S30 Mr. Children's Abstract of the Characters of 



consequently very properly retains the former, and rejects 

 the latter appellation. 

 Fam. a. Species. Icon. 



l.YAX.Honoraria, Hiibn Hiibn. Geom. tab. 3. f. 16. (mas.) 



2. — Margaritaria, Hiibn. ..Hiibn. Geom. tab. 3. f. 13. (foeni.) 

 Fam. B. 

 ^.YW.Prasinaria, Hiibn. ...Hiibn. Geom. tab. 1. f. 4. (mas.) 



4. — Fasciaria, Linn Hiibn. Geom. tab. 1. f. '5. (mas.) 



tab. 87. f. 447. (fcem.) 



Genus 91. GEOMETRA, Ochs., Treitsch. 



(HippARCHUs, Stephens. 

 Hemithea, Geometra, Duponchel.) 



Wings with one or more transverse, wavy, white lines or 

 bands; generally of a very light green, or whitish green 

 colour. — Larva usually green, sometimes mixed with red- 

 dish-brown ; head and first segment of the body with two 

 small reddish tubercles. — Metamorphosis in a thin, trans- 

 parent web. 



Fam. a. — Posterior wings angular. 



Fam. B. — Posterior wings rounded. 



Obs, Such are M. Treitschke's generic characters by which 

 his Geometras are to be distinguished, the chief of which 

 consists in the ground-colour of the wings being green ! 

 — Well may M. Duponchel exclaim {Lep. de Fran. torn. vii. 

 part. ii. p. 256) " how could he establish a genus on a 

 character which is not even specific? for we see species 

 varying from green to red. It is not so as to the principal 

 markings of the wings (putting their colour out of the ques- 

 tion), tor their relation to the rest of the organization has 

 always appeared to us to be constant ; and we have not he- 

 sitated to adopt them as generic characters, whenever we 

 have been unable to discover others in the perfect insect." 

 We are not quite sure that we agree with M. Duponchel in 

 the latter part of his observation ; but whatever comes from 

 the pen of such distinguished authority, must at least com- 

 mand attention and respect. 



Fam. a. Species. Icon. 



1. Geom. Vernaria, Linn.* Hiibn. Geom. tab. 2. f. 7. (foem.) 



2. Geom. 



* Hemithea, Duponch. — " Antcnnee pectinated in the males, simple in 

 the females. — Thorax narrow, slightly velvety. — Upper angle of the anterior 

 wings more or less acute; middle of the terminal margin of the posterior 

 in most species, pointed. — Pnlpi slender, extending beyond the forehead. 

 —Maxillcc prominent. — Z/a;-t'a smooth, elongated ; head deeyi\y bifurcate; 



anterior 



