THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS. 195 
tips of the wings shining with a metallic purple gloss, and the head being of richwarm red ; NV. argentipedella with 
the front wings of a brilliant black flushed with a violet gloss, and a bright clear transverse band of white; NV. 
acctose, with the front wings of a dusky but rich bronze, traversed by a band of dark violet, followed in the same 
transverse direction by a delicate streak of clear white ; and, lastly, WV. Plagicolella, one of the most minute of 
the genus, perhaps the smallest of known Moths. This species has the fore wings of a dusky metallic brown) 
flushed with a violet tinge, and traversed by a glittering light band with a silvery gloss. 
Forming a collection of the minute but brilliant little Moths of this class, appears at first somewhat 
hopeless, and, in fact, it does require a practised eye to perceive these minute specks of rich colour on the shady 
side of old half-rotten paling, or half concealed in some sheltering crevice of the bark of an old tree ; but habit 
soon schools the eye to the search. While in the larva state they are very-easily collected in some numbers, a 
single leaf of Hazel often containing, for instance, from thirty to forty young Caterpillars of N. mierotherictla, 
all of which, by placing a net over the branch, may be easily secured, and when they have attained the chrysalis 
stage be removed. Many new species doubtless remain to be discovered, twelve having been added to the list 
since 1854. 
The genus Trifurcula. The insects assigned to this genus only differ in generic character from those of the 
preceding, in the neurations or veins of the wings, which in this genus form a tridented fork, as the name implies, 
There are four British species. 
Trifurcula immundella (No. 27). The Caterpillar of this species is unknown. The Moth appears in 
July and August. It is a common species, and has been recently noticed in great abundance in several localities. 
The other species closely resemble the one figured. 7. atrifrontella may, however, be distinguished at 
once by its black head, while 7. sgwamatel?a has the head of a dull yellow colour; the head of 7. putveroselia is 
of a dull red colour. 
The genus Bohemannia. The insects assigned to this genus resemble the two preceding, but the perfect 
insects have the hind wings much broader, and the fringe narrower. There is only one British species. 
Bohemannia quadrimaculella. This species, which is newly added to our native list, I have not seen. 
It is described as haying the front wings of a metallic coppery tone, with a yellowish spot on the inner margin, 
and another on the front edge. The head is described as reddish, The specimen described was taken near 
Lyndhurst, in the New Forest district. 
The sub-division Péerophorina is one of very marked character, the entire structure of the wings of the 
insects assigned to it being different to any yet described. Instead of being composed of a thin transparent web 
or skin strengthened by a branch-work of veins, or more properly neurations, the neurations in this group form 
the stem or mid-rib of a series of feathers. In the front wings these feathers are only divided for a small part 
of the distance from the apex of the wing, but in the hind wings nearly to the base ; and from this peculiar 
formation arises their popular name, the ‘‘Plumes.” The first genus at present included in this well-defined 
group has, however, no such division in either pair of wings. It would appear advisable, indeed, to separate 
the genus Adactyla from the group, making it the representative of a separate family—the link between the 
Nepticulide and the Plumes. At present, however, Adactyla is located with the Pterophorinee. In some further 
remodelling of this group, Adactyla will, in all probability, be separated from it; and a section of the genus 
Pterophorus, with hardly any separation or slit in the fore wings, might make at least a distinct sub-genus ; while 
P. pentadactylus, the Common Plume, which has the front as well as the hind wings distinctly feather-formed and 
split to the base, must necessarily form a separate genus. I am, however, following at present the method now 
adopted in the collection of the British Museum. 
The genus Adactyla. The insects assigned to this genus are readily distinguished by their plumeless 
wings, which have no indication of the slightest division, even at the fringed edge. 
Adactyla Bennetii (the Plumeless Plume, No. 28). The Caterpillar of this species feeds upon coast plants, 
such as Statice Limonium, &e., &e., in May, and the Moth appears in July. It has been recently taken in the 
Isle of Sheppey, and on the Essex coast. 
The genus Pterophorus. The insects assigned to this genus, as it is at prescut constituted, have in some 
