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VII. THE TORTRICINA 



Not dealt with in this volume. 



V I I I . T HE T I N E I N A . 



Not dealt with in this volume. 



I X . T HE MICROPTERYGINA. 



The following are the principal characters of the Micropterygina : 



" Fore-wings with an oblique membranous dorsal process (jugum) near base, forming with 

 the dorsal margin a notch or sinus, which receives the costa of the hind-wings. Hind-wings without 

 frenulum, Ic present, with 11 or more veins, neuration essentially, almost or quite identical with 

 that of fore-wings. Fore-wings and hind-wings more than usually remote at origin. 



"In the two families, which constitute this highly interesting group, is fortunately 

 preserved a type of Lepidoptera whose existence could never have been inferred from a 

 study of other forms. Without a knowledge of these two families the true origin of the 

 order could never have been more than a matter of more or less probable conjecture. 

 The Micropterygidce are the primeval ancestors of all the Lepidoptera, indicating their 

 origin from the Triclioptera so nearly that one or two more discoveries might make it 

 hard to draw any line of demarcation. The Hepialidce are an offshoot from the M.icro- 

 pterygidce (with considerable extinction of intermediate forms), constituting "a separate 

 line of development quite unconnected with any other Lepidoptera; if, as is possible, 

 this separate stem may have ever given rise to other branches forming distinct families, 

 all trace of their existence seerns to have been lost. 



" Imago with fore-wings and hind-wings more or less semi-oval, termen and dorsum 

 forming a nearly uniform curve. 



" Larva with few hairs, with 10 to 16 prolegs, or apodal, living concealed. 



" Pupa in Hepialidce with segments 7 to 11 and in male 12, in Micropterygidce with 

 all segments free." (Meyrick.) 



In this work the Hepialidce alone are dealt with, the Micropterygidce being reserved 



