60 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



appears to be a gradual progression from the diurnal 

 Lepidoptera, in which the cilia are shortest, to the 

 Pterophorina and Alucitina) ; posterior wings sometimes 

 of an elongate trapezoidal form, more frequently re- 

 markably attenuated, without markings. The larvae 

 generally with sixteen legs, sometimes only with fourteen, 

 in a few genera they are entirely apodal (with no legs). 



8. The PTEROPHORINA. This group of Plume Moths 

 is comparatively limited, and we have only 29 British 

 species. The antennae are setaceous ; the body is 

 slender, elongated, adorned with markings ; the legs 

 are elongate ; the wings, which have long cilia, are 

 divided, the anterior pair being bifid, the posterior pair 

 trifid. In one genus, Agdistis, the wings are entire, 

 but the place where the fissure should be is scantily 

 clothed with scales. 



9. The ALUCITINA. This group contains only a 

 single British species. The antennae are setaceous ; the 

 body is slender, short, adorned with markings ; the 

 wings have long cilia, each wing is divided into six. 



We must now hastily glance at the various FAMILIES ol 

 the British Lepidoptera. In the butterflies, or Bhopa- 

 locera, we have five families represented in this country. 



1. PAPILIONID^E. Imago with six legs, fitted for 

 walking ; larva elongate, cylindrical, smooth, or pubes- 

 cent ; pupa attached by the tail and by a belt of silk 

 round the body. 



This family includes the Swallow Tail, Brimstone, 

 Clouded Yellows, and White Butterflies. We have 11 

 British species. 



2. NYMFHALIDA. Imago, with only four legs fitted 

 for walking, the anterior pair being rudimentary ; larva 

 elongate, cylindrical, spiny, or with two horns at the 



