The Hepiali have generally been considered as the connecting 

 link of the Sphingidae and Bombycidae ; to some of the Zyga- 

 nidae the larvoB are very analogous in habit as well as eco- 

 nom}', and the passage from Hepialus by means of Cossus and 

 Zeuzera to Saturnia, as proposed by Latreille in his Conside- 

 rations Generates, is we think most admirable. Our genus 

 will admit of divisions, since the antennae of the males are 

 simple in some species, and in others they are pectinated ; the 

 hinder legs of the males of H. Humuli are beautifully orna- 

 mented with long hair as represented at figure 8f, which may 

 assist them in their singular undulating flight, and those of 

 the same sex o^ H. Hectus, which have no feet (vide fig. H), 

 have a dilated clavate tibia furnished with long hairy scales, 

 which enables them most probably to perform their curious 

 vacillating evolutions, very naturally compared to the pendu- 

 lum of a clock in motion. These insects are rendered still 

 more remarkable by being entirely destitute of trophi ; for al- 

 though Fabricius has assigned to them palpi and the rudi- 

 ments of a tongue in his generic characters, we can detect 

 neither. 



The genus contains the following British species : 



1. H. Humuli Linn. — Do7i. 8. 274, mas. 'k, Jem. — Appears 



the middle of June, in grassy places ; the larvse are 

 found in August feeding upon the roots of Humulus 

 LupuluSi the common Hop. 



2. Lupulinus Linn. — Fab., Jem. — Hub., Och. — obliquus 



Fab., mas., — Coq. t. 1.J\ 6. — Harris, pi. 22. /^ 1. — 

 Hww. Flina Hilb.,fem. — fuscus & nebulosus Ha'do. — 

 End of Maj', meadows. 

 S. Velleda Esp., Hub., Haw. — Mappa Do7i. 10. 360. 3. — 

 June: Darent Wood, Kent; Ambleside, and Stirling. 



4. carnus Fab., Och., Hiib. mas. — Jodutta F. P Hiib.,fcm. 



Near Stirling Castle, and outside a wood by Amble- 

 side ; in company with the last. 



5. sylvinus Linn., &c. — Found about weedy banks in Au- 



gust and September : — there can no longer be any 

 doubt that the two insects figured are the sexes, 

 since they are not only considered as such on the 

 continent, but they have been repeatedly taken in 

 pairs in this country. 



6. Hectus Linn. — Fab. — Don. 8. 274. mas. — Sch(Ef. Icon, 



115. 1. & 2. — Jodutta Schr., Esp. — Found in open 

 places in woods, the middle of June. 

 Alchemilla vulgaris (Common Lady's Mantle) is represented 

 in the plate. 



