Tineide, and Pterophoride of South Africa. 2538 
typical species for which Professor Zeller originally 
founded the genus Cryptolechia. The acute apex of the 
fore wings conspicuously distinguishes it from the great 
majority of American species which have since been 
included in this genus by Zeller himself, as well as by 
other authors. It may be well to trace the history of 
the genus, which will amply account for the somewhat 
cumbrous proportions to which it has now attained. 
In 1852 (Handlingar Kong. Svensk. Vetens. Akad., 
p- 106), in a paper entitled ‘‘ Microptera Caffrarie,” 
Professor Zeller thus characterised the genus Crypto- 
lechia :— 
“Char. essent.— Ale late, anteriores acutangule. 
Abdomen convexum, superne non marginatum, in mare 
utrinque ciliatum, ciliis deflexis. Char. natural.—Capilli 
depressi, in occipite interdum suberecti. Ocelli nulli. 
Antenne setacee, alis anterioribus breviores, in mare 
pubescentes, vel ciliate. Palpi maxillares breves, tenues, 
acuti, conniventes. Palpi labiales recurvi; thorace 
longiores articulo secundo compresso, subtus laxe 
squamato vel piloso terminali setaceo, levigato, acuto. 
Haustellum breve. Abdomen convexum, superne non 
marginatum, pilis lateralibus in mare longioribus pen- 
dulis marginem ventralem formantibus. Ale late an- 
teriorum apex acutus, angulus dorsalis distinctus, sed 
rotundatus; posteriorum margo posticus ante apicem 
convexus ante angulum analem non sinuatus.”’ 
Subsequently, in the ‘ Linnea Entomologica,’ vol. ix., 
pp- 858, 354, he re-characterised the genus Cryptolechia 
thus :— 
‘“‘Char. essent.—Palpi longi reflexi corniformes. An- 
tenne abdominis longitudine, ¢ ciate. Ale aut costa 
prope basim convexa, posteriores late costa, # simplice, 
margine postico ante apicem retuso breviter ciliate. 
Abdomen dorso carinato convexum. Char. naturalis.— 
Caput squamis decumbentibus, ocellis nullis, oculis 
majusculis. Antenne abdominis  longitudine vel 
longiores, articulis confertis, ¢ ciliate. Haustellum 
mediocre, basi squamata. Palpi maxillares breves fili- 
formes conniventes. Palpi labiales, thorace longiores, 
reflexi, modice incrassati, articulo terminali setaceo 
acuminato. Pedes mediocres, tibiz postice in dorso 
longius pilose, calcaribus validis. Abdomine modice | 
longum, convexulum, dorso distincte carmatum, postice 
planum ac subcoarctatum, fasciculo 9 anali mediocri. 
