1889.] 373 



palpi long (3), straight, porrected, second joint, -with dense roughly projecting scales, 

 terminal joint moderate, slender, cylindrical. Maxillary palpi long (about half labial), 

 porrected, triangularly dilated with loose rough scales. Abdomen in $ with mode- 

 rate anal tuft, claspers rather slender, uncus not developed. Posterior tibia? with 

 outer spurs three-fourths of inner. Fore-wings elongate, narrow, gradually dilated 

 throughout, hind-margin once deeply cleft to one-half, segments elongate-lanceolate ; 

 vein 1 simple, 2 out of 3, 4 from point with 3, running to apex of second Begment, 

 5 and 6 obsolete, 7 closely approximated at base to 9, 8 out of 9, 9 running to costa 

 near apex, 10 out of 9 below 8, 11 out of 9 near origin, 12 free. Hind-wings 

 elongate, gradually dilated, hind-margin once deeply cleft to two-fifths from base, 

 segments elongate-lanceolate ; lower median vein without basal pectination ; la, b, c 

 all present, 2 from before angle, 3 and 4 stalked from angle, 5 short, running to base 

 of cleft, 6 from angle of cell, 7 out of 6 near origin, anastomosing with 8 to its 

 middle, 8 running to costa near apex. 



Compare with the above the family characters of the Pterophoridce, as follows : — 

 No ocelli. No maxillary palpi. Abdominal uncus in $ well developed. Fore- 

 wings with vein 7 separate or absent. Hind-wings with vein 6 separate from 7, 8 

 free but closely approximated to 7 on cell, lower median not pectinated. Wings 

 usually fissured. 



Here, out of eight permanent characteristics of the family, no less 

 than five are found wanting in Cenoloba, These are probably not all 

 of equal value ; but the presence of highly-developed maxillary palpi, 

 and the different structure of veins 6, 7, 8 of the hind-wings, are of 

 the highest importance, and may be accepted as an absolute bar to the 

 inclusion of this genus in the Pterophoridce. It will of course be also 

 remembered that the fissure of the wings, though superficially similar, 

 proceeds on a different basis, for in no other genus of Pterophoridcs- 

 are the hind-wings divided into two segments only. 



I am fortunately able to indicate the true immediate affinity of 

 this curious genus. It is, without doubt, a direct development of the 

 peculiar West Australian genus PJpharpastis, Meyr. (Trans. Ent. Soc. 

 Lond., 1887, 203), agreeing well with it not only in main points of 

 structure, but in superficial appearance and peculiar character of 

 markings. Epharpastis has not the wings fissured, but their hind- 

 margin shows a well marked concavity which is clearly the origin of 

 the fissure. Less closely connected, but certainly allied genera, are 

 Tineodes and Oxychirota, both also Australian. These four genera 

 form a group, hitherto regarded by me as divisible into two families, 

 but perhaps now capable of being united into one, for which the name 

 Oxychirotidce may be retained. Doubtless other allied genera may be 

 discovered ; but it is probable that there now exist only the remains 

 of a once rather extensive group, including some of the earliest forms 

 of the Pyralidina, and showing almost equal relationship to the 

 Ahicitidce, Pterophoridcs, Scopariadce, and Hydrocampidce. 



Ramsbury, Hungerford : 



June 24th, 1889. 



