170 Dr. A. Jefferis Turner's Observations 



on 



present knowledge extends, morphologically correct, and 

 is the only notation which permits of comparison between 

 the Lepidoptera and other orders, I am strongly of opinion 

 that the numerical notation * should be retained for 

 morphological comparisons within the order, and for these 

 reasons : (1) it is much simpler and at the same time 

 absolutely unambiguous, while possessing the advantage 

 of extreme conciseness; (2) it is free from morphological 

 theories or assumptions, Avhich however well established 

 may be liable to future modification. In using it I would 

 recommend that the origin of the numbered veins be 

 always given as from the cell or areole, the chorda and 

 media, when present, being separately described. In con- 

 sidering the serial morphology of the two wings there is 

 no doubt as to their correspondence as- far as vein 4, but 

 the morphology of veins 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the hind-wings 

 is a matter of interpretation, and subject to correction. 

 It is, of course, obvious that 8 of the hind-wing does not 

 correspond to 8 of the fore-wing (a fact that involves no 

 difficulty if the numerical notation be regarded as a con- 

 venient form of shorthand). Mr. Tillyard considers 8 of 

 the hind-wing to be the first radial; I consider it the 

 subcostal, and identify the first radial with the short vein 

 marked a on several of my diagrams. I think Mr. Tillyard 

 has probably made the mistake of identifying as the sub- 

 costal a precostal basal spur which is sometimes present 

 but does not represent any vein, being merely an accessory 

 process of j ecent development for the support of a precostal 

 basal expansion of the hind-wing. 



The lepidopterous cell is usually spoken of as closed by 

 the discocellulars, upper and lower, their junction being at 

 the median notch. This may be convenient, but it must 

 be recognised that morphologically the discocellulars are 

 of complex origin. Their complexity is clearly indicated 

 in their angulated outline in Culama and other primitive 

 genera. For instance, in the fore-wing the cell is closed 

 (1) by a short bar connecting the areole with the first 

 median; (2) by the diverging bases of the first and second 

 median ; (3) by a short bar connecting the second and 

 third media/I and closing (he median cell; (1) by the 

 diverging bases of the third and fourth median ; and (5) by 



* Sir George Hampson informs me thai this was invented by 

 Herrich-Schafier. 



