188 



LITHOSIIME. 



This family was proposed by Stephens for the re- 

 ception of a few moths, which he characterises as 

 having the antennae moderate, very slender, seta- 

 ceous, sometimes pectinated or ciliated in the males ; 

 palpi not longer than the head, cylindric, terminal 

 joint as short as, or shorter, than the second ; spiral 

 tongue generally longer than the head ; wings hori- 

 zontal, somewhat elliptic, the posterior much folded, 

 the anterior without stigmata, thorax not crested, 

 body slender. The larva is fusiform, sometimes 

 hairy, with sixteen legs, solitary, either residing in 

 a common web, or subcutaneous. 



This family is of limited extent, but the species 

 are generally of great beauty; their gay colours 

 emulating those of butterflies, which they resemble 

 by flying occasionally in the day, although the twi- 

 light is their proper season of activity. It is dim- 

 cult to determine their true relations, for they seem 

 to touch upon different families according to the 

 point of view under which they are regarded. Lin- 

 naaus referred such as were known to him either to 

 the Tinea?, Bombyces, or Noctua?, and they exhibit 

 peculiarities which render such a distribution not 

 unnatural, although they are now included in one 

 group. 



