306 NI.l'TlCULIir.'E. 



Genus 11. TRIFURCULA. S^-YK 1^ 



TiuPURCULA, Zell. L. E. iii. 330 (1S48). Jjjonetin p., Zell. Isis, 1830. 



Capilli siii)enie ct in fronte hirsuti. AiitenntE breviusculcE, niul?e, con- 

 cliula modica iustructae. Palpi maxillares longiusculi, plicati, arti- 

 culis ultiinis pcudulis. Palpi labiales breves, subporrecti. K\^^t an- 

 teriores breves, grosse-squamatre, ])osteriores ovato-laiiceolata; ; ante- 

 riores : vena subcostalis furcata, vena mediana arcuata trljida, vena 

 subdorsalis simplex ; posteriores : vena mediana trlftda, subdorsalis 

 longiuscula. 



Head above and in front hairy. Antenna? rather short, naked, the 

 basal joint furnished with a moderate-sized eye-cap. Maxilhiry palpi 

 rather long, folded, the last joints drooping. Labial palpi short, sub- 

 porreetcd. Anterior wings short, coarsely scaled, the posterior ovate- 

 lanceolate. In the anterior wings the subcostal vein is furcate, the 

 arched median vein is tripd, and the subdorsal vein is simple. In the 

 j)osterior wings the median vein is h-ijid, the subdorsal vein rather long. 

 The investigation of tlie generic characters of these insects is 

 rendered extremely difficult, from their small size and hairy heads ; 

 smooth-headed species of equal size would be far more easily exa- 

 mined; it is also difficult to examine the neuration of the whigs, 

 and I am therefore doubtful whether the distinctness of this genus 

 from the preceding has been suihcicntly established. On the 

 other hand, it may be that it would be more correct to divide the 

 Nepficul\il(X into a greater number of genera'^. 



The four species placed in this genus all agree in the absence 

 of definite markings, such as spots and fasciro, and arc best dis- 

 tinguished by their coarsely-scaled, irroratcd appearance. 



1. atrifrontella, iSta. tSup. Cat. p. 11 (1851). Alis anticis luteo- 

 albidis, fusco sull'usis, basi costa; tantnni sine sqnamis fuscis ; capillis 

 (dris. Exp. al. 4 lin. 



Head and face black. Palpi whitish. Antenn<c dark fuscous, basal joint 

 whitish. Anterior wings yellowish-white, almost entirely suffused with 

 dark fuscous scales, only tlie base of the costa remaining of the ground- 

 colour ; cilia greyish. Posterior wings pale grey, with paler cilia. 



Two specimens in Mr. BedelFs collection. I have a specimen 

 taken at Lewisluun from a mixed hedge, in August. 



* Mere 1 must mention the singular insect taken by Mr. Boyd among aklers, in 

 the New Forest, kist suuuner, and wliioh I caunot consider I;epido})tcrous, though 

 so comidctely Nepticulifonn. Its longer autennte, longer legs, diU'crcully-shaped 

 broader posterior wings, and neuration of flic anterior and posterior wings, would 

 clearly place it in a dislinct genus, if admitted as T.epido])ferouK ; but the more po- 

 lislied uijpearauec of (lie anterior wings, and its general /(^vV',?, indnee me to thiuk 

 it Trichoptcrous. Many of the smaller Trichoflera are continually being taken for 

 Tineina, but, except in the present instance, 1 am not awai'e that any ditiiculty has 

 been found in ultimately distinguishing tiiem. 



