30 INTRODUCTION. 



which belong to it : and two other families, O and P, he has united into the genus 

 Hadena, which also belongs to the typical stirps. Another stirps is named Fusi- 

 formis ; a third from the transverse disposition of the marks Fascia ta ; a fourth 

 Ciliata, and the last Semigeometra. 



It will appear more fully in the sequel that the families of the W. V. have, with 

 scarcely a single exception, been likewise observed in Java. 



The passage from the last stirps of the Noctuidae to the first stirps of the Pha- 

 LiENiDiE, is one of the most gradual which we have yet observed. The tendency to 

 that character which so remarkably distinguishes the typical stirps of the fifth tribe, 

 has been indicated in the stirps alluded to, the Semigeometraa of the last tribe. In 

 the stirps which we are now considering, the habit of the larva is completely formed. 

 It has, like the former, twelve feet, but its mode of undergoing the change approaches 

 to that of the next stirps. It consists of the Fam. A of the Geometrce of the Vienna 

 Catalogue, named (larvae) Seminoctuaks. It constitutes the genus Phalcena, as 

 defined by Dr. Leach (Samouelle's Eritom. Comp. p. 252) ; the second sect, of the 

 genus Phalcena of Latreille ; Genera, vol. iv. p. 227 ; an d the genus Ellopia of 

 Treitschke's Cont. of Ochsenh. Schm. von Eur., vol. v. 2, p. 429. As typical spe- 

 cies, P. margaritaria, prasinaria and fasciaria, may be adduced. The family name of 

 Seminoctuales may with propriety be applied to the stirps. 



The second stirps is typical of this tribe, and exhibits one of the most remarkable 

 groups in the whole order of Lepidoptera, whether we consider the perfect insect or 

 the larvae. The latter have only ten feet : their movement in walking being com- 

 pared to a loop, they are denominated loopers. Ingressus tanquam si longitudinem spi- 

 thameis metiaris. They exhibit various very striking modifications of attitude and 

 appearance, according to which they are named in the Vienna Catalogue ; and as 

 these also occur in the Javanese series, I shall enumerate several as types of the sub- 

 divisions of this stirps, viz. 



Fam. B, W. V. p. 69. Larvce Stoloniformes. " Ad perpendiculum fere erecta quiescit." Gen. 

 Hipparchus, Leach ; Geometra, Treitschke. 



Fam. C, W. V. p. 98. Larva Corticina. " Larva fere linearis, capite truncate- in cortice per 

 totum diem haerere solet." Gen. Biston, Leach ; Amphidasis, Treitschke. 



Fam. D, W. V. p. 100. Larva Pedunculares. " Larva prascedentibus gracilior, fere linearis." 

 Gen. Boarmia, Treitschke. 



Fam. E, W. V. p. 102. Larva Surculiformes. " Larva forma ramum seu surculum imitatur." 

 Gen. Aspitates, Treitschke. 



Fam. F, W. V. p. 103. Larva Ramiformes. " Larva tam colore et longitudine quam tnber- 

 culis, verrucis aut mucronibus ramulo simillima." Gen. Geometra and Ouraptenjx, Leach; 

 Acana and Ennomos, Treitschke. 



Fam. N, W. V. p. 114. Larva Signata. " Larva laete colorata." Gen. Abraxas, Leach; 

 Zerene, Treitschke. 



All 



