291 



persistent fold of the wing -membrane in the normal position of 

 this vein. On the other hand, Biceratucha, Swin., has vein 5 

 of hindwings sufficiently well developed, and must be retained 

 in the Oenochromidae. The two genera agree in the neura- 

 tion of the fore wing, in which the areole is of a primitive 

 form, and no doubt there is real relationship between them. 

 In fact, the latter genus is probably very near the point, 

 where the primitive stem of the Boarmiadae diverged from 

 the Oenochromidae. 



I can see no valid grounds for the conjectures of Meyrick 

 and Prout for any near relationship to Brephos, which has 

 completely lost the areole. Its points of resemblance to 

 Dirce are merely superficial (general hairiness and colour 

 scheme) and adaptational. Hairiness is a common character 

 in genera of mountain localities, and is probably a protection 

 against the dampness of mountain mists. 



Dirce aesiodora, n. sp. 

 dto-to8co/3os, a fortunate gift. 



d , 9 J 26-30 mm. Head blackish with a white central 

 spot on crown; face white, hairs on margins blackish. Palpi 

 projecting somewhat beyond frons; white; some hairs, apex of 

 second joint, and whole of terminal joint blackish. Antennae 

 blackish; in male thickened, serrate, and minutely ciliated. 

 Thorax blackish irrorated with whitish. Abdomen dark fus- 

 cous; irroration, apices of segments, and some hairs in tuft 

 ochreous- whitish. Legs blackish; tibiae and tarsi annulated 

 with white; posterior pair whitish on posterior surface. Fore- 

 wings triangular, costa arched near base, thence slightly 

 sinuate, apex rectangular, termen slightly bowed, not oblique; 

 blackish mixed with grey and white ; markings white ; a basal 

 spot; a bar from costa near base uniting with another from 

 costa at \, to form a fascia, which extends on dorsum from 

 near base to ^, and is sharply toothed posteriorly above 

 dorsum ; two suffused spots on dorsum before and after middle, 

 the first larger and produced across disc towards costa ; a spot 

 on mid-costa ; a narrow fascia from f costa to f dorsum, pos- 

 teriorly suffused, anteriorly sharply defined, with a circular 

 anterior process containing a central blackish dot beneath 

 costa; a slender, interrupted, subterminal line; a series of 

 wedge-shaped black marks beyond this, separated in female 

 by some whitish suffusion ; terminal edge blackish ; cilia blackish 

 barred with white. Hindwings with termen rounded; 

 blackish with a large central orange blotch, sometimes preceded 

 by a small triangular spot near base ; cilia orange barred with 

 blackish, on apex and costa blackish. Underside pale orange; 

 forewings with basal patch, oblique median fascia, costal spot 



