142 ^ THE entomologist's record. 



cell of hincl-wings greatly expanded, confluent with discal cell nearly to apex, and 

 finally forming a connection with vein 7. 



Pluilum C. — Larva degenerating, less flattened, but still with white tufted 

 hairs subventrally ; primary warts obscured, the other special structures lost. Moth 

 with the intercostal cell of hind-wings less expanded, but carrying vein 7 back with 

 it from the apex of discal cell. 



Phylum D. — Larva again cylindrical, densely hairy, some of the secondary 

 hairs specially modified into irritating hairs ; white subventral hairs lost. Moth 

 with intercostal cell very small, but vein 7 arises from its apex with vein 8, and is 

 not connected with the discal cell. 



Phylum A, I regard as distinctly the most generalised ; it contains 

 the genus Malacosovia. Phylum B, I was at first inclined to place 

 much higher, but the venation of the moth seems to preclude any other 

 position. The group contains Epknaptera and Evtrirha. Phylum C 

 is closely allied, but the larva is decidedly less specialised. I take this 

 to be due to degeneration, rather than to generalisation, since the 

 venation of the genus, Cosmotriche, seems derivable from Kpicnaptera 

 and not the reverse. Phylum D is the highest. A degeneration from 

 the flattened larva of phylum B having been once assumed, it is easy 

 to imagine this proceeding further to the round hairy larvae of Lcmo- 

 campa and Jilacrotlnjlacia. Eruuja^ter has the hairs less developed, but 

 evidently belongs here, and I presume that Aclmocam}ia [Trichiura) 

 and Poecilocampa do also, though their larvte are not at present before 

 me. The venation is very singular. Vein 7 instead of arising from 

 the discal cell is quite separate from it, and arises from the basal loop 

 of vein 8. I think this is only explicable by supposing a contraction 

 of the large intercostal cell of phyla B and C, which has carried vein 7 

 with it away from the discal cell. 



So much for the British species. The accompanying tree in large 

 part explains itself. I have added several European and American 

 genera, and one Australian genus, which are distinguished from the 

 English ones by the absence of shading on their respective branches. 

 Five special points may be noted : — 



Phylum E is the Australian Colussa. It is the most generalised larva of the 



whole group, closely resembling that oi Eustauclwyeria. Indeed the genus scarcely 



belongs here, as the moth still retains the frenulum. 



Phyluut F is the most generalised phylum known of the true Lasiocampids. 



The females are wingless, but the male venation closely resembles Malacosoma. 

 Phylum G is a very curious form. The larva has much the structure of Mala- 



coaoma, but the adaptation to the flattened form has begun, and the subventral 



shadow is neutralised by a u-hite hand, not by white hairs as higher in the scale. 



The moth has already the large intercostal cell of the hind-wings. 



Phylum H is an American group, at first sight quite contradictory with the 



larva of Eutridia or even more specialised, and the venation almost of Malacosoma. 



I interpret the absence of the large intercostal cell to degeneration, by a process 



different from that of phylum D. Here it seems that the lower border of the cell 



has joined the discal cell, leaving vein 7 again arising from it, but before the tip of 



the cell. 



Phylum J is a group not represented in England, intermediate between phyla 



B and D. The larva retains most of the characters of phylum B, though they are 



generally less strongly developed, while the moth has assumed the venation of 



phylum D. ]_ 



Ancient and modern Lepidopterological history : Scoparia dubitalis 



ab. alba, n. ab. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 

 In the E. M. V., vol. xxxv., pp. 103-104, Mr. H. F. Fryer notes 

 the capture of a pale form of Scoparia dubitalis described as " fore- 



