GEOGKAPHICAL DISTPaBUTlON. 13 



traced in all its stages : from them arose the Ceratocampidce, with 

 the frenulum absent and vein 7 of fore wing connected with 8, 9, 

 giving rise to the Braliinceida' with vein 8 of hind wing apjjroximated 

 to 7, and the Bombycidce and Saturniadiv with the proboscis and 

 tibial spurs absent, the former having vein 8 of hind wing connected 

 with the cell. 



From the Uraniadce arose also the Geometridce, with vein 8 

 approximated to or connected or anastomosing with tlie cell and 

 7 of fore wing stalked with 8, 9 ; vein 5 of the hind wing is fully 

 developed excej)t in the subfamily Boanniatvx, which has 8 connected 

 with the cell near base only, whilst in the Notodontiddi vein 5 is 

 always obsolescent and 8 connected with the cell at middle ; these 

 last giving rise to the CyinatojjJioridoi and Sphinrjidd', with vein 8 

 approximated to 7, the latter having also a bar between the cell 

 and vein 8 near the base, and to the Eupterotidce, with the proboscis 

 absent. 



In the last group of families arising from the Notodontidce, 

 vein 5 of the fore wing has migrated towards the median nervure ; 

 of these, the most primitive is the Hypsidw, retaining the bar 

 between vein 8 of hind wing and cell, giving rise to the Lyman- 

 triadtp, in which the proboscis is aborted, from which arose the 

 Pterotliysanidce, with the frenulum absent. From the Hypsidce 

 are derived also the Noctuidce, with vein 8 anastomosing with the 

 cell near base, from which arose the Agaristida>, with the antennae 

 dilated at extremity and day-flying or crepuscular habits, and the 

 Arctiado', with vein 8 anastomosing with the cell to middle, giving 

 rise to the Syniomidcr, with vein 8 aborted. 



Geographical Distribtttion op the Lepiboptera.* 



As far as the distribution of the Lepidoptera is concerned, the 

 Earth seems to be divisible into four main divisions only : — 



(1) The Northern temperate region, with special Arctic develop- 

 ments in high mountain-chains and high latitudes, is characterized 

 chiefly by the great development of the subfamily Noctmno} of the 

 Noctuida\ the Gcometridce, Notodontid<r- ^ Cymatophoridce, Arctiadcf, 

 Lymantriadce, and Zygcpnidce ; its southern limits, exclusive of the 

 high mountain-chain running through Mexico, Central and South 

 America, and the scattered summits of the higher mountains of 

 the tropics of the Old World, are approximately the southern 

 boundary of the United States, exclusive of Florida, in Africa the 

 Sahara, and in Asia, Arabia, Persia, the arid parts of N.W. India 

 and the higher slopes of the Himalayas, its boundaries becoming- 

 very ill-defined in China and S. Japan. 



(2) The Tropical zone of the Old World, characterized mainly by 

 a great development of the subfamily Plusiana'. of the Noctuida', the 

 Af/arisfidce, Syntomidfe, Uraniado', Eupterofldce, Salurniado', Lima- 

 codidce, and especially the Thyridida'. and Pyrcdidce, and among 



* H. J. Elwes' presidential address to the Entomological Society, 1894. 



