1898.] 245 



(1). In 1852 Zeller described it as Ewplocamus {Scardia) vastelliis, 

 his type is before me and is labelled "Caffraria," wbicb confirms Zeller's 

 published note, " Habitat in tractibus fluviorum Limpoponis et 

 Gariepis." 



(2). In 1860, when Stainton redescribed this species as Tinea 

 gigantella, he stated that his types were from Knysna (Cape Colony). 

 (3). Walker, in 1863, created another synonym when he described 

 specimens of the same species from the Cape as Tinea lucidella. 



(4). Specimens received from Africa are not uncommon; the 

 labels on the long series in my collection show that the species occurs 

 in the Sudan, Natal, Cape Colony, Mashonaland, and Delagoa Bay 

 (specimens from Kilima Njaro perhaps represent a closely allied 

 species). I have seen others from the Transvaal, it is known to occur 

 in Gambia, and the skull and cocoons figured by Mr. McCorquodale 

 were obtained from West Africa, while a pair of horns from Natal 

 with protruding cocoons (similar to those figured) has long been ex- 

 hibited in the British Museum (Natural History) presented by 

 myself. 



Before adding Tinea vastella to the Indian list a careful study of 

 the maxillary palpi is necessary ; a critical examination of the Indian 

 specimens will probably convince Mr. McCorquodale (as it has already 

 convinced me, and I may now add Sir George Hampson also) that 

 they differ in structure from the true vastella. 



I am acquainted with at least five Indian species closely allied to 

 vastella, one of which {orientalis, Stainton) is also a horn-feeding 

 species, and the others probably have similar habits. Micropteryx ? 

 unicella, Walker, is a Tinea belonging to this group, and sacerdos, 

 Walsingham, has probably light coloured varieties ; two species are 

 at present undescribed, but they are provisionally labelled liocTcingi, 

 MS. (this is probably the same as the Indian specimens in the British 

 Museum series of lucidella), and mincliini, MS. 



It would be rash to say that vastella does not occur in India, but 

 there is not an Indian exponent of that species in my collection, nor 

 have I been able to recognise vastella among the numerous Indian 

 specimens of this group that I have seen. 



So far I have only dealt with a statement which, as it stands, 

 conveys an impression contrary to fact ; but nearly all the remainder 

 of Mr. McCorquodale' s note is also misleading. 



It is not stated whether he observed the larva, but as he describes 

 the imago it would at first sight appear that he had bred it. Believing 

 that the Kilima Njaro specimens, referred to above, represent a species 

 with similar habits closely allied to but distinct from vastella, the de- 



