June, 1902.] BUSCK : NORTH AMERICAN TiNEINA. 99 



superficial characters of all three genera are very similar, viz., the white coloring, 

 metallic tornal spot and radiated dark and yellow apical markings). But the vena- 

 tion of Crobylophora is very similar to that of Leiicopfera, whereas your species 

 possesses several additional veins in the fore wing, giving it quite a different aspect 

 and showing that it is really a much earlier type and very interesting as probably ap- 

 proaching the ancestral form of both Crobylophora and Leiicopfera. I think, then, 

 that it would be a mistake to include it in either of these genera." (Letter of February 

 I r, 1901.) 



I agree thoroughly with Dr. Meyrick's view and propose the name 

 Proleucoptera for this genus with smilaciella Busck as the type and 

 with the following characters. 



Face smooth, head tufted; antennoe 4/5, basal joint enlarged and concave be- 

 neath to form a well-developed eye-cap. Labial palpi short, but distinct, drooping.* 



Maxillary palpi absent; posterior tibiae hairy. Fore wings elongate- ovate, apex 

 produced, pointed, but heavy scaling makes the wing appear broad and truncate. 

 10 veins, all separate, I b furcate at base, 4 absent, 7 to costa, 8 absent. Hind wings 

 narrow, lanceolate ; cilia 4 ; 6 veins, 3 and 4 absent, cell open between 2 and 5. 

 (See Fig. 6, PL IX, Jour. JST. V. Ent. Soc, Vol. VIII, 1900.) 



A very interesting help to the understanding of the relationship 

 between these genera is found in Chambers' Ceiniostoina albella, a large 

 series of which are in the U. S. National Museum, bred by Dr. Dyar 

 and myself from leaf mines on cottonwood collected by Dr. Dyar in 

 Colorado. 



This insect, a specimen of which Stainton examined thirty years 

 ago and which he unhesitatingly placed as congeneric with the super- 

 ficially very similar European species of Leiicopfera, forms a connect- 

 ing link between Proleiiioptera and Crobylophora. It has the charac- 

 ters of the head exactly like Proleucoptera, in which genus it should 

 be placed (it is specifically difficult to separate from smilacielhi) , but 

 the venation presents some specialization approaching the younger 

 genera. Vein 1 1 is nearly obsolete, represented only by a slight proc- 

 ess from the subcostal vein and a faint thickening of the membrane ; 

 vein 6 is emitted from 7 to termen and both veins 4 and 5 are absent ; 

 \b furcate at base ; transverse vein, as in smilaiciella, very indistinct 

 especially between 7 and 9. 



I would state that the two species of Leiicopfera from Florida de- 

 scribed by me, namely, L. eryfhrinella and L. guetfardella (Proc. U. 

 S. Nat. Mus., XXIII, 239-40) are true Leiicopfera, conforming in 

 every detail with the genus. 



* They were overlooked in the description of the species. 



