108 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



school. The Tortrices, however, should first be noticed, 

 as they show, in many respects, a close approximation 

 to the last family of the Bomhycides : tliey are beautiful 

 little moths, having the habit, in their larva state, of 

 rolling up the leaves on which they feed, and in which 

 habitation they pass the chrysalis state : excepting in 

 size, these caterpillars closely resemble those of the New 

 Holland group above mentioned ; and we have no doubt 

 but that analysis will fully establish this singular and 

 unexpected affinity. The third family is composed of 

 the Tineidce, the smallest of the whole order; some are, 

 indeed, so minute, that the collector finds it difficult to 

 insert a fine pin through their thorax : most of the species 

 are ornamented with spots of silver or of gold, so as to 

 exhibit, under a high magnifying glass, some of the 

 most beautiful combinations of colours in nature : the 

 antennae are often very long, and the wings fringed with 

 delicate hairs : the larvae are singularly diversified ; and 

 this group, which all entomologists agree is a natural one, 

 offers the strongest argument against all systems built 

 exclusively upon the larvae : some of the caterpillars have 

 eight feet, some fourteen, and some sixteen. The true 

 PhalanidcB are the largest insects in the tribe, and in the 

 shape of their wings they very often resemble the di- 

 urnal butterflies ; the larva has twelve feet ; and in every 

 stage of its existence we see an obvious affinity to the 

 succeeding division of night moths (^IVoctuides). Fi- 

 nally, we should notice the Pyralidce, remarkable for 

 their long legs, for their aquatic habits, and for the 

 propensity of many of the species to fly during the 

 day. 



(107.) A few remarks on the Noctuides, the third and 

 last division of the moths, will conclude our rapid survey 

 of this order. This natural and very numerous tribe 

 may be immediately distinguished from the two former, 

 by their simple setiform antennae, their short but stout 

 body, their large eyes, and their projecting palpi, usually 

 naked at their tip. The caterpillars are greatly diversi- 

 fied, but the pupa is almost universally terrestrial, — 



