268 



CHAPTEK XXI. 



LEPIDOPTERA (continued) . 



THE families of Moths (Heterocera) number, as has 

 been already said, about 100. These are formed into 

 nine groups : 



1. Sphingina. 



2. Bombycina. 



3. Noctuina. 



4. Geometrina. 



5. Pyralidina. 



6. Tortrioina. 



7. Tineina. 



8. Pterophorina. 



9. Alucitina. 



The first group is readily distinguished by the spindle- 

 shaped antennae antennae, that is, which are thick in 

 the middle, and taper towards the point and the base. 

 They approach more nearly to the clavate antennae of 

 some Butterflies, than do those of any other group of 

 Moths. And, indeed, similar antenna? are found in 

 some foreign species in the last family of Butterflies 

 Hesperidaa. 



The Sphingina have, by some authors, been considered 

 not as Moths, but as forming an independent tribe, 

 between, and equal to, the great tribes of Butterflies and 



