368 



The Moths and Butterflies 



the systematic account of tlic families which follows later. To use the key requires 

 an acquaintanceship with the plan of venation in the wings and the nomenclature of 

 the veins. This may be got from an inspection of Fig. 525, and by referring to the 

 various other figures illustrating the typical venation for the various important families. 

 To see clearly the veins, a necessary prerequisite to using the key, a few drops of ether 

 should be put on the outstretched wing of a spread specimen and this held so that bright 

 light, as from a window or lamp, may ])ass through the wing to the eye. For a few 

 moments (until the evaporation of the ether) the covering-scales will be transparent 

 and the number and course of the veins plainly visible. The ether will not injure the 

 specimen at all. If duplicate specimens are available, the fore and hind wings of one 

 side may be removed and placed in a watch-glass or small saucer containing Eau de 

 Labarraque (to be obtained of a druggist), when the scales will be bleached perfectly 

 transparent. The wings may be then washed and mounted on glass slides with glycerine 

 jelly and thus be made available for inspection at any time. 



A. Moths which have a thin lobe-like process (jugum) projecting backward from the 

 base of the fore wing, which holds fore and hind wings together when they are 

 outstretched; veins similar in number and arrangement in both wings (Fig. 526). 



(The Jugata?.) 

 B. Very small moths, not more than one-fifth inch long. 



MlCROPTERVGID.E and Eriocephalid-E. 



BB. Moths from one-half to one inch long (The Swifts.) Hepialid.*:. 



AA. Moths whose wings are not united by a jugum but by a frenulum (Fig. 533), and 

 in which the veins in the hind wing are less in number than in the fore wing. 



(The Frenata;.) 

 B. Hind wings with fringe on hinder margin as long as the width of the wing; 



hind wings often lanceolate in shape Superfamily Tineixa (part). 



BB. Hind wings with narrow or no fringe, and not lanceolate in shape. 



C. Wings fissured, i.e., divided longitudinally into several narrow parts. 

 (Plume-moths.) Pterophorid.* and Orneodid.e. 

 CC. Wings not fissured. 

 I D. Fore wings very narrow-; part of the hind wings always, and of 



the fore wings often, clear, i.e., without scales. 



(Clear-winged moths.) Sesiid.e. 

 DD. Wings all covered with scales or, if partly clear, the fore wings broad. 

 E. Hind wings with three anal veins. 



F. Subcosta and radius of hind wings close together or fused 

 beyond the discal cell (Fig. 533). 



Superfamily Pyralidina. 

 FF. Subcosta and radius of hind wings widely apart beyond 

 the discal cell. 



G. Small; palpi usually prominently projecting; fringe on 

 inner angle of hind wings longer than on rest of margin. 

 H. Second anal vein of hind wings forked at the 



base (Fig. 539) Su|)erfamily Tortricina. 



HH. Second anal vein of hind wings not forked 



at base Superfamily Tineixa (part). 



GG. Medium or large; palpi not conspicuously project- 

 ing beyond the head and fringe on inner angle of 

 hind wings only slightly or not at all longer than 

 on rest of margin. 



