82 



BRITISH MOTHS 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE LXXIV. 



Insects. — Fig. 1. Platypterys Ucertula (the scallop hook tip), 



Caterpillar. 

 „ Fig. 3. Platypteryx, — var. Cultrarla (the pale scallop hook 



tip). 

 M Fig* 4* Drepana falcataria (the pebble hook tip). 5. 



Caterpillar. 

 ,, Fig. 6. Drepana hamula (the oak hook tip). 

 ,, Fig. 7. Drepana unguicula (the barred hook tip), 

 ,, Fig. S. Cilix compressa (the Chinese character). 

 ,, Fig. 9. Hypena proboscidalis (the snout eggar likeness). 



10. Caterpillar. 

 ,, Fig. 11. Hypena obesalis (the pioioa snout). 



2. I Insects. — Fig. 12. Hypena rostralis (the buttoned snout). 13. Cater- 

 pillar. 

 ,, Fig. 14. Hypena palpalis (the dark snout). 

 ,, Fig. 15. Hypena crassalis (the beautiful snout). 

 ,, Fig. 16. Jlacrochiiia cribralis (the dotted fan-foot), 

 ,, Fig. 17. Pechipogon barbalis (t^he common fan-foot). 18. 



Caterpillar. 

 ',, Fig. 19. Paracolax derivalis (the clay fan-foot). 

 ,, Fig. 20. Paracolax tarsicrinalis (the fan-foot). 

 ,, Fig. 21. Paracolax nemoralis (the small fan-foot). 

 The "whole of the insects in this plate are from the cabinet of Jlr. 

 Bentley ; the caterpillars are from Hiibner and Freyer. — H. N. H. 



Family PLATYPTERICID^, Stephens. 

 The insects represented in the first eight figures of Plate 74, are anomalous in their relations ; resulting 

 chiefly from the structure of their lacertine larvae : hence, Latreille unites them with Cerura, into a group 

 which he calls Aposura, (Regne An., 2d Ed., V., p. 406) ; Mr. Curtis suggests a relation to the Atlas moth, 

 not only from the falcate form of the wings of some of the species, but also from the structure, in those species, of 

 the spiral tongue, which is short and fleshy, as in such Bombycidse which possess that organ ; whilst Mr. Stephens 

 states, that, although the larvae resemble in their singular structure those of the typical Notodontidae, yet, from the 

 habit of the perfect insects, the breadth and tenuity of their wings, their short legs, &c., he conceives them to be 

 as nearly related to the terminal Geometridee, the larvse of one genus of which, Ennomos, is not very dissimilar to 

 those of the present group, which he regards as a family under the name of Platyptericidse. There is another 

 character, moreover, by which this latter relationship is effected, namely, the existence of only a single pair of 

 spurs to the posterior tibiae, in the true genus Platypteryx. I could wish, however, to caU attention to the 

 peculiarity of the manner in which the veins of the fore wings are disposed, by which they are separated from 

 all the true Geometridae ; the great median vein, having, in addition to the three ordinary branches, a fourth, 

 arising close upon the origin of the third ; above which the transverse vein is very oblique ; in other words, the 

 longitudinal vein which ordinarily arises from the middle or front portion of the transverse vein (closing the great 

 cell of the wing), is here pushed so far back that it touches the outer branch of the median vein. This character 

 neither prevails amongst the Bombycidje, Notodontidae, nor Geometridse. A knowledge of the structure and 

 metamorphoses of exotic Lepidopterous forms, will alone enable us to solve the question of the true situation of 

 this interesting group. Will not the imago state of Sacoophora and the larva of Schizura, two genera of North 

 American moths, described by Mr. E. Doubleday, in the Entomologist, assist in determining the relations 

 of these insects ? I have therefore provisionally adopted Mr. Stephens' views in giving them as a distinct family. 

 Mr. Haworth formed them into a separate group, named Falcaria. 



PLATYPTERYX, Laspeyees. 

 The wings in this group are denticulated, and thickly marked with short, slender, transverse dark lines ; the 

 antennae bipectinated in both sexes ; the spiral tongue almost rudimental : the palpi very minute ; the four 

 posterior tibiae with only one pair of spurs. The caterpillars have fourteen feet, the two anal ones wanting, and 

 the body attenuated to a point behind, and with tubercles on the back of the anterior segments. 



