TRIFIDM. 12; 



Genus 53. MELIANA. 



Antennae ciliated ; eyes minutely hairy, with prostrate 

 lashes at the back ; thorax and abdomen slender, smooth, 

 and without crests ; fore wings very pointed, the anal angle 

 lost in the sweep of the hind margin ; hind wings with the 

 cross-bar bent and vein 5 hardly perceptible. 



We have but one species. The transition here from the 

 naked-eyed species to one with slightly hairy eyes, yet in 

 all other respects so closely allied, is interesting. Like 

 Scnta, it was placed by our older writers among the Tineina 

 along with the Honey moths — MelijjJioi'a, &c, Mr. Stainton 

 gave both their true position as Noctum. 



1. M. flammea, Curt. — Expanse 1^ to 1| inch. Thorax 

 narrow ; abdomen long and slender ; fore wings long, very 

 pointed ; hind margin more than ordinarily oblique ; colour 

 whitish-drab or reddish-drab with one broad complete longi- 

 tudinal brown or black stripe ; second line dotted ; hind 

 wings dusky-white. 



Antennse of the male rather thick, simple, minutely 

 ciliated, light brown ; palpi small and slender, white inside, 

 outwardly greyish-brown ; eyes sparingly covered with minute 

 erect brown hairs ; head white or pinkish-white, with flattened 

 scales ; thorax smooth, but the scales long, greyish-white with 

 a pinkish or purplish tinge ; fascicles white ; abdomen long 

 and slender, silvery-white ; lateral tufts small but placed on 

 a conspicuous fold of the side ; anal tuft long and narrow, 

 the middle portion pale golden-brown, the outside white. 

 Fore wings long and i-ather narrow, and of graceful form ; 

 costa arched throughout ; apex sharply pointed and produced ; 

 hind margin extremely oblique and rounded off to the dorsal 

 margin, along which the curve is continued ; colour whitish- 

 drab or greyish-white, often with a brownish, or lilac, or 

 reddish flush ; costa shaded with brown, and all the small 

 nervures of the costal region divided and shaded with grey- 



