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V. On the classification of some families of the Tineina. 

 By E. Meyrick, B.A. 



[Read December 6th, 1882.] 



Contrary to my preconceived opinion I have satisfied 

 myself that the family classification of the Lepidoptera, 

 as at present existing, is in the main wholly unsatis- 

 factory. Based as it is entirely upon European types, 

 its deficiencies only become readily apparent when it is 

 attempted to apply the scheme to the fauna of a distinct 

 region. One discovers then how vague and ill-defined 

 the principal families are ; the newly-added species 

 destroy all remaining semblance of distinction, and the 

 conclusion is inevitable, that without the aid of a system 

 founded on well-marked and definite characters, the 

 whole science will speedily become involved in hopeless 

 confusion. 



Two causes have principally contributed to this result, 

 over and above the narrowness of the field of research, 

 viz., over-reliance on superficial characters, and under- 

 estimation of the value of neuration. As a striking 

 instance of the former, take the group of the Tortricina, 

 the classification of which, as at present understood in 

 England, is scientifically quite worthless. The group 

 presents a remarkably small range of variation in the 

 superficial characters of form, marking, and colour, and 

 consequently the same general appearance frequently 

 recurs in distinct genera, and especially frequently in 

 allied genera. Structure has consequently been dis- 

 regarded in the attempt to bring together discordant 

 species, and has even come to be more or less despised 

 as an untrustworthy indication of affinity. Yet the 

 group, which has been considered one of great difficulty 

 (as indeed any group is, if classified on such principles), 

 is really one of the easiest to arrange on a natural 

 system. I have elsewhere (Proc. Linn. Soc. of New 

 South Wales, 1881) given in full my views on the classi- 

 fication of this group, to which I need not further allude 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1883. PART II. (JUNE.) 



