MOTHS. 189 



panding about two inches. The type is M. Cynam, Cram., which 

 is of a bluish grey, with several denticulated black and white 

 lines ; it is a native of the north of South America. This insect 

 may be taken as a representative of the Platydince. 



In the Hypenince, the wings are narrower, the antennae 

 shorter, and the palpi porrected. The type of this family is the 

 "Snout," a brown moth about an inch and a half in expanse, 

 which is common among nettles. The genus Hypena is widely 

 distributed, and the species are very numerous. 



The East Indian genus Dichromia, Guen., deserves notice. 

 The fore wings are brown or grey, and are often marked with a 

 large triangular black spot, and the hind wings are yellow, with 

 black borders. 



The Herminince are an extensive group of rather small species, 

 which are often remarkable for the peculiar tufts on their 

 antennae and front tibiae ; in some genera the palpi are very long, 

 and of extraordinary shapes. The typical genus of this sub- 

 family is Herminia, Latr., of which several species are common 

 in England. 



SUB-SECTION IV. Geometrce. 



Body generally slender; antennas often pectinated in the 

 males ; wings broad, similarly coloured ; larvae with only ten legs, 

 the first two pairs of pro-legs being undeveloped; species of 

 moderate size. 



This extensive group may always be distinguished at once 

 by the structure of the larva, to which, however, we find some 

 approach in several families of Noctuce, such as the Catocalidce. 

 Many of the perfect insects, however, so much resemble Bombyces, 

 that they were long classed with them ; and there is no doubt 

 that many more genera will be removed from various families of 

 Bombyces to the Geometrce, as soon as their transformations are 

 known. The largest species do not exceed four inches in expanse, 

 and the smallest measure more than half an inch. From an inch 

 to an inch and a half is the usual size. The Geometrce are 

 divided into many families, of which we must proceed to notice 

 the most important. 



The Urapterydcz are rather large species, frequently with an 

 angular projection on the hind wings. The type of this family is 

 the Swallow-tailed Moth (Urapteryx Sambucaria, Linn.), the largest 



