THE PHAL^ENID^E. 107 



but, although we can readily distinguish the typical 

 forms., it is very difficult to determine which are the 

 aberrant. The fifth and last division seems closely al- 

 lied, both to the Tortricidce in the next family, and to 

 the HepiaUdce in this ; they are, however, distinguished 

 by an economy so remarkable, that we shall view them, 

 for the present, as a separate group. The larva, in 

 shape, much resembles that of the goat moth; the head 

 is large, and on the body are a few scattered hairs : the 

 chrysalis is not enclosed in any web, but lies within the 

 chamber, or habitation, previously made by the cater- 

 pillar in the solid trunk of the tree. The perfect insect 

 differs from all the families we have here noticed, in 

 having the palpi curved up before the eyes, and di- 

 verging : the antennae, also, are very long; and the wings 

 possess a peculiar glossiness. We are indebted to the 

 late J. W. Lewin for a knowledge of these extraordinary 

 moths, hitherto found only in New Holland, and which 

 he has admirably illustrated in his " Prodromus" of As- 

 tralian Entomology. It is, perhaps, owing to the rarity 

 of this book, that modern systematists appear but little 

 acquainted with these singular insects. 



(106.) The Phalanidce, properly so called, constitute 

 the second division of the nocturnal Lepidoptera. With- 

 out attempting to define this great and diversified group 

 by characters applicable only to a small portion, we shall 

 merely premise that they are, as a whole, the smallest 

 and the most delicately constructed insects in the whole 

 order. The thorax is small, the body thin, and the an- 

 tennae resemble a filiform thread, rather thickest at the 

 base : they are thus distinguished from the thick bodied 

 Bombycides, with their pectinated antennae; and from the 

 strong and full bodied Noctuides, by their slender and 

 delicate shape. The popular name of Loopers has been 

 given to the first or typical division of these insects, from 

 the movement of the caterpillar when walking, the body 

 being then raised in the middle in the shape of a loop : 

 in this group, also, the larva has only ten feet : the per- 

 fect insects constitute the Geometrce of the Linngean 



