45^ "IHE MOTHS', 



Genus III Phal^nce. I'he Moths, 



1 HE moths are the moft numerous genus hitherta 

 known, either In the animal or vegetable world : Lirmceu» 

 has enumerated ab mt four hundred and fixty fpecies,- 

 and probably is far Ihort of the real number. They are 

 more frequent in warm and dry climates than in ours ; 

 and they are more plentiful in SontJj than North Britain^ 

 In the former country, feventy different kinds have bee a 

 coUeded ; while in the latter, fcarcely half that number 

 have jet been noticed. The charadlers by which this 

 numerous genus is diftinguifhed are the following : The 

 antennce fetaceou^, diminifliing in thicknefs from the bafe 

 to the extremity ; their wings, when at reft, are in gene- 

 ral folded down ; and they fly during the night. The race 

 of moths have been further fubdivided into eight different 

 families. The firft, called the attaci, have the wings hang- 

 ir!g downwards, and fpread open ; and the antennae are 

 either peftinated or fetaceous : The fecond are uamed 

 bombices, and have their wings covering the body hori- 

 zontally, with pedlinated and fetaceous antennsc : The 

 third family comprehends the noduts, whofe wings are 

 incumbent, and the antenna fetaceous : Thofe of the 

 fourth tribe are termed geometrae, and have their wings, 

 when at reft, extended horizontally : The tortices are 

 diftinguilhed by obfcure wings, the exterior margins 

 forming a curve : Tiie pyralides have the inner margins 

 of the wings laid one over the other : In the tincce, the 



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