LEPIDOPTERA. S91 



There arc nnmerous species of these two subgenera. They 

 seem to connect themselves with the Callimorphae. 



We should remark that the prenus Stygia, which was placed in 

 this tribe, belongs to that of the Hepialites. 



M. de Villicrs — Ann. de la Sec. Lin. de Par., V, 473 — who has 

 given us some new observations on the S. ausfralia accompanied 

 with good figures, considers it as intermediate between the Sesise 

 and the Zygaense ; but it has no proboscis. Its palpi are those of a 

 Cossus. The antennae are short, nowise fusiform, and more analo- 

 gous to those of certain species of Bombyx than to those of the 

 Sesiae and Zygsenae. This Insect, even in the arrangement of the 

 colours of the superior wings, approximates much more to Cossus 

 and Zeuzera than to the preceding subgenera. 



FAMILY III. 



NOCTURNA. 



In the third family of the Lepidoptera, with some few exceptions, 

 we also find the wings bridled, when at rest, by a bristle or bundle of 

 setae arising from the exterior margin of the lower ones, and passing 

 into a ring or groove in the under part of the upper ones. The 

 wings are horizontal or inclined, and sometimes rolled round the 

 body. The antennse gradually diminish in: thickness from base to 

 point, or are setaceous. 



This family, according to the system of Linnaeus, forms but the 

 single genus 



Phalan.e, Liu. 



These Lepidoptera seldom fly but at night or after sunset. Se- 

 veral have no proboscis. Some of the females are destitute of wings, 

 or have but very' small ones. The caterpillars most commonly spin 

 a cocoon; the number of theii; feet varies from ten to sixteen *, The 

 chrysalides are always rounded, or without angular elevations or 

 points. 



The classification of this family is very embarrassing, and with re- 

 spect to it our systems are as yet nierely imperfect essaj'^s or rude 

 • sketches f . We divide it into ten sections. The first nine are com- 

 posed of those species in which the wings are perfectly entire, or with- 



* De Geer, in one species, counted eighteen, all membranous, II, p. 245, and I, 

 XXX, 20 ; xxxi, 13 — IG. 



f We are frequently compelled to borrow characters taken from the caterpillar. 

 If this be disregarded, we shall be compelled to suppress a great number of genera. 

 I -will mention, for instance, that of Phalwna proper, or Geometra. It -we consider 

 only the perfect Insect, it is impossible to distinguish generically several species, 

 sucli as the prodomaria belularia and hirtanu, from Bombyx ; it is also evident that 

 we could not separate from them Platypterix, and other genera. 



