542 William T. M. Forbes 



of the genera show striking structural characters. Superficially, the species often 

 resemble Noctuidae, Geometridae, or even Pterophoridse ; but can generally be recog- 

 nized by their thinner, more ample hind wings, besides the different venation. The 

 venational characters used in this key are somewhat unstable, and the palpal 

 characters are often almost intangible, so a certain proportion of specimens may 

 run to the wrong genus. The " oblique " front is less convex than the "rounded " 

 one, and gets steadily farther from the eye clear to its lower edge; the " rounded " 

 front is strongly convex, and its lower half, at least, parallel to the curvature of 

 the eye. (Larva, fig. 345.) 



Key to the genera 

 1. Labial palpi (figs. 332, 348) obliquely upturned, with segments sharply set 

 off, the third segment nearly as long as the second and closely scaled; 

 maxillary palpi rough-scaled, with truncate tip, almost as long as second 

 joint of labial palpi and much longer than third. 

 2. Tongue very strong, much wider than palpi. .21. Blepharomastix (stenialis) . 

 2. Tongue weak, much narrower than palpi.. (50. Nymphula — Nymphulinae). 

 1. Labial palpi with third joint usually smaller, sometimes very small, attached 

 to upper side of end of second joint; sometimes lying along the tuft when 

 the second joint is tufted, but never forming the end of the tuft; maxillary 

 palpus smaller, not broadened at end, sometimes minute (fig. 326). 

 2. Third segment of palpus long, upturned, and pointed, almost as long as 



second 18. Hymenia. 



2. Third segment of palpus short, lying along upper side of tuft on second 

 (fig. 334). 

 3. Maxillary palpus reaching to tip of labial on upper side (though not to 



the tip of its tuft) and more or less truncate 21. Blepharomastix. 3 " 



3. Maxillary palpus shorter. 



4. Third segment of palpus well set off, truncate, and broadened or with 

 a triangular tuft at tip (fig. 334) ; R 5 well separated from R 3+4 . 



20. Diastichtis. 

 4. Third segment of palpus not broadened at tip. 



5. Second segment of palpus, with its vestiture, almost as large as eye, 



in side view (fig. 330, 331) 27. Eudioptis, 28. Condylorrhiza. 



5. Second segment of palpus rarely half as large as eye in side view. 



6. Fore wing with R 5 approximate to stem of R 3+4 at origin; palpus 



with second segment rounded, third well set off at its tip. 



7. Male with a tuft at a notch at middle of antennae, and with 



distorted venation in hind wing; both sexes with Cu of hind 



wing curved up and approximate to M 3 at base (figs. 327, 



320) 19. Desmia. 



7. Male without modification at middle of antennae ;CUj usually 

 nearly straight. 

 8. Palpus projecting the width of the head beyond the head, with 

 a long third segment; front rounded; wings blunt. 



37. Polygrammodes. 

 8. Palpus shorter, with shorter third joint. 



9. Palpus with third segment shorter than wide, buried in the 

 short vestiture of the second. 



10. Ground yellow 38. Pachyzancla (bipunctalis) . 



10. Ground dark brown 25. PilocroCis. 



•" Eudioptis quadristigmalis may run here, but is distinguished bv R 5 being closeh 

 approximate to R 4 at base. 



