( cxxxiv ) 



organs precludes me from thinking that they are homologiies 

 of the chisping organs of other orders. 



Taking into consideration the Lepidoptera I will begin by- 

 examining that most interesting and primitive order, the 

 Micropteri/gidae. whose right to be included in the Lepidoptera 

 has even been disputed. It is especially interesting, among 

 other things, because in that group we find the whole of the 

 ten segments of the abdomen quite in evidence ; the ninth 

 segment is most distinct, having, however, lost the division 

 between tergite and sternite, and become in Eriocrania a 

 broad solid collar, and in Microperyx a shaped one ; whilst 

 the tenth segment is represented by the clasping organs 

 themselves, though both form part of the genitalia as we now 

 understand them. I find it difhcult to say from these organs 

 which of the two genera is the more primitive, but from the 

 long penis with its rather complicated and apparently loose 

 folding sheath, as also from the more intricate and probably 

 less effective clasping organs, I should judge that Eriocrania 

 was less advanced than Micropteryx. 



In Eriocrania pwrpurella, Hw., 



the ninth segment is developed dorsally to appear as the 

 tegumen, and is excavated dorsally so as to be bifid, but its 

 power of vertical movement must be very limited — it is 

 vertical action that is specially necessary in this part of these 

 organs ; the tenth segment is confined to the sternite area, 

 as I believe, and is developed into the small if somewhat 

 complex and weak harpagones, whilst the redoeagus is shown 

 protruding from the opening with its enveloping sheath below 

 it; this sheath is a loose, roll-up envelope, in this species 

 quite copious, but in others very slight, and the sedceagus 

 always rolls out with the least pressure whilst mounting the 

 preparations. 



Eriocrania subpurpurella, Hw., 



has the ninth segment much larger, the harpagones are 

 more strongly developed with a small process above the 

 harpago proper, whilst the sedoeagus is very long and fine 

 with an equally fine slight sheath. 



