XXXVl LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



The observations of Dr. Chapman on the structure and 

 metamorphoses of the Micropterygidcc, small moths formerly 

 included with the Ti?ie(B, prove them to be a highly aberrant 

 group, apparently connecting the Lepidoptera with other 

 insects. The Hepialidcc and MicropferygidiE, though otherwise 

 dissimilar, agree in possessing a jugum, or membranous yoke, 

 which takes the place of the frenulum in other moths, and 

 connects together the fore- and hind-wings. The wings are 

 further apart than in other moths, and the hind-wings have the 

 nervures as numerous as those of the fore-wings, and arranged 

 on a similar plan. Hence Comstock and Meyrick treat them 

 as forming a distinct section, belonging to an ancestral group of 

 insects, forming a link between the Lepidoptera and TricJioptera. 

 In one of the three or four genera placed in this section 

 {Eriocephala, Curtis) even mandibles are present. As regards 

 the HepiaUdce^ however, I am hardly inclined to associate 

 them with the Micropterygidcc at present, as they have many 

 characters in common with the Zeuzeridce^ near which they 

 have usually been placed. 



Within the last two or three years, various new systems of 

 classification have been proposed, differing widely from any 

 preceding ones. Thus, in the " Fauna of British India ; 

 Moths," vol. i. (1892), Sir George Hampson arranges the 

 fLimilies as follows : — Saiurfiiidcc^ Ceratocainpidce^ BraJujuridce, 

 BomhycidiV^ Eipte?'ofidiC, Sphingidce, Notodofitida, Cymato- 

 phoridce^ Sesiidcv, Tin(ei^e?-iid(e, Synfo/nldcT, Casiniidce.^ Zy- 

 gcc?iid(E, Psyc/iidce, Cossidce, Arbe/idcc, Hipialidce, Microptery- 

 gidiF, Ca//idu/idiS, Drepanulidie^ T/iyridid(e, Li/ziacodida, 

 Lasiocanpidce, Endt'Ofuidcv^ Pterothysanidiv^ Lymantriidce\ 

 IlypsidcE, Arctiidcc^ Agaristidm, Noel u idee, Epicopiidce^ 

 Uraniidcp-^ Epiplemidce^ Geometridce^ Fyf-ali.fie, Ti/ieid(e, Ffero- 

 p/ioridee, and Alueitidie. 



Of course this system has been somewhat modified in Sir 



