37 



not belong. The circumstance of Zygaena having been so long 

 considered a Sphinx will warrant its situation on the very cir- 

 cumference of the circle which contains its order, until a more 

 appropriate occupant of that situation can be found. At the 

 central point of contact, the genus Aglossa presents a very Bom- 

 byx-like appearance ; its shape, its want of the antlia, &c. indi- 

 cate approach ; and from the sub -class Tinea, the division of 

 Pyralis is at present an imaginary one : at this point, after making 

 what little comparison I am able, I am induced to place Galleria, 

 Melia, and Ilithya, in Pyralis ; and Cliilo, and Crambus in Tinea. 



The fourth sub-class, Tinea, far exceeds in numbers either of 

 the others, and probably all of them together ; and where such a 

 multitude of species exists, great diversity in form and habit may 

 be expected : the Pterophori are a most singular tribe, and greatly 

 resemble the Tipulse in many respects. I feel by no means 

 certain that their situation would not be better between the 

 lepidopterous sub-class, Tinea, and the dipterous sub-class, 

 Tipulae, thus throwing them completely out of the lepidopterous 

 circle ; but this I leave. I am now only sketching a rough and 

 hasty outline from nature. If I attempt to finish my drawing 

 as I proceed, I shall find occupation sufficient for a lifetime. I 

 have observed that I considered the chain of relation entering from 

 the last sub-class at Chilo, or about that genus ; the same order 

 must of course include Crambus, and its congeners; the next order 

 will contain Yponomeuta, which I will place at the point of con- 

 tact ; and the next point being among the true Tortrices will drive 

 Halias fagana as a decided departure from their typical form to 

 the very circumference of the circle where it touches Noctua. 



The fifth sub-class, Noctua, seems to be but one mighty 

 genus : we "will enter it from Halias fagana, an insect so nearly 

 allied to Noctua in its larva, its pupa, and its imago, that for 

 a long time I hesitated to which sub-class it belonged ; again, 

 in Cymatophora,* subtusa and retusa, I was fearful that by 



* Ochsenheimer places Oo in this genus, and I observe Mr. Stephens con- 

 fines the genus to that one species. Mr. Curtis places Oo in the genus Bom- 

 bycia : this confusion of genera is very piizzling, but I hope, by mentioning 

 species, to make myself understood. Oo is not at all applicable to my 

 purpose. 



