174 



Dr. A. Jefferis Turner's Observations on 



structural points this genus can be differentiated from 

 the Cossidae, we can only reply that the chorda and 

 median veins, though present, are very slenderly developed, 

 and that there is a well-developed tongue, with distinct 

 though rudimentary maxillary palpi. In fact, the affinities 

 of the Cossidae with the Microlepidoptera are so close that 

 thev must be included among them, if the latter term has 

 any scientific meaning, although the former include the 

 largest known Lepidoptera. if body bulk is estimated, for 

 some Australian species of Xyleutes are about as big as a 

 sparrow. It would be better to acknowledge that Micro- 

 lepidoptera is not a scientific term and has no more meaning 



Fig. 31. — Cnissostages deagina, Zel. Fig 



-Arrht nophanes perspi- 



cilla, Stoll. 



than the word Mierozoleoptera. While I am quite unable 

 to accept Mr. Meyrick's division of the Cossidae into two 

 families, he is certainly correct in his opinion as to the true 

 affinities of the genus Cossus. 



The genera Cnissostages and Arrhenophanes, to which 

 my attention was called by Mr. J. H. Durrant, contain 

 si mit' large Tineids from South America with curiously 

 specialised 2 antennae. In the former there is a small 

 narrow areole and well-branched median veins in both 

 wings. In the latter, though an allied genus, the neura- 

 tion is much less primitive; there is no trace of a chorda, 

 which suggests that it has disappeared by coalescence and 

 not by obsolescence, as usual in this family; 9 and 10 are 

 coincident, and both medians are unbranched. 



