32 INTRODUCTION. 



they are divided into two families, one of which is represented by the genus 

 Herminia, the other by Botys. 



Following the same work, we are led by a natural succession to the Blattwickler 

 or Tortrices, which I shall consider as the fourth stirps of Phalaenidae : this is a 

 very extensive group, the character of which is indicated by the name. The larvae 

 in many cases are small, slender, mostly of a green colour, naked or slightly pilose, 

 very active, and provided with sixteen feet. They have the habit of contorting or 

 rolling the leaves on which they feed, and in which they undergo metamorphosis. 

 This character will again be referred to in the sequel : many of the peculiarities of 

 the larvae remain for future investigation. The authors of the Vienna Catalogue 

 express themselves very decidedly as to the natural affinity of the Tortrices to the 

 groups, between which they are now placed. They all greatly resemble each other 

 in their manner of undergoing their change, and no satisfactory characters for subdi- 

 vision have as yet been proposed. The whole stirps is at present represented by a 

 few genera, the limits of which are not defined. 



The last group of the Phalaenidae, which is placed immediately after the Tortrices, 

 constitutes " die Schaben," or Tine^;. They constitute one of the most diversified 

 groups in the whole order. The caterpillars are generally small, and decrease to such 

 a degree as to become almost imperceptible : they have sixteen, fourteen, or even eight 

 feet. Their habits are also greatly diversified. No satisfactory subdivision has as 

 yet been established. Schrank has united under his Lepidoptera Tineaeformia as 

 well Lithosia, Eulepia, and Deiopeia, &c. as the true Tinece or Schaben : the former 

 constitute the stirps with fusiform larvae among the last tribe. In preliminarily 

 indicating the fifth stirps of the Phalaenidae, the Tinece, I shall adopt the views of the 

 Vienna Catalogue. In referring to various modern systems, we find the Tineaeform 

 Lepidoptera separated and arranged into distinct subdivisions : the true limits of this 

 group remain therefore for future determination. The affinity of many of the 

 Tineas to the Noctuidae and Seminoctuales, will probably lead us to the point in 

 which the circle of Phalaenidae is completed. 



In reviewing this hasty sketch of the Phaljenid^e, it appears that this tribe 

 resolves itself into the following stirpes, viz. Seminoctuales, Geometrce, Pyralidce, 

 Tortrices, and Tineas : the latter stirps, according to the views of Dennis and 

 Schieffermuller, is again connected with the Seminoctuales. In the tribe, therefore 

 which we are now considering, the disposition of the stirpes according to their 

 natural affinities has been comparatively easy, from the indications afforded by the 

 authors cited ; while in the second, third, and fourth tribes, my attempt extended 

 no farther than to indicate the prominent forms or types, leaving the definition of the 

 stirpes and their arrangement according to their natural relations to the progress of 



the 



