INTRODUCTION. qq 



forming a case which belongs to many Lepidoptera with fusiform larva?, is likewise 

 observed partially in other tribes of this order. Among the Papilionidae it exhibits 

 itself in the Hesperidae ; among the Bombycidae in the stirps with lignivorous larvae 

 and in Psyche, and in the Phalaenidae, most evidently among the Tortrices. 



The third stirps appears to be strictly oriental -, at least I have not found any family 

 agreeing with it in character in the Vienna Catalogue. The larva is cylindrical, 

 thinly scattered with short bristly hairs, abruptly terminated behind, and, as far as I 

 have observed, uniformly marked with transverse bands, of a brilliant, mostly yellow, 

 colour. In its metamorphosis it resembles some of the Bombycidae ; the folliculus is 

 irregularly hemispherical, and partially rests on the earth. The perfect insect is 

 generally marked with strikingly diversified colours, in which black, yellow, red, and 

 white, are contrasted. The antennae are lengthened and slender ; analogous to those 

 of several Papilionidae ; they also indicate an affinity to the last stirps of this tribe. 

 Numerous samples of this larva are contained in our series. 



In another stirps the larva has a very decided character : it is still provided with 

 sixteen feet, but of the eight abdominal feet the two anterior are by far the smallest ; 

 there is a swelling and discoloration about the fourth segment of the body, and the 

 last segment but one rises in a protuberance which is terminated by two points. In 

 walking, the larva partially resembles those of the Geometrae, and approaches in 

 habit to the next stirps, but its attitudes are often more grotesque ; the head is 

 thrown back and the abdomen drawn inwards, so that it resembles a distorted letter S. 

 Many of the larvae resemble in colour the bark of wood. They are, in many in- 

 stances, fringed along the sides of the body, hence the family name in the W.V. Ciliatas. 

 They are very numerous in Java, and exhibit several apparently uncommon modifi- 

 cations. The perfect insect is distinguished by the striking colours of the posterior 

 wings, and by its habit of flying into houses at night. The Fam. X. Larva? Ciliata?, 

 and Y. Larva? Pseudogeometrce, pp. 90, 91, W.V., belong to this stirps, and the typical 

 genera are Catocala of Schrank, and Abrostala of Ochsenh. 



The fifth stirps is distinguished, in the larva state, by having only twelve feet, 

 and by bending the back in walking in a greater degree than the fourth ; hence the 

 vulgar name of half loopers. Their metamorphosis resembles that of the typical 

 stirps of the next tribe. The perfect insect is well known by the silvery or golden 

 spots or marks on the upper wings. They are denominated Noctuce Metallica?, and 

 constitute the family Z, W. V. p. 91, Larva? Semigeometrce. The typical genus is 

 Plusia of Hubner. 



Of the stirpes enumerated, the first, provisionally named Nuda, from the com- 

 plete nakedness of the larva in most divisions, is typical of the whole tribe. Schrank 

 proposes the name of Noctua, by preference, for the Fam. M and N of the W. V. 



which 



