436 Mr. E. Meyrick on. the classification 



Tabulation of Families. 



1. Fore wings and hind wings six-cleft . . . . 8. Obneodid/'e. 

 Fore wings and hind wings not six-cleft . . . . 2. 



2. Hind wings with well-defined pecten of hairs on 



lower margin of cell towards base . . . . 3. 



Hind wings without defined pecten on margin of 



cell 5. 



3. Fore wings with vein 7 absent . . . . . . 4. Phycitid^. 



Fore wings with vein 7 present . . . . . . 4. 



4. Maxillary palpi triangularly scaled. . .. ..6. Crambid^. 



Maxillary palpi not triangular .. .. ..5. Galleriad^. 



6. Hind wings with vein 5 remote from 4 . . . . 6. 



Hind wings with vein 5 closely approximated or 



from point with 4 . . . . . . . . 7. 



6. Hind wings with vein 8 anastomosing with 7 . . 2. Musotijiid^.. 

 Hind wings with vein 8 free . . . . . . 7. Pterophoeid^. 



7. Fore wings with vein 7 rising out of 8 . . . . 3. Pyealidid^e. 

 Fore wings with vein 7 separate . . . . . . 1. Pykaustidje. 



1. PYRAUSTID.E. 

 Ocelli distinct, or very rarely obsolete. Tongue well-developed, 

 or rarely obsolete. Maxillary palpi v/ell-tleveloped, or rarely rudi- 

 mentary. Fore wings with vein 1 simple or rarely obsoletely 

 furcate at base, 4 and 5 closely approximated at base or rarely 

 stalked, 7 separate from 8, 8 and 9 stalked. Hind wings without 

 defined pecten of hairs on lower margin of cell (but sometimes 

 with loose scattered hairs), veins 4 and 5 closely apx»'oximated at 

 base or from a point or stalked, 7 rising out of 6 near base or rarely 

 separate but closely approximated, anastomosing with 8. 



The ancestral form of this family is most nearly 

 represented by Scoparia and Hcliothela, at which point a 

 common origin with the Cranihidce is indicated. From 

 this point there appear to be two main lines of descent ; 

 one by way of Titanio, Loxostege, Pyrausta, Notarcha, to 

 Margaronia ; the other by way of Metasia, Hydrocampa, 

 Schocnohins, to Acentropits. The Plilyctania group is a 

 lateral branch from Pyratista, and the group of Eiiclasta 

 and Nausinoe a lateral branch from Metasia. It will be 

 found that on this scheme the remaining genera here 

 given can be easily fitted in as intermediate steps or 

 short lateral offshoots ; the relation of each genus is 

 usually given under its own head. 



The family is largely represented almost everywhere, 

 but especially within the tropics, where it becomes a 



