THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XIV.] MAECH, 1881. [No. 214. 



CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH 



PTEROPHORI. 



By Richard South. 



" Oh ! it is only a plume." With this observation, I venture 

 to say, many collectors of Lepidoptera would, on netting a species 

 of the interesting Pterophoridce, turn out the capture. This might 

 be an example of the common but extremely graceful Pterophorus 

 pentadactylus, or the unattractive and local P. zophodactylus, both 

 failing to arrest sufficient attention to obtain insertion in the 

 cabinet of their captor. Or possibly, supposed difficulties in the 

 way of setting such " leggy beasts " operate as a barrier to this 

 honour. 



If the few remarks I am about to offer by way of introduction 

 should haply be the means of enlisting more friends for the 

 British Pterophori, my object will be achieved. I am sure much 

 pleasure will be derived from a study of the group. 



As compared with our larger groups of Tortrices and Tinese, 

 Pterophori do not show up very favourably as regards numbers 

 in our fauna. The known British species are very limited. 

 Thirty-six only are enumerated in our lists. These are divided 

 into two families and three genera, of which the genus Pterophorus 

 alone contains thirty-four species, leaving one only to each of the 

 other genera. 



The subjoined synonymic list of British Pterophori as they 

 now stand is in accordance with Doubleday's arrangement: — 



PTEROPHOEI. 



PTEROPHORID^, Zell. Dichrodactylus, Mnhlig. ? 



Agdistes, Huh. Ochrodactyhis, Huh. 



Bennetii, Curt. Pallldactyla, Hatv. 



Pterophorus, Lat. Bertrami, Roessl. 



Rhododactylus, W. V. Isodactylus, Zell. 



