Insects. 8919 
following tabular statement will show the orders in which authors have 
placed it at one time or another :— 
Neuroptera. Olivier, Latreille, and Stephens in ‘ Nomenclature.’ 
Trichoptera. Curtis, Stephens in ‘ Systematic Catalogue of British 
Insects,’ Doubleday and Guenée. 
Lepidoptera, Westwood, Kolenati, Haliday, Newman and Stainton. 
The facts of the case do not any longer admit of doubt that the true 
place for the genus Acentropus is in the order Lepidoptera; but it is 
not so easy to say in what section of that great order it should be 
located. Misled by the great similarity in the habits of A. niveus to 
those of the various species of Hydrocampa, I at first suggested its 
being made to follow that genus in the Pyralide, and it has been so 
placed in the systematic part of the present work, which has been 
some time in type; but further consideration of the trophi of the per- 
fect insect disposes me to alter that opinion. The absence of spurs 
on the tibiz and the abortive state of the maxille place Acentropus 
entirely out of accord with the Pyralide; and these characteristics of 
the genus, in like manner, put it beyond the pale of the Yponomeu- 
tide or the Crambidz, where Westwood and others have placed it. 
I am compelled, after long consideration of the problem, to seek for a 
place for it in the tribe Bombyces. It is true the British, and as far 
as I know the European, species of Bombyces differ widely from 
Acentropus, but it is very possible that some of the small and little- 
known exotic species may be found, when they shall have been 
thoroughly examined, to approach much nearer to our genus; at all 
events, there are two British families of that tribe which are more 
nearly allied to Acentropus than are those of any other tribe. These 
are the Hepialide and the Zeuzeride.. With the Hepialidez, Acen- 
tropus agrees in the general shape of its larve, in the absence of 
spines on the legs of the imago, and in the substitution for them of 
hair, in the want of a labrum, and in the almost total absence of 
maxille. With the Zeuzeride it agrees in the shape of larva, small 
development of maxille, and general form of the palpi, which in 
Acentropus may be either labial or maxillary. 
Many objections to this classification of Acentropus may be brought 
forward, but I do not see any group in which the genus can be so well 
placed. Wherever they may be eventually located, the Acentropide 
must form a separate and distinct family. I would myself like to see 
the Psychide placed in the same section of the Bombyces; the 
Acentropide would then have neighbours possessing further points of 
affinity in addition to the absence of maxillz, viz. in the possession of 
