LEPIDOPTERA. 291 
There are numerous species of these two subgenera. They 
seem to connect theniselves with the Callimorphe. 
We should remark that the genus Stygia, which was placed in 
this tribe, belongs to that of the Hepialites. 
M. de Villiers—Ann. de la Scc. Lin. de Par., V, 473—who has 
given us some new observations on the S. australia accompanied 
with good figures, considers it as intermediate between the Sesiz 
and the Zygeenze ; but it has no proboscis. Its palpi are those of a 
Cossus. ‘The antennz are short, nowise fusiform, and more analo- 
gous to those of certain species of Bombyx than to those of the 
Sesiz and Zygenz. This Insect, even in the arrangement of the 
colours of the superior wings, approximates much more to Cossus 
and Zeuzera than to the preceding subgenera. 
FAMILY III. 
ee 
NOCTURNA. 
In the third family of the Lepidoptera, with some few exceptions, 
we also find the wings bridled, when at rest, by a bristle or bundle of 
setee arising from the exterior margin of the lower ones, and passing 
into a ring or groove in the under part of the upper ones. The 
wings are horizontal or inclined, and sometimes rolled round the 
body. The antenne gradually diminish in thickness from base to 
point, or are setaceous. 
This family, according to the system of Linnzeus, forms but the 
single genus 
PuaLana, Lin. 
These Lepidoptera seldom fly but at night or after sunset. Se- 
veral have no proboscis. Some of the females are destitute of wings, 
or have but very small ones. The caterpillars most commonly spin 
a cocoon; the number of their feet varies from ten to sixteen *, The 
chrysalides are always rounded, or without angular elevations or 
points. 
The classification of this family is very embarrassing, and with re- 
spect to it our systems are as yet merely imperfect essays or rude 
sketches |. We divide it into ten sections. ‘The first nine are com- 
posed of those species in which the wings are perfeetly entire, or with- 
* De Geer, in one species, counted eighteen, all membranous, II, p. 245, and I, 
XXX, 20; xxxi, 13—16. 
+ We are frequently compelled to borrow characters taken from the caterpillar. 
If this be disregarded, we shall be compelled to suppress a great number of genera. 
I will mention, for instance, that of Phalena proper, or Geometra. If we consider 
only the perfect Insect, it is impossible to distinguish generically several species, 
such as the prodomaria betularia and hirtaria, from Bombyx; it is also evident that 
we could not separate from them Platypterix, and other genera. 
