326 Mr. E. Meyrick on the classification 



Mecyna, G71. (nee Steph.). 

 Forehead flat, somewhat oblique. Ocelli present. Tongiie -well 

 developed. Aiiteuna; two-thirds of fore wings, in male filiform, 

 tolerably evenly ciHated (§). Labial palpi long, straight, porrected, 

 triangularly scaled, terminal joint moderately long, lying in scales 

 of second. Maxillary palj^i moderate, dilated with scales towards 

 apex, obliquely truncate. Middle tibiae in male broadly and flatly 

 dilated, with a groove on mner side, generally containing a large 

 exsertible tuft of woolly hairs ; posterior tibiae with outer spurs 

 half inner. Abdomen moderate, in male with moderate anal tuft ; 

 valves exserted. Fore wings with vein 11 moderate, rather oblique. 

 Hind wmgs somewhat broader than fore wings ; 3, 4, 5 ajiproxi- 

 mated at base, 7 out of 6 near origin, anastomosing with 8 to 

 one-half. 



Characterised by the triangularly dilated maxillary 

 palpi, and the grooved middle tibiae of male. I find it 

 impossible at present to speak accurately about the 

 species of this genus, which vary locally in colour, and 

 require to be distinguished structurally. I cannot 

 assert that there are others. 



a. Middle tibia3 of male containing a very large tuft of 



. hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . polygonalis. 



h. Middle tibite of male without tuft deprivalis. 



Mecyna polygonalis, Hb. 



Pyralis polygonalis, Hb. ; Mecyna ornithoiJteralis, Gn., 

 411. 



The Australian form described by Guenee as orni- 

 thoj^tcralis only differs from the European in the some- 

 what broader and more extended dark border of the 

 hind wings. Guenee's figure is exaggerated. I have 

 not been able to examine properly the European form, 

 but believe there is no structural difference. Probably 

 some of the other species described by Guenee are 

 merely local modifications of this also. 



Larva in Australia on various Leguminosce {Temple- 

 tonia, Sec), in October and November. The following is 

 a description of the Australian larva, which may be 

 compared with that of other forms : — Elongate, cylin- 

 drical, somewhat tapering towards both ends, with very 

 long scattered whitish hairs ; yellowish green ; a broad 

 fuscous lateral stripe, containing three large irregular 



