GEOGlurniCAL DISTRIBUTION. 13 



traced in all its stages : from them arose the Ceratocampidce, with 

 the frenulum absent and vein 7 of fore wing connected with 8, 9, 

 giving rise to the Brahmaddo' with vein 8 of liind wing approximated 

 to 7, and the Bomhycidw and Saturniada> with the proboscis and 

 tibial spurs absent, the former having vein 8 of hind w^ing connected 

 with the cell. 



From the Uraniadce arose also the (kometridce, with vein 8 

 approximated to or connected or anastomosing with the cell and 

 7 of fore wing stalked with 8, 9 ; vein 5 of the hind wing is fully 

 developed except in the subfamily Boarmiance, which has 8 connected 

 with the cell near base only, whilst in the Notodontidcr. vein 5 is 

 always obsolescent and 8 connected with the cell at middle ; these 

 last giving rise to the Cijmatophorido' and Sphingidtp, with vein 8 

 approximated to 7, the latter having also a bar between the cell 

 and vein 8 near the base, and to the Eupterotido'^ with the proboscis 

 absent. 



In the last group of families arising from the Notodontidte, 

 vein 5 of the fore wing has migrated towards the median nervurc ; 

 of these, the most primitive is the ILjpsidce^ retaining the bar 

 between vein 8 of hind wing and cell, giving rise to the Lyman- 

 triadce, in which the proboscis is aborted, from which arose the 

 Pterothysanida', with the frenulum absent. From the Hypsidce 

 are derived also the JXoctuida-^ with vein 8 anastomosing with the 

 cell near base, from which arose the Agaristida-^ with the antenna) 

 dilated at extremity and day-flying or crepuscular habits, and the 

 Arctiadw, with vein 8 anastomosing with the cell to middle, giving 

 rise to the Syntomidcr, with vein 8 aborted. 



Geographical Distribution oi^ the Lepidoptera.* 



As far as the distribution of the Lfjndo^ifera is concerned, the 

 Earth seems to be divisible into four main divisions only : — 



(1) The Northern temperate region, with special Arctic develop- 

 ments in high mountain-chains and high latitudes, is characterized 

 chiefly by the great development of the subfamily Noctuince of the 

 Noctuida'^ the GcometridiC, Xotodontid<r^ Cymatoplioridcp.^ Arctiadce, 

 Lymantriadce, and Zyycenida' ; its southern limits, exclusive of the 

 high mountain-chain running through Mexico, Central and South 

 America, and the scattered summits of the higher mountains of 

 the tropics of the Old World, are approximately the southern 

 boundary of the United States, exclusive of Florida, in Africa the 

 Sahara, and in Asia, Arabia, Persia, the arid parts of N.AY. India 

 and the higher slopes of the Himalayas, its boundaries becoming- 

 very ill-detined in China and S. Japan. 



(2) The Tropical zone of the Old World, characterized mainly by 

 a great development of the subfamily Plusiancr of the Noctuidce, the 

 Agaristidce, Syntomidce, Uraniado', Eupterotklce^ Saturniada\ Lima- 

 codidce, and especially the Tkyridido' and Pyralidce, and among 



* H. J. Elwes' presidential address to the Entomological Society, 1894. 



