on the Affinities of Psyche. cvii 



to fix the group strictly among the Lepidoptera, exclusively of the characters here- 

 after noticed. 



Second. That they are Bomhyces is evidenced hy their rudimentary oral apparatus, 

 which is in general so slightly developed in that group, especially among the typical 

 species, as to become nearly obsolete in some of the gigantic ones ; and the same defi- 

 ciency of trophi serves likewise to detach them from the Tinea?, in which group they 

 are typically so highly developed, even among some of the smaller species, as to ex- 

 hibit all four palpi most distinctly, without the aid of a lens : and these parts are also 

 in a high state of development in the Trichoptera ; and therefore the Psychidae cannot 

 from their oral organs belong to that order. 



Third. From our present knowledge of the contents of this group, it appears to 

 me that tbey are related to each other -. all their larvae form moveable cots to reside 

 in ; and these cots differ in construction solely in accordance with the diversity of the 

 genera ; though I am not at this moment prepared to investigate into their mutual 

 relationship. (I possess the " Sacks " of Sterrhopterix nigricans and S. Fenella ; of 

 Thyridopterix, which is doubtless American ; of Psyche fusca, and of Fumea radiella 

 and F. nilidella ; all of which differ generically only in structure). 



The fact of the larva? being " Case-bearers," or " Sacktragers," does not militate 

 againt these insects belonging to the Bombyces, or rather to the larger group of Po- 

 meridiana.* Among the Rhopalocera we have the larvae of the Hesperidae residing 

 in contorted leaves, as also those of the genus Ceratopacha among the Nocturna ; 

 again the .^Egeriidae among the Crepuscularia, Cossus, &c. among the Pomeridiana, 

 Gortyna, Nonagria, &c. among the Nocturna ; together with many genera among 

 the Vespertina or Microlepidoptera, are all internal feeders : and among the Semidi- 

 urna the singular lacertine larva? of the Platyptericida? are to be found. Thus each 

 large group is shown to contain minor groups whose larvae are anomalous or aberrant, 

 either in habits or structure. 



The actual position of the Psychidae in the Pomeridiana is debateable. The imago 

 of some of the species closely resembles Heterogynis Penella, a Crepuscular insect, 

 while others are so intimately connected with Taleporia, a genus of Tineas, especially 

 with T. Tabulella, Guen., as to induce many naturalists to refer them to that group, 

 but, as above shown, erroneously ; this difficulty of location seems chiefly to arise from 

 the triple affinities of the Psychidae ; i. e. to the Crepuscularia, to the Bombyces (or 

 Pomeridiana) and to the Tineae ; and which may thus be rendered evident. 



Heterogynis 



Psyche . 

 Bimibyx . Tinea 



* Oiketicus must not be lost sight of. 



