79 



nearly round, and with three tall vertical lamellae concentrically 

 arranged about the more solid round centre, which itself has a 

 central depression. The moth from this was unfortunately not 

 ]:)red. When the moths hatch the pupa case always remains 

 largely emergent from the cocoon, but its posterior segments 

 are never freed, at least under natural conditions, whether the 

 moth produced be male or female. 



CLASSIFICATION. 



The parasitic moths of the genus Epipyrops liave l^e-.-n placed 

 in various families by dififerent authors. Westwood as already 

 mentioned assigned the typical genus to the Arctiidae, but 

 neither the neuration nor the structure of the legs will admit of 

 such a position. Sir George Hampson has suggested placing it 

 in the Hcterogeneidae (LiiiiacGdidae) but the neuration and 

 other structural points, as well as the larval prolegs, exclude it. 

 Dyar who made a critical examination of an indifferent speci- 

 men from N. America, concluded that it was a "Tineoid form 

 not referable to the Tineidae proper." This is practically the con- 

 clusion I have myself arrived at after a careful examination ot 

 the three genera here characterized, though I much regret that I 

 liave not been able to examine Epipyrops itself. Briefly I con- 

 sider these insects to form a distinct family most nearly related 

 t(^ Eumea and Taleporia of the Tineidae and to the Psychldae of 

 the Psy china. 



Epipyropidae, fam. nov. 



Head and thorax mostly with appressed scales, sometimes 

 more or less hairy; eyes small and widely separated in front, 

 ocelli wanting, palpi wanting (said to be present but minute in 

 Epipyrops). Antennae one-half or less, with very long ciliated 

 bipectinations in the male, much shorter ones, not ciliated, in the 

 female. Thorax with appressed scales or more or less hairy; legs 

 smoothish, not hairy, middle spurs absent, apical spurs at most 

 represented by extremely minute spines. Forewings with la 

 (often absent), ib and ic separate; ib sometimes furcate at base, 

 vein 8 to tip of wing, always very closely approximated to 7 al 

 the base, or with 7 out of it. In the Australian species here de- 

 scribed, the cell is divided into three parts by two indistinct 

 k.ngitudinal veins and the apex of the cell is closed only by in- 



