INTRODUCTION. XXXIX 



Subordo Frenat^ : Superfamilies ; PapilioJiides, Spliijigides, 



Saturfiiides, Bonibycides, Tineides, 

 Subordo J UGAT/E; Superfamilies, Hepialides:m^ Microptoygides. 



Of these, it is only necessary here to say that the Bombycides 

 include the bulk of the Bombyccs, N'octuidcB^ and Geoinetrce, of 

 authors (inclusive of our Cymbidcn and Nolidiji)^ and the 

 TtJieides include the Micro-Lepidoptera, and in addition, the 

 Apod idee [Liniacodidce)^ T/iyridid(E, Pleterogynidce^ Anfkroceridce, 

 Sesitdce, Cos s idee and Psych id a. 



The next work we have to notice is Mr. Meyrick's " Hand- 

 book of British Lepidopfera.'' His classification is chiefly 

 based on neuration ; but whatever may prove to be its 

 intrinsic value, it cannot be described as otherwise than 

 revolutionary. 



It would occupy far more space than we can spare to set it 

 out fully in detail, but nine principal groups are admitted, as 

 follows : — Canidri?iifia, Notodontina^ Lasiocampiua^ Papilionina^ 

 Pyralidifia^ Psychina, Tortrici?ia^ Tinei7m, Micropierygina. 



No other author, except Zebrowski, who published a 

 synopsis of the Lepidoptera of Cracow (in Polish) in i860, has 

 ventured to propose to place the Butterflies in the middle of 

 the Moths ; but on this subject, Mr. Meyrick observes. " From 

 their bright colours and diurnal habits, these insects are 

 favourites with beginners, and are popularly regarded as 

 forming, under the name of ' Butterflies,' a group of equal 

 systematic value to the whole of the other Pipidopfera, which 

 are termed 'Moths;' but there is no scientific justification 

 for such a division. . . . Type of markings as in the 

 Notodontina [in which Mr. Meyrick includes the SaturniidcE^ 

 Geometridce, Sp>hingidce, &c.], but the lines are so often 

 converted into bands or rows of spots, or largely obsolete, 

 that in practice no definite type is generally recognisable. . . . 

 The group as a whole, certainly stands rather conspicuously 



