MEMOIRS OF THE XATIOXAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 81 



Dioptidre (including Phryganidia) and of tlie CyllopodidiB is nearly identical with that of 

 Melancbroia, and the latter is a true geometrid in its venation, and in the shape of its larva, being 

 u looper. Of its jmpa we know nothing. The venation of the geonietrids is very jiersistent 

 Hence I conclude that the day-flying, nsually bright-colored Dioptidie and Cyllopodida", as well 

 as the Hypsidir, are direct offshoots from the Lithosian stem, and that their general resemblance 

 to snch Lithosians as Crocota and Eudule, as well as Anieria, is based on real affinity. The day- 

 flying habits of some geoinetrids is also well known. The larva of Euphanessa is a geometrid, 

 but its moth has been usually associated with the Lithosiid;e, though its venation is geometrid. 

 Rileydescribesthelarvaof ffiiaflfo-ert as having ''extremely small" anterior abdominal legs, the 

 anal ones being much longer. Probaijly when we learn more of the transformations of the fiiniilies 

 we have mentioned it will be found that the presence or absence of certain abdominal legs will 

 be found to be a secondary adaptational character. It is noticeable that the dull-colored 

 rhryganidia, with only incipient clouds instead of bars and spots, is a primitive form as regards 

 markings. 



After au examination of the pupal and imaginal characters of Geonietrids, Dioptids, Hypsids 

 and Syntomids, it seems to me that all these groups rei)resent more or less parallel lines of 

 •development which originated from the generalized Lithosiida', the latter, with the Zygj^nida;, 

 having sprung from generalized Tineina. The Nolidaj represent a side branch, which evolved 

 from a Lithosian perhaps like Clemensia. The Arctiid;ie have also apparently directly descended 

 from the Lithosiida'. The Syntomicbe and Xyctemerida', which seem closely allied by larval 

 characters, have also directly descended from the Lithosiidre. 



Finally, it appears that the Geometrid* are a rather more primitive type, and have no 

 relationship to the Xoctuida', the latter having more or less directly descended from the Agaristidiv, 

 the latter from the Hypsida- or an allied-group. The fact that the young larva' of many Xoctuidte 

 have only two pairs of legs seems to have no phylogenetic significance. 



In this preliminary abstract space has prevented my giving details and figures'to prove the 

 truth of the assertions and conclusions here presented. 



Hints on the origin of the Noetuiila: — The Noctuidie may have descended from the Agaristidi^, 

 .since the pupae of several genera I have examined are of the same type as those of Alypia and 

 Eudryas, having a similar lanceolate labium (second maxillary palpi). It is possible that the 

 Agaristid;!^ are the direct offshoots of the Hypsida^ or came from au extinct group closely allied 

 to them. Of this I can, from the want of specimens, only judge from the figures in Horsfield and 

 Moore's Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects, etc., Part II. The cateri)inars of Hypsa, Eusemia, 

 particularly _B. basalis, are not only much like ordinary Noctuida?, but are also closely similar to 

 those of Eudryas and Alypia, that of JH. basalis being humped on the eighth abdominal segment, 

 and with the dark bars and spots of the larvie of these Agaristids. Hence, (piite contrary to onr 

 former prepossessions, it appears probable that the Noctuid;e may be the descendants of th.e 

 Agaristida^ instead of being connected by the Deltoids with the Pyralids. That the ISToctuidae, 

 as well as the Geometrida', are a modern group is shown not only by the pupal and other 

 characters, but by the fact that they comprise so many closely allied genera and species, the pup;i3 

 as well as imagines possessing no vestigial characters. 



Tlie following tabular view will exju-ess in a tentative way my present views as to the 

 phylogenv of the Lepidoptera, or, in other words, the relationship of the suborders and of the 

 principal families, and will thus serve temporarily as a genealogical tree of the order. 



It will be seen by this scheme that the genera of the Protolepidoptera, Palaeolepidoptera, 

 and those Neolepidoptera with incomplete pupai (including all the families up to Lithosiidte) have 

 narrow wings, the internal border of the wings, or "folded portion" of Spuler, being slightly 

 developed. The flight of these genera is a fluttering one and, in general, of short duration. 



In the later Lithosiidte we see a rapid enlargement of the folded portion or a widening of 

 the wings, and with this widening of the wings, with an increase in wing-power and the ability 

 to take longer and higher flights, we seem to have had a great increase in the numbw- of genera 

 and families, until in the butterflies, with their very broad wings, we have not only a fluttering 

 ,aud direct long flight, but also the power of soaring high in the air. On the other hand, the 

 S. Miss. 50 C 



