

 are otherwise grey, with a longitudinal white dash, varying in 

 size. 



Family VII. — Nydemeridce. 



Another small group, allied to the Lithosiidce, but with broader 

 wings, and usually with pectinated antennae. Most of the species 

 are Indian or African. In the genus Nyciemera, Hiibn., the fore 

 wings are generally dark brown, with white streaks radiating 

 from the base, and the hind wings are white, with brown borders. 

 N. Annulata, Boisd., however, a common Australian species, is 

 black, with white spots. A very similar species {N. DouhUdayi, 

 Walk.) occurs in New Zealand. 



Pterothysanus Laticilia, Walk., is a North Indian insect, mea- 

 suring two and a half inches across the wings. This is more than 

 the usual size of the species of Hypsa, and the wings are broader. 

 The fore wings are dark brown, marked with many white spots of 

 different sizes, and the hind wings are white, with three macular 

 brown bands. The antennae are remarkably short, and not pecti- 

 nated, and the hind wings are fringed with very long hairs. This 

 insect is of rather doubtful position. It has some resemblance to 

 the Euschcmidce, which are now proved to be Geometrce, but its 

 position will probably be decided by the discovery of the larva. 



Family VIII. — Liparidce. 



Antennae short, generally pectinated in the males ; males often 

 much smaller than the females, with comparatively slender bodies ; 

 females sometimes apterous, at other times winged, often with a 

 large tuft of down at the tip of the abdomen ; wings broad, dull- 

 coloured ; larvae often with projecting tufts of hair. 



Several species of this family fly by day. The most familiar 

 of these is the male of the Vapourer Moth (Orgyia Antiqua, Linn.), 

 a brownish tawny moth about an inch in expanse, with a large white 

 spot near the anal angle of the fore wings. It is common in England, 

 and is frequently to be seen even in London, wherever trees grow ; 

 the wings of the female are rudimentary. The males of the Gipsy 

 Moth {Li])ans Dis/jar, Linn.) are equally abundant on the Continent, 

 where their caterpillars are sometimes very destructive. They are 

 brown, aud measure about an inch and a half across the wings ; 



