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ILLUSTRATIONS 



BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY. 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



The third division of this order of insects embraces the 

 Lepidoptera Nocturna of Latreille, 

 Which have the antennoe setaceous, or diminishing gradually from the base to 

 the apex ; frequently ciliated, serrated, or pectinated, especially in the males, 

 and sometimes simple : wings, during repose, horizontal, or deflexed, some- 

 times convoluted, or roUed round the body; the posterior retaining the anterior 

 by a setiform process, as in the Crepuscularia. Larva various in form, with 

 from ten to sixteen legs : food various : pupa smooth, the abdominal segments 

 occasionally serrated, or denticulated ; changes in the ground, or in a foUiculus. 



This group, which corresponds with the genus Phalsena of Linne, 

 is evidently susceptible of subdivisions; but, from our confined 

 knovvledge of the structure, metamorphoses, and affinities of the 

 Nocturnal Lepidoptera in general, it is impossible to define the 

 limits of the various minor divisions with accuracy, or to place the 

 whole naturally in one continuous or concatenated series ; the in- 

 numerable anomalous forms rendering such a step perfectly imprac- 

 ticable at present: nevertheless, as the foundation of a building 

 must be traced out before the superstructure can be raised, and the 

 threshold must be passed ere we can advance into the temple, an 

 imperfect sketch may contribute towards the attainment of that 

 great object, which should ever guide the footsteps of the naturalist, 

 the advancement of science; 1 shall therefore endeavour, in the 

 following pages, to elucidate the affinities of this greatly neglected 

 though highly beautiful and interesting division of insects. 



Latreille, in the Regne Animal, divides the Nocturna into eight 

 minor groups, and Dr. Horsfield, following the views of the learned 

 author of the delightful Horse Entomologicse, conceives that the 

 number of tire latter is limited to three; but, as I have before 

 observed, although I espouse the doctrine of a circular distribution 



Haustellata. Vol. II. 1st October, 1828. b 



