118 Mr. Westwood on Acentria, ^c. 



In his British Entomology, No. 497, however, the latter author, 

 without the slightest reference to Acentria, has published a figure 

 and description of the same insect under the name of Acentropus 

 Garnonsii, which he has numbered 762^, thus indicating its con- 

 nexion with Acentria. Mr. Curtis has again placed the insect in 

 the order Trichojjtera and family Phryganidce, and has made use of 

 various arguments for the purpose of proving that the insect in 

 question is Trichopterous, and not Lepidopterous. 



Having purchased a specimen of this very remarkable insect at the 

 sale of Mr. Haworth's collections, I have carefully examined it, with 

 a view to the determination of its real situation. The result of this 

 examination has proved that Mr. Curtis has overlooked two charac- 

 ters which are peculiarly characteristic of the order Lepidoptera, and 

 which are possessed in so striking a degree by the insect in question, 

 that no reasonable doubt can any longer exist as to the impropriety 

 of its insertion amongst the Trichoptera . 



In the first place, the front of the thorax is furnished on each side 

 with a pair of patagia, or tij^pets, which extend to the base of the 

 anterior wings ; and, in the second place, the base of the second pair 

 of wings is armed with a long bent rigid bristle, connected with an 

 apparatus on the under side of the first wings at the base, and which 

 apparatus is distinguished in the ' Introduction to Entomology' under 

 the names of the hamus, or hook, and tendo, or tendon. The scales 

 on the wings are also eminently characteristic of a Lejiidopterous 

 insect. 



As to the genus, or even family of Moths, to which the insect in 

 question is most nearly allied, or of the propriety of the specific name 

 with reference to its identity with Olivier's insect, I shall offer no 

 opinion on the present occasion, observing only that Mr. Haworth's 

 specimen was labelled " Alba Olivier." 



In Mr. Stephens's 'Nomenclature', second edition, p. 118, we 

 find another genus established under the name of Zancle Hansoni. 



Mr. Hanson having however allowed me, some years ago, to ex- 

 amine his insect, and having made at the time a series of drawings of 

 its different organs, I have ascertained, by a comparison thereof with 

 Acentropus or Acentria, that Mr. Hanson's insect is congenerous 

 therewith, being probably the female of the Acentropus Garnonsii. 



