BY E. MEYKICK, B.A. 227 



thick, arched ; second joint laterally compressed, often roughly 

 scaled beneath ; terminal joint as long as second, pointed. 

 Fore-wings elongate, variable in breadth, hind-margin often 

 indented, oblique, apex rounded, often produced. Hind- wings 

 varying from ovate to lanceolate, narrower than forewings, cilia 

 rather narrower or broader. Abdomen rather elongate. Legs 

 rather short, smoothly scaled. Forewings with 12 veins; 

 secondary cell indicated ; 7 and 8 separate ; 1 simple or more or 

 less furcate at base. Hind- wings with 8 veins ; 3 and 4 from 

 posterior angle of cell, sometimes short-stalked. 



The genus may always be recognized by the short palpi clothed 

 with whorls of scales, and metallic transverse markings ; it is a 

 very conspicuously natural one, and not very close to any but 

 Phryganostola and Apistomorpha, which have a long tuft on second 

 joint of palpi. All the species have the same habit of alternately 

 raising and depressing their wings when at rest, as though 

 fanning themselves; I have noticed this habit in all the 

 Australian and New Zealand species. They are sun-loving 

 insects, and fly especially in the afternoon towards sunset, in 

 grassy places. 



The genus is apparently of universal distribution, but hitherto 

 not numerous in species, 17 having been described altogether 

 from other parts of the Globe; 18 are here described from 

 Australia and New Zealand, where doubtless many more remain 

 to be discovered, so that these regions would appear to be 

 especially favoured by them. The proportion appears to be 

 largest in New Zealand. 



The larvae are 16-legged, rather stout, and feed principally on 

 the seeds of grasses and allied plants, except one European 

 species on Seduni. I have not yet succeeded in finding the larvae 

 of any Australia species, but from the habits of the imago, I 

 have little doubt that all will be found to feed in the seed-heads 

 of different species of grass and sedge. 



