PSYCHIDAE. 373 



Les ailes anterieures ont deux internes, clont la superieure s'ana- 

 stomose avec la clorsale, qui emet quelques rameaux vers le bord 

 interne. La cellule discoidale des ailes anterieures et posterieures 

 a une cellule interposee. Les tibias anterieurs portent une epine 

 tibiale tres longue. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Oiketicina. 



Les ailes anterieures ont deux internes, qui s'anastomosent ou restent 

 separees. La dorsale emet toujours un seul rameau vers le bord 

 interne. II ne se trouve pas une cellule interposee sur les ailes 

 anterieures et posterieures. Les tibias posterieurs portent une seule 

 paire d'eperons tres courts, et les pattes posterieures sont plus courtes 

 que les anterieures, dont les tibias ont ou non un epine tibiale . . Psyclnna. 



Although neuration is such an unsatisfactory character (when 

 considered alone) in this superfamily, on which to rely for any classifi- 

 catory purpose, it may be taken as supplementing the details available 

 from the scaling, antennae, and tibial spurs. Chapman considers, there- 

 fore, that the neurational characters on which the division Oiketicina is 

 founded, are so variable and grade so regularly into Acanthopsyehe, 

 Heyl., a single species even presenting individuals of marked Oiketicid 

 neuration, and others of the most simple Acanthopsychid neuration, that 

 although neurational characters may be used conveniently to divide 

 Oiketicus from Acanthopsyehe, they are worthless when used to separate 

 Acanthopsyehe from Oiketicus and group it with the other spurless 

 Psyches. He notes, for example, that (1) Heylaerts' Oiketicina has two 

 or more nervures to the inner margin, (2) his Psychina has one nervure to 

 the inner margin, (3) Moore's Chalia has no nervure to the inner margin, 

 and yet, in the British Museum collection, Thyridopteryx epheme- 

 raeformis presents some specimens with three, others with two, some 

 with one, and yet others with no, nervures to the inner margin. 



We have already discussed at some length (ante, pp. 272-275) our 

 views as to the relationship of the Psychidae (in sensa strict.), and it 

 will be observed that we are there inclined to separate the Oiketicids 

 from the Psychidae, and to give equal rank to the Acanthopsychids, 

 Psychids (Empedopsychids), and Oreopsychids. From the conclusions 

 at which we there arrived Chapman dissents on two points, viz., 



(1) The separation of the Oiketicids as a distinct family — these he 

 would unite Avith the Acanthopsychids in the subfamily Acanthopsychinae. 



(2) The subfamily rank of the Empedopsychinae and Oreopsychinae — 

 these he would make tribes of the subfamily Psychinae. As illustrat- 

 ing his view he suggests tbe following grouping of this family : 



Fain. : Psychidae — vermiform ? ; antennal pectinations scaled. 



I. Acanthopsyciiinae — long anterior tibial spurs* ; tend to lose scaling of 

 antennae (first on pectinations). 



1. Oiketicidi — with forked median (cellula intrusa) ; hindwings 



often reduced in size and with produced anal angle ; accessory 

 nervures developed at inner margin of forewing and costal 

 margin of hindwing ; wing-scales often. well-developed. 



2. Acanthopsyehidi — median nervure simple, strong tendency for 



1«, of forewings to dwindle ; wing-scales ill-developed. 

 II. Psychinae — no anterior tibial spurs, antennas and pectinations retain 

 scaling ; wing-scales usually hair-like. 



1. Psychidi — hindwing with costal nervure. 



2. Oreopxychidi — hindwing without costal nervure. 



It will be observed that the divisions here suggested are essentially 

 those that we have previously set forth (ante, pp. 2G8, 274, 275), the 

 main difference being that of the value to be assigned to them, nor 



* A few branches of the Acanthopsychinae lose the anterior tibial spurs. 



