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CHAPTER V. 



DELTOIDES, PYRALIDES, AND CRAMBITES. 



I VERY much regret that there should be no simpler 

 words which can be substituted for those which head 

 this chapter. There are, however, none whatever, so 

 we must be content to use the terms which are 

 adopted by the best entomologists of the time. 

 Indeed, the only group of which it is even possible to 

 form a simple English ward which fully expresses the 

 character of the insects, is the first, which literally 

 signifies Delta-like, and may be freely translated as 

 Delta- Moths, because when the insects are at rest, 

 their wings assume a shape which bears some resem- 

 blance to the Greek letter Delta (A). All the above- 

 mentioned insects are small, but the number of species 

 is enormous, for they reckon among their ranks more 

 species than all the groups which have heretofore 

 been described. As is the case with the Noctuae, the 

 Moths of each group bear a great resemblance to each 

 other, and much afflict the mind of the collector by 

 their prevailing similitude. 



ONE example of the Deltoides will be sufficient for 

 our present purpose, and we will select the BANDED 



