(he Lepidopterous Family Cossidae. 



183 



formation of an areole; (2) the areole exists in the more 

 primitive genera of the four families, and there is good 

 reason for holding that the genera which have no areole 

 have descended from forms which once possessed it. In 

 the Noctuidae the neuration is remarkably constant. As 

 Sir George Hampson informs me, the typical noctuid 

 neuration, as illustrated in Agrotis, is present in the vast 

 majority of the genera, and in those that do not possess it 



Yic. 52. — Thyatira batis, Linn. 



it has been lost* (see Introduction to " Cat. Lep. Phal.," vols. 

 iv and x) In the other three families there is more vari- 

 ability, and it would take a much more lengthy examina- 

 tion than I can afford at present to prove that the forms 

 which possess an areole are the more primitive. I can 

 pnly express my belief that it is so. 

 While in the Zygaenidae, Limacodidae, and Fsychulae 

 * The primitive genus Hyblaea which possesses maxillary palpi 

 has, however, lost the areole and cannot therefor, be m the pnmi, 

 tive noctuid stem, but must be an early branch from it. 



