13 



but this genus is identical with Lineodes Gnen., which both he 

 and Lederer very properly placed among the Pyralids. If these 

 two genera be removed, we have rather a compact group, which 

 may be placed in the vicinity of the Pyralids, in my opinion. 



CHARACTERS OF THE PTEROPHORID^E. 



Long, slim insects, with long legs. Fore wings usually with 

 one fissure and hind wings with two. The North American 

 species, so far as known, have fissured wings. Proboscis and 

 labial palpi well developed. Maxillary palpi and ocelli absent. 

 Fore wings with vein Ib either simple or with a short fork at the 

 base; Ic present, 4 and 5 remote at the base, 8 and 9 stalked or 

 fused. Hind wings above without a row of hairs along the basal 

 part of the median vein; la usually absent, 4 and 5 remote at the 

 base, 6 and 7 remote, 7 and 8 approach very near each other near 

 the middle of the wing. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA. 



e Hind wings with a cluster of black scales in the fringe of the 

 1 : third feather, . . . . .... . . 2. 



i Hind wings without a cluster of black scales in the fringe of 

 ^ the third feather, . . ;- ... . . . 4. 



t Anal angle present in second lobe of fore wings, ... 3. 

 ( Anal angle absent in second lobe of fore wings, . Trichoptilus. 

 Anal angle absent in first lobe of fore wings, . . Oxyptilus. 

 Anal angle present in first lobe of fore wings, . Platyptilia. 

 ^ Feathers of hind wings similar and tapering uniformly, Alucita. 

 \ Feathers of hind wings unlike in form, . ... . 5. 



c Anal angle present on first lobe of fore wings, . Stenoptilia. 

 ) Anal angle absent on first lobe of fore wings, . . Pterophorus. 



GENUS TRICHOPTILUS Wlsm., Pter. Cal. and Ore. (1880). 



Front neither extended nor tufted, vertex smooth. Antennae 

 pubescent; palpi slightly ascending; second and third segments 

 nearly equal in length, the former a little thickened with scales, 

 especially towards the outer end, the latter filiform. Tibiae 

 thickened with scales at the origin of the spurs. Fissure of the 

 fore wings extending in a little more than half their length, the 

 lobes being very slender, diverging, and without the anal angle on 

 either. Hind wings with the fissure between the first and second 

 feathers reaching within one-fourth of their base, while the second 

 fissure reaches nearly to the base of the wing. All the feathers 



