106 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



small size of the head : this part projects so little be- 

 yond the thorax, that, in the typical species, it would 

 scarcely be perceived, but for the broad and highly 

 pectinated antenns, most conspicuous in the male sex : 

 the palpi are very minute, hairy, and he close to the 

 head ; while the wings are broad, large, and ornamented, 

 in aU the typical examples, with transparent oceUate 

 spots. 



(104.) The natural divisions of the Bombycides are 

 completely unknown ; but as, for the purpose of refer- 

 ence, and the more easy detection of species, it is es- 

 sential to make some rude assortment of the genera, we 

 shall place them under the following heads, until a 

 better acquaintance with the whole has been obtained 

 by analysis : — 1. HepialidcB, or ghost moths; "-Z. Bom- 

 hycidce, or silk spinners ; 3. Arctiadce, or tiger moths ; 4. 

 Lithosiadce, or day-moths ; 5. Cryptophasidce, or hermit 

 moths. 



(105.) These divisions maybe thus slightly character- 

 ized. — The first are chiefly composed of large, full-bodied 

 insects, with long narrow wings ; and feed, during the 

 caterpillar state, within the trunks of trees. The larva 

 is either entirely naked, or thinly covered Avith scat- 

 tered hairs. The second, or true silk worms, has been 

 already noticed : the larva is generally covered with 

 stellate tufts of short hairs, very stiff, and sometimes en- 

 dowed with a poisonous, or, at least, a highly irritating 

 quality. The third comprises all those usually deno- 

 minated tiger moths, from the black spots which orna- 

 ment their red or orange under wings : the larva is 

 covered with long hairs in every part of the body, and 

 merely spins a thin transparent web enclosing the chry- 

 salis. The fourth seems to be typically distinguished by 

 flying during the day. The larva is generally or- 

 namented with tufts of long silky hairs, of which there 

 are two more conspicuous than the others near the tail, 

 two more near the head, and two towards the middle of 

 the body. It is very clear that this family represents the 

 ZyganidfP, or clear-winged sphinxes of South America; 



