45 



Natural Order — Phalcence. Larva, with sixteen feet ; it has 

 a circle of wart-like protuberances on each segment, from each 

 of which spring a few strong bristles; jDupa, smooth, with a 

 few bristles at the tail ; changes in a cocoon, which is singularly 

 left partly open at one end. We have but one species of this 

 order in Britain, Satumia carpini ; * but among exotics there is 

 a great variety, some remarkable for the immense expanse of 

 their wings. -j- Probably Phalaena Atlas of Linnaeus is the 

 centre of the group, and, if so, the centre and type of the class 

 Lepidoptera. 



I have previously given, in a note, a list of the genera which 

 are usually considered as Bombyces, and ought, therefore, if 

 properly placed, to be included in the sub-class Phalaena ; five 

 of those genera yet remain, and at present must be excluded 

 from the sub-class : Penthophera, Heterogena, and Limacodes, 

 because I know nothing of their history ; Nudaria and Psyche, 

 because, in the larva, pupa, and imago states, they have the 

 habit and appearance of another class (Neuroptera). The time 

 of their dwelling with Lepidoptera is over and gone ; they have 

 already occupied too long a position to which they were not 

 entitled. The difficulty of assigning a situation to Limacodes 

 I hope to see removed, as the larva is occasionally to be met 

 with. I must also remark, that although I have proposed a 

 situation for Endromis, I feel very doubtful as to its being the 

 correct one. These doubts and difficulties will probably gain 

 me much censure ; but I must endeavour to shelter myself in 

 some degree, by observing, that I am the first who has ever 

 deviated from the original Linnsean arrangement of Lepidoptera, 

 the first who has ever thought of appealing to nature in support 

 of theory, or rather has waited for nature to supply him with 

 theory; and surely some allowance is to be made for a first 

 attempt of any kind. I would also plead the poverty of our 

 British Fauna in the sub-class, and my almost entire ignorance 



* Saturnia carpini is the Pavonia minor of Linnaeus, who, apparently, 

 considered it a variety of a completely different species : the retention of a 

 name thus originating in error is not justifiable. 



f Drury has some fine figures of this order, particularly Vol. I. pi. xviii. 2 ; 

 Vol. II. pi. V. 1, pi. vi. 2, pi. xi. 1,2, pi. xiii. 2 ; Vol. III. pi. xix. pi. xxiv. 

 pi. XXV. pi. xxxiv. 



