256 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



A genus confined to Tropical America. It was generally 

 referred to the Lithosiida before the larva was known. 



MELANCHRCEA ATEREA. 



(Plate CLL, Fig. 3.) 



Geometra aterea, Cramer, Pap. Exot. iv. pi. 370, fig. F (1781). 

 Zygana pylotis, Fabricius, Mant. Ins. ii. p. 106, no. 47 (1787)' 

 Mdanchroia aterea^ Hiibner, Exot. Schmett. ii. Taf. 176 



(1824?). 



Melanchroia pylotis. Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. ii. 

 p. 389, no. 8 (1854). 



This species is widely distributed in South America. It 

 expands about an inch. It is black, with white fringes to all 

 the wings, and the fore-wings have a nearly round white 

 hyaline spot just beyond the middle, close to the costa. 



FAMILY EMPLOCIID^: 



Antennae bi pectinated in the male, and dentated in the 

 female. Palpi short and slender; proboscis well marked. 

 Legs scaly ; hind tibiae with two pairs of spurs. Wings entire, 

 velvety, without transverse lines. Nervures stout, costal ner- 

 vure of the hind-wings bifid. 



These are rather small Tropical American Moths, with black 

 or dark brown wings, marked with large white or yellow spots. 

 They have some resemblance to Lemonitdce* among the Butter- 

 flies. 



GENUS EMPLOCIA. 



Emplocia, Herrich-Schaffer, Aussereurop. Schmett. i. figs. 318, 

 319 (1855); Guenee, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Uran. et Phal. ii. 

 p. 531 (1857) ; Walker, List Lepid. Ins, Brit. Mus. xxv. 

 p. 1472 (1862). 

 Devara, Walker, op. at. vii. p. 1660 (1856). 



