DICRANOPTYCHA. 117 



iliary vein ; the marginal cross-vein is somewhat back of this tip, 

 at a distance whicli is a little shorter than the great cross-vein ; 

 the stigma is indistinct, forming an elongated streak on both 

 sides of the first longitudinal vein ; the origin of the second vein 

 is before the middle of the length of the wing ; the pr^furca, 

 very slightly arcuated at its basis, is generally short, much less 

 than half the length of the subraarginal cell ; this early origin 

 of the prnefurca, its shortness, and the length of the wing, necessi- 

 tate an unusually long subraarginal cell ; its sides (second and 

 third veins), are nearly parallel and generally arcuated ; the first 

 posterior cell is a little sliorter than the subraarginal ; the discal 

 cell has the shape of a parallelogram ; the fold in tlie anal cell is 

 especially perceptible when the wing is held against the light ; it 

 assumes then the appearance of a vein, which disappears before 

 reaching the posterior margin ; the three last longitudinal veins 

 are nearly straight. The venation varies but little in the species 

 which I have examined ; the difference principally consists in the 

 length of the prrefurca. The veins are always finely pubescent ; 

 the costa is also more hairy than usual, and sometimes, in the male 

 sex, bears a conspicuous fringe of dense and comparatively long 

 hairs. The wings have a I'ather striking iridescence, which, as 

 in Antocha, seems due to the great density and minuteness of the 

 microscopic pubescence of the surface ; although transparent, 

 they have a dull appearance, and are always tinged with grayish 

 or yellowish. 



Besides the three species described below, I possess one from 

 California and two occur in Europe. The prevailing colors seem 

 to be dull grayish or yellowish, without any well-marked stripes 

 or bands. 



The presence of crapodia and the structure of the mouth 

 remind of Limnophila, from which, however, Dicranoptycha is 

 abundantly distinguished by the want of a second subraarginal 

 cell and of spurs on the tibige. No immediate relationship can yet 

 be pointed out, except perhaps the European genus Orimarga. 



The name of this genus, established by me in 1 859, is derived from 

 Sixparor, fork, and rcrvxr, fold, in allusion to the fold in the anal cell. 



Description of the species. 



1. D. germana 0. S. % and 9 • — Fuscano-ochracea ; alis fiilvo- 

 tiuctis, opalizantibus ; prsefurca cellulS, discoidali multo longior. 



