85 



The Hepialidae, Cossus, Zeuzera, Macrogaster, and the 

 Cochliopodidse, are relegated to the Incompletse, with whicli 

 their pupal structure correctly associates them ; the first 

 family and the three genera mentioned contain very large 

 moths, some of the Hepialidae being at least six inches m 

 expanse of the upper wings. It follows, therefore, that the 

 use of such words as Macro- and Micro-Lepidoptera are no 

 longer applicable to the two divisions, and should be dis- 

 continued ; a view which has been long held by the best 

 systematic Lepidopterists. 



The proper position of the Psychidae has long been a dis- 

 puted point. This is settled in Dr. Chapman's classification ; 

 the form of the pupa and the ease' with which the male pro- 

 trudes the pupa, prior to emergence, some 15 mm. beyond 

 the constructed case, places the family undoubtedly amongst 

 the Incompletae, and it is associated by him in a subdivision 

 with the Tineidse and Sesiidse. 



I have preserved several specimens of the pupa and feeding 

 cases of Psyche villosella, and I find that the pupa is very 

 incomplete, the wings and legs of the male have quite separate, 

 almost separable encasements ; and on the emergence of the 

 imago the chitinous covering of the pupa remains attached 

 to the feeding case by the aid of the last abdominal segment. 

 The female, on the other hand, remains concealed in the case 

 in which she deposits her eggs ; sometimes I have seen a 

 portion of her apod apterous body projecting, apparently a 

 movement required to open the end of the case for the entry 

 of the male ; but in this event there was no portion of the 

 pupa covering exposed, so that she may be said to have in 

 this respect the habit of the Obtectae ; the departure in her 

 case from the general rule amongst the Incompletae being a 

 necessity for her mode of ovipositing. 



Among the most important changes of position in what 

 have usually been termed Micro-Lepidoptera, is that of as- 

 sociating the Gelechidae, Plutellidae, and CEcophoridae with 

 the Pyraloids, and suggesting that the Hyponomeutidse, 

 Argyresthiidae, and Coleophoridae may form another division 

 of equal systematic value. 



I earnestly recommend every member of the Society 

 to carefully read Dr. Chapman's paper, and endeavour to 

 the best of his ability to assist him in the important work of 

 a more scientific and systematic revision of the classification 

 of the Lepidoptera-Heterocera. Descriptions, or better still, 

 drawings or photographs of the egg, larva in all its stages, 

 and pupa are what are needed, and I know of no body of 



