MOTHS. 199 



which we have figured, is not a very common species ; it is bright 

 ochre-yellow, with silvery-white stripes on the fore wings. 



Elachista, Staint., typical of the family Elachistidce, is remarkable 

 for the habits of the larvse, which mine in the leaves of grasses. 

 The perfect insects are pretty little moths ; some are white or grey, 

 but most of them are of dark colours, with white or silvery mark- 

 ings ; they measure about one-third of an inch across the wings. 



The smallest species of the Tinem belong to the families 

 Lithocolletidce, Neptkulidce, etc., and their larvae mine in the leaves 

 of various plants. Many are very beautiful, being of rich dark 

 colours, relieved by metallic spots. The smallest moth known is 

 Nepticula Microtheriella, Staint,, the larva of which mines in the 

 leaves of the nut. The moth only measures about one-eighth of 

 an inch across the wings. The species of Nepticula are black, 

 brown, or purplish brown, with white or yellow markings. 



Sub-Section IX. — Pterophori. 



Antennae, legs, and abdomen very long and slender; fore 

 wings generally split into two distinct feathers, and hind wings 

 into three. 



This section consists only of the single family Pterophoridm, 

 including the Plume Moths. They are probably allied to the 

 Fyrales, but have much outward resemblance to the Tipididce, 

 among the Diptera, especially when standing with their wings 

 extended, but folded into narrow compass. They are generally of 

 dull colours — brown, grey, or white. The commonest, and one 

 of the largest species, is the White Plume Moth (Fterophorus 

 Pentadactylus, Linn.), which is common in gardens ; it is nearly 

 pure white, and expands rather more than an inch. In one genus 

 {Agolidis, Hiibn.) the wings are not cleft. A. Adadyla, Hiibn., 

 is a native of Eastern Europe. 



Sub-Section X. — Aludtce. 



Body slender ; abdomen not extending beyond the hind wings ; 

 each wing split into six distinct feathers. 



Alucita Hexadacftjla, Linn., the Twenty-plume Moth, is the 

 only species of this group found in England, though several 

 others are found in Southern Europe. It is a small brownish 

 insect ; and when seen at rest the division of the broad wings 

 is not always apparent, and it might easily be mistaken for ;> 

 small Gcomdra. 



