3120 THE ZooLocist—JUuLy, 1872. 
is surely a miscalculation of the strength of the arguments. I understand 
the question to be—‘Is Acentropus lepidopterous, or is it trichopterous ?” 
By the first proposition, the presence of wing-scales is admitted; it can 
scarcely be contended that their presence is an argument against the insect 
being lepidopterous, and it can hardly be intended to suggest that Acentro- 
pus is coleopterous; but unless such a suggestion is intended, the 
proposition is wide of the mark; there is no question about beetles, and to 
answer the inquiry ‘ Lepidoptera or Trichoptera?’ by saying ‘It is like 
Coleoptera’ is no answer at all. Again, it can hardly be intended to suggest 
that Acentropus is hymenopterous; but unless such a suggestion is 
intended, the third proposition is only throwing dust in the eyes, and 
diverting attention from the real question, ‘moth or caddis-fly?’ But the 
second proposition is, perhaps, the most curious of all: from the premises, 
(1), Acentropus has tippets, and (2), some Lepidoptera have not tippets, it 
can scarcely be argued, much less ‘logically deduced,’ that Acentropus is 
not lepidopterous. 
“Newman concludes (Zool. p. 8217) by indicating ‘the proper mode of 
proceeding in such a case as this,’ and finally asks for a ‘ verdict solely on 
the evidence.’ I have only had an opportunity of examining the imago; 
but, bearing in mind that ‘its mouth, wing-rays, thorax and legs should 
have especial care bestowed on them,’ the result of my own examination has 
been to satisfy me that it is a moth. The earlier stages confirm this view; 
the eggs are not enclosed in a jelly-like substance, as is usual with 
Trichoptera; and the larva and pupa have nothing of the trichopterous 
type about them. The mouth and head of the larva of Acentropus are 
unlike any known caddis-worm; whilst the mummy-like pupa is totally 
different from the pup of Trichoptera, with their free legs and antenne, 
and their strong mandibles, with which they gnaw their way out of their 
case. And though it is quite true that further details are required to give 
a complete ‘life-history of Acentropus,’ I have no hesitation in saying that, 
deciding on the evidence now forthcoming, the insect is a moth.”—P. 126. 
Although he thus apparently settles the matter to his own entire 
satisfaction, Mr. Dunning seems to doubt whether the solution will 
be equally satisfactory to others; and so, as we shall presently see, 
returns to the subject under the head of life-history ; having driven 
the nail home in the well-arranged paragraphs I have quoted, he 
attempts to clinch it by certain facts in life-history, to which process, 
Newman, who introduced this element into modern Entomology, 
cannot possibly object. Still a difficulty of no ordinary magnitude 
remains; having proved that Acentropus is a Lepidopteron, what 
position in that huge and unmanageable section of the Insect world 
