1257 
upper- and underside, fore- and hindwing in the primitive pattern 
during the greater part of the pupal period, as well as on the wings 
of a certain number of imaginal forms in different families, which 
bear the character of primitiveness. The conclusion drawn is that 
the said uniformity .of the markings in different wing-parts may 
depend on the preservation of the primitive pattern. 
Should these conclusions be well-founded, it may be fairly expected 
that the investigation of the most primitive Lepidopterous families 
will probably confirm them. As such may be considered the Micro- 
pterygids, Hepialids and Castniids. Of these the second family was 
investigated by me, with regard to their imaginal or definite colour- 
markings. 
The Hepialids are a small family of moths, sharply delineated by 
definite characteristics, which stamp them as a very primitive group 
of Lepidoptera, more intimately related to the Trichoptera than the 
balk of the remaining moths and butterflies. The family is divided 
into a number of genera, which for the greater part are well charac- 
terised by the general appearance of the species composing them, 
though it might prove exceedingly difficult to found this difference 
on constant, sharply delineated features, which could be deseribed 
in strict terms. 
Some of the genera consist of one single species, others contain 
only a very few, but there are also some, which are richer in 
members, and the species of these latter may be said to resemble 
each other very closely, the specific distinction again depending more 
on the general appearance than on certain well marked. constant 
features. I therefore presume, that in many cases (e.g. the genus 
Charagia) a careful survey of large series of specimens from different 
habitats will lead to a reduction of the number of species to a few 
types, each with its local races and constant varieties. 
As to individual modifications the Hepialids show an extraordinary 
degree of variability, especially with regard to the wing-markings, 
which provide the more obvious features for the identification and 
description of the insect. In every species, where I had at my 
disposal a relatively large number of specimens, | found without 
exception, that not two of them could be said to be even approxi- 
mately alike. 
Yet the differences may all be classed under the category of more 
on less @.g. a larger or smaller number of spots arranged in the 
same row, greater or less dimensions of these spots (leading to a 
greater or less tendency to coalesce with their neighbours, either of 
the same row or with those of the next, by means of protrusions in 
