84 KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTERLY. 



conditions presented by the scales in these families correspond well 

 with the lowly rank accorded these families on the evidence presented 

 by their venation. It is instructive as showing the indications of 

 phylogeny afforded by the scales to compare scale conditions pre- 

 sented in the "generalized Frenatte," with those presented by the 

 butterflies, the most specialized group of the Frenatje. 



Among the generalized Frenatje the scale-covering is sparse (except 

 perhaps in the " wooly-winged " Megalopygids). Scales of very 

 generalized condition are found on almost all the species (in Mcgalo- 

 pygc the whole scale-covering is composed of generalized, weak, 

 hair-like scales) and there is none of that fine order of arrangement 

 of the scales into rows and tiers, so as to form a complete, evenly- 

 disposed sheath over the wing-membranes as presented characteristi- 

 cally by the butterflies. Among the butterflies, too, almost all the 

 scales are of highly specialized form, the forewings, especially, being 

 covered from base to apex and from costa to inner margin with 

 broad, flat, stiff scales. 



Family Megalopygirtsv (figs. lo and 17). — This family, definetl by 

 Berg, is represented in North America by but one genus, Mcgalopygc 

 Hiibn. {Lagoa Harr.), and there are but two more extra-American 

 genera, viz., Ochrosoiiici H-S., and Carama Walk. There are but 

 three North American species of Mcgalopygc. The limited number 

 of forms in this family is regrettable because of the exceeding interest 

 which attaches to the scale-covering of the wings. The covering 

 shows less specialization, probably, than is shown in any other 

 lepidopterous family, even the most generalized representatives of 

 other groups exceeding these forms in scale-specialization. 



The wings of Mcgalopyge crispata present a covering which has 

 been described as "more or less wooly." It consists of a mass of 

 long, curling, fingered scale-hairs usually slightly palmated at the base 

 of the fingers. Lying more closely appressed to the wing-membrane, 

 beneath the mass of long, wavy scale-hairs, and especially abundant 

 in the limbal area of the wing, are shorter and broader scales (see 6, 

 fig. 10). The line of specialization from long, single-pointed scale- 

 hair to specialized scale has been described on page 58, and is plainly 

 shown in fig. 10, a series of scale-forms taken from a single forewing 

 of Mcgalopyge crispata. 



A slight but evident advance in scale condition is shown 

 by an exotic species of this genus.* The scales reach a more 

 specialized condition as shown in fig. 17, a series of scales taken 

 from one forewing of this specimen. The specialized scale, number 

 8 in fig. 17, measures from tip of pedicel to tip of middle finger or 



* This specimen, iu the Cox-nell University collection, is not specitically determined. 



