442 JNSECTA. 



Naples from the Morea, and several centuries afterwards, under the adminis- 

 tration of Sully particularly, into France. It is well known that silk was 

 formerly sold for its weight in gold, and that it is now a source of great 

 wealth to France. 



3. The PsEuno-BoMBYCES are composed of Lepidoptera, in which, as well 

 as in the following ones, the inferior wings are furnished with a bridle which 

 fixes them to the superior, when at rest. They are then entirely covered by 

 the latter, both being tectiform or horizontal, but with the inner margin over- 

 lapped. The proboscis, towards the latter end of the tribe, begins to lengthen, 

 and, in the last subgenera, even scarcely differs from that of other Lepidop- 

 tera, except in being somewhat shorter. The antennae are entirely pectinated 

 or serrated, at least in the males. All their caterpillars live on the exterior 

 parts of plants. 



There are eight subgenera, Sericaria, Notodonta, Orgyia, &c. 



4. The APOSUHA are removed, as we have observed in the general divisions 

 of this family, by a unique character, viz. the absence of the anal feet of the 

 animal in its larva state. The posterior extremity of the body terminates in 

 a point, which in several is forked, or even presents two long, articulated, and 

 moveable appendages, forming a sort of tail. With respect to their proboscis, 

 palpi, and antenna?, these insects are but slightly removed from the preceding 

 ones. 



5. The NOCTU^ELITES, Lat., are similar to the preceding insects in the 

 figure and relative size of the wings, and in their position when at rest, but 

 present the two following distinguishing characters: a horny, and most com- 

 monly long, spirally rolled proboscis ; inferior palpi abruptly terminated by a 

 very small or much more slender joint than the preceding one; the latter 

 much wider, and strongly compressed. 



The body of the Noctuselites is more covered with scales than with a 

 woolly down. Their antennae are usually simple. The back of the thorax is 

 frequently tufted, and the abdomen forms an elongated cone ; they fly with 

 great rapidity. Some of them appear during the day. 



Their caterpillars usually have sixteen feet; the others have two or four 

 less, but the two posterior, or anals, are never absent, and in those which pre- 

 sent but twelve, the anterior pair of the membranous ones are as large as the 

 next. Most of these caterpillars enclose themselves in a cocoon to complete 

 their metamorphosis. 



Here we have Erebus and Noctua. 



6. The PnAL.ffiN.ffi TOBTRICES, Lin., are closely allied to the two preceding 

 sections. The superior wings, of which the exterior margin is arcuated at 

 base and then narrowed, their short and wide figure forming a truncated oval, 

 give a very peculiar appearance to these insects. They have a distinct pro- 

 boscis, and their inferior palpi are usually almost similar to those of the 

 Noctua?, but somewhat salient. 



They are small and prettily coloured ; their wings are tectiform, but 

 flattened almost horizontally, and always laid on the body. In this case the 

 upper ones are slightly crossed along the inner margin. 



