26 Mr. H. T. Stainton on Elachista ceratella. 



III. Posterior wings lanceolate, with prolonged point. 

 1. Elachista ceratella. 



IV. Posterior wings lanceolate (point not prolonged). 



1. Elachista fusco-ciliella. Cilia of posterior wings fuscous. 



2. modestella. Cilia of posterior wings ochreous. 



VI. A Monograph of the British Species of the Genus 

 Micropteryx of Zeller. By H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



[Read February 4th, 1850.] 



This interesting and very distinct group of insects is sadly in 

 want of investigation ; the metamorphoses of none of the species 

 are known, and several of our species were in such confusion, that 

 in my catalogue I lumped together, as one species, three which 

 are truly quite distinct. 



The number of species will probably be much augmented by 

 more active investigations ; several of the known species appear 

 very early in the season, — for instance, purpurclla in February, 

 and unimaculella and semipurpurella in March ; and it is exceedingly 

 probable that other equally early species lurk undetected. Several 

 other species occur on the continent. 



From the affinities of this group to the Adelce (long horns), of 

 which the larvae are known to be case-bearers, feeding on various 

 plants, there is little doubt but that the larvae of these insects 

 feed in a similar way ; and if those collectors who take calthella 

 in plenty, would devote a little of their time to the furtherance 

 of science, by searching for the larvae and pupae of that insect, 

 though they might not enrich their collections by so doing, they 

 would have a better claim to the title of Entomologists. 



The genus is thus characterized by Zeller, in the Isis, 1839: 

 " With thickly woolly head, in the hairs of which the long con- 

 vergent downy-haired palpi are concealed, the antennae hardly 

 longer than the body, the wings moderately long-fringed, the pos- 

 terior oval-lanceolate." 



The structure of the palpi is very peculiar; they are six- 

 jointed, and are folded over themselves, so that the extremity lies 



