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XXIII. On the natural affinities of the Lepidoptcra 

 lather to referred to the (jenus Acronycta of 

 authors. By AiiTHUii G. Butler, F.L.S., 

 F.Z.S., &c. 



[Head November 511), 1879.] 



(Plate XI.) 



It is a g;eTierally-recognized fact amongst Lepldopterists 

 that whilst the structure of the perfect insects decides to 

 what genera they are referahle, the larval characters arc 

 of greater importance as deciding in what family they 

 ought to be placed ; thus Mr. Bates, in his classification 

 of the Butterflies, founded his families entirely upon 

 characters supplied by the early stages. 



A short 'time since Mr. F. ]\Ioore called my attention 

 to the fact that the genus Dijttitero. (Ochs.) contained 

 two series of species allied by structure, coloration, pattern 

 and larval characters to genera already existing in the 

 two widely-differing families Arctiidce and NotodontidcB ; 

 the European D. ludijica representing the Notodontid 

 ty\)Q and being nearly allied to Harpyio, Dicranura 

 and other gjenera of " Puss-moths," and D. orion repre- 

 senting the Arctiid type near to Ecpanilieria and 

 Ardyees. 



Upon mentioning the above rather startling facts to 

 Lord Walsingham he very kindly offered to bring his 

 preserved larjie of D. orion to the Museum for me to see, 

 and as they stand in the same drawer with the greater 

 part of his beautiful series of larvro of Acronycta, I was 

 enabled, with his lordship's permission, Avhilst verifying 

 the conclusions arrived at by Mr. Moore, to examine into 

 the natural affinities oi Acronycta. 



The family Bornhycoidee, so far as I can ascertain, Avas 

 instituted by Dr. Boisduval and adopted by M. Guenee 

 for the reception of a series of Xoctuiform moths having 

 Bombyciform larva3 ; but the genus Acronycta as 

 characterized by M. Guencc contains larva3 appertaining 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1879. — PART IV. (dEC.) 



