the Ocometrinn of the European fauna. 99 



Nyeliiodes is apparently the lowest European repre- 

 sentative, culminating in Opisthogmptis ; all genera in 

 which the ^ possesses the basal fovea of the fore wings 

 are immediately and certainly referable to this group, 

 but the character does not jiersist in all the genera of 

 the group, having been lost in one or two of the higher 

 genera, and probably not acquired in two or three of the 

 most primitive, though highly characteristic of it as a 

 whole, and not exactly reproduced in any other group of 

 Lepidoptera known to me. 



The structure mentioned above and hereafter as the 

 fovea is a circular impression on the lower surface of the 

 fore wings above the inner margin near the base, usually 

 placed about the origin of the basal fork of vein IJ) : it 

 is specially characteristic of the c? , but is occasionally 

 transferred to the ? also. It varies in distinctness in 

 different species ; it is often more or less thinly scaled 

 and transparent, and is sometimes surmounted by a 

 small thickened gland. The purpose of the structure is 

 unknown ; it may possibly be a scent-producing organ. 

 Somewhat similar structures are occasionally found in 

 other Lepidoptera, but never to my knowledge in quite 

 the same position. In Anticypella a quite analogous 

 structure occurs in the hind wing beneath the costa. In 

 Deilinia there is also a concavity in the hind wing, but 

 it is rather differently constructed. 



The family is very extensive, and universally dis- 

 tributed. 



Tabulation of Genera. 



1. Fore wings in ^ with fovea., .. .. 2. 

 Fore wings in ^ without fovea .. .. IH. 



2. Antennre in ^ bipectinated . . . . ;{. 

 Antennas in ^ not pectinated .. .. 10. 



3. Hind wings with 8 anastomosing with cell 



to middle . . . . . . . . . . 77. Narraga. 



Plind wings with 8 not anastomosing witli 



cell 4. 



4. Anterior tibiaj with apical hook . . . . 09. Enconista. 

 Anterior tibiae without apical hook . . . . 5. 



5. Hind wings with and 7 stalked . . . . 78. Tki'Huonia. 

 Hind wings with G and 7 separate . . . . G. 



G. Tongue absent .. .. .. ..75. EuKRANrnis. 



Tongue developed . . . . . . . . 7. 



7. Palpi and often face roughly hairy . . . . 7G. Bupalus. 



Palpi and face at most rough-scaled . . 8. 



H 2 



