338 LEPIDOPTERA. 



very small, and often prostrate, or merely suggested at the 

 edge of each segment on the dorsal ridge. The tufts of 

 scales from the sides of the thorax over the base of the abdo- 

 men, which I have denominated the fascicles, are usually 

 equally obscure, if not absent. 



The fore wings are nearly always proportionately broader 

 and more trigonate, and it is in them that a most valuable 

 character is found separating this from the previous group — 

 the nervure known as vein 5 of the /ore wings always arising 

 at the middle, or above the middle, of the cross-bar which 

 closes the discal cell. The hind wings are usually very little 

 folded, yet the usual folds are quite strongly indicated, and 

 that along the line of vein 5 so much so as to suggest a com- 

 plete nervure from the base through the middle of the discal 

 cell to the margin, where actually no such nervure exists. 

 The peculiarities in neuration in these wings furnish cha- 

 racters which appear suitable for dividing the group into 

 families. As a rule, the insects of this group are weak in 

 structure, their bodies — thorax included — being slender, and 

 the wings thin in texture, and suited for their habit of lying 

 flat against some protecting solid surface, such as a wall, or 

 tree-trunk, or the underside of a leaf. 



The terms hitherto used in describing the markings are 

 still applicable ; but the basal line is very often only the 

 outer edge of a well-defined basal blotch, while the first and 

 second lines are equally the inner and outer margins of a 

 broad central band ; but the subterminal line is, when visible, 

 more frequently broken up into a series of very irregular, 

 paler or darker, clouds or spots. The central shade, as found 

 in so many of the Noctuina, is here very commonly more 

 definite and more distinct, forming a narrow stripe, or a fine 

 line, quite as well defined as the normal lines, while for it is 

 substituted, in a multitude of species, the broad dark central 

 band. The three stigmata are absent, except that very often 

 the position of the reniform at the end of the discal cell is 

 occupied by a pale or dark, or commonly black, spot, dot, or 



