228 



like X. cJiorica. Here also I am inclined to trust structure 

 rather tjian appearance. The beautiful green coloration, rare 

 elsewhere, is not infrequently developed in this family in 

 New Zealand, and the pattern, although striking, is a very 

 simple modification of that usual in this family. I admit 

 that doubt is possible, and this doubt may be strengthened 

 by the resemblance between X. nephelias and L. sericodes, 

 which I have not seen. It may be that our structural char- 

 acter here breaks down, and that we may have to admit that 

 our classification is so far imperfect. This I am easily pre- 

 pared to do. The question to me appears- to be, not whether 

 our classification is perfect, but whether, taken as a whole^ 

 it is better (more natural), if we reject, or if we admit the 

 generic value of the character in dispute. 



Although this question cannot be decided by geographical 

 distribution, yet that may throw some light on it. As I 

 have been able to examine but few of the European species, 

 I have asked Mr. L. B. Front to give me the results of his 

 examination of those include,d under Hydriomena and 

 Xanfkorhoe by Meyrick in his study of the European fauna 

 (Trans. Ent. Soc, 1892, p. 53). Two species with the areole 

 simple, species which Meyrick had not been able to examine, 

 are omitted, and vifatta has been transferred to Ewphyia. 

 For the New Zealand fauna my material has been less com- 

 plete, but through the kindness of Mr. A. Philpott I have 

 been able to examine 43 species, and have included 10 more 

 on the authority of Meyrick or Prout. I have omitted suh- 

 ochraria and suhrectaHa as Australian species, which may be 

 natural immigrants into New Zealand, but were probably 

 accidentally introduced, and praefectata, which is allied to 

 Venusia. I have expressed the result in numbers and per- 

 centages : — 



European Fauna. Australia. New Zealand. 



Cidaria ... 68 4^-5% 6 6-5% 0-0% 



Larentia ... 17 10-6% 9 9-8% 17 321% 



Euphyia ... 35 21-9% 64 696% 9 17-0% 



Xanthorhoe ... 40 250% 13 141% 27 50*9% 



Very striking are the great development of Cidaria in the 

 European fauna, its slight representation in Australia, and its 

 absence from New Zealand ; almost equally so the great 

 development of Euphyia in Australia ; while Larenfia and 

 Xanthorhoe are most developed in New Zealand. 



Key to Genera. 



Face smooth 2. 



Face moie or less rough-scaled, usually with 



anterior tuft of scales 6. 



Posterior tibiae with terminal spurs only ... Sauris 



Posterior tibiae with two pairs of spurs ... 3. 



I 



