23 



Descriptions of Australian Lepidoptera, 



By K Meyrick, B.A., F.E.S. 

 Part I. 



[Read December 3rd, 1889.] 



I have selected for the subject of this paper one of the families 

 of the Tineina, which contains some of the largest and most 

 characteristically Australian species of that group. The more spe- 

 cially developed genera are further remarkable through the 

 curious habits of the larvse, which have no parallel in any other 

 family of the Lepidoj^tera. The perfect insects are often very 

 retired in habit ; and it is probable that when local collectors 

 turn their attention more carefully to the discovery and rearing 

 of the larvpe, many additional species will be found. It is the 

 object of papers such as these to stimulate the search for these 

 insects by enabling collectors to identify the species which they 

 possess, and indicating the direction in which fresh investigations 

 may be made. 



XYLORYCTID^. 



Head smooth or with more or less loosely appressed hairs ; ocelli 

 absent ; tongue developed. Antennae J — |, in male pectinated, 

 ciliated, or simple, basal joint without pecten. Labial palpi re- 

 curved, terminal joint pointed. Maxillary palpi very short, more or 

 less appressed to tongue. Abdomen in male with uncus developed, 

 variable in length. Forewings with vein 1 furcate towards base, 

 7 and 8 stalked or rarely separate or coincident, 11 from middle 

 of cell. Hindwings as broad or generally broader than forewings, 

 trapezoidal to ovate, 16 clothed with long hairs above towards 

 base, shortly furcate at base, 3 and 4 from a point or stalked, 6 

 and 7 stalked or approximated towards base, 8 connected with 

 upper margin of cell by a short bar. 



Most related to the Oecoplioridce ; probably the two families 

 are parallel developments from a common source; they are analo- 

 gous in many respects, but are easily separated by the neuration 

 of the hindwings. None of the Xy lory ctidce possess the basal 

 pecten of the antenna?, which is so common in the Oecophoridcf. 



Whether this family is represented to any extent outside Aus- 

 tralia, I am not at present able definitely to say. One species, 

 alone is found in New Zealand ; it is an Australian insect, which 

 has perhaps made its way thither within recent times. Perhaps 

 some exotic forms described under the name of Cryp)tolechia are 



