PLUTELLIDZ. 65 
feeds on the buds of the ash-tree, and forms an open network 
cocoon, but its habits have not yet been fully investigated. 
1, Curtisellus, Don. B. I. ii. pl. 63 (1793); Step.— Curtisii, 
Haw.—maculella, Fab.—cenobitella, Vib. ; Dup.—fravinella, Bjerk. ? 
—var. rustica, Haw. Alis anticis albis, macula magna costali nigra, 
basim versus attenuata, in medio plicam superante, dorso basim versus 
striis abbreviatis, transversis, fuscis, margine postico nigro nebulosis 
(var. alis anticis unicoloribus obscure fuscis). Exp. al. 74 lin. 
Head and face white. Palpi dark fuscous; tips of the terminal joint 
white. Antenne dark fuscous. Anterior wings white, with a dark 
fuscous, almost black blotch on the costa, extending from the base to 
beyond the middle of the wing; at the base it is extremely narrow, 
but in the middle it reaches across the fold; in it, on the costa beyond 
the middle, is a small whitish spot; on the inner margin near the base 
are some short transverse fuscous streaks, along the hinder margin are 
several dark fuscous or black blotches; cilia dark fuscous. Posterior 
wings greyish-fuscous, with paler cilia. In the variety rustica of Ha- 
worth, the head and face are dirty ochreous, and the anterior wings 
unicolorous, dingy fuscous. Intermediate specimens, in which the cos- 
tal blotch is dimly shadowed, oceur. ‘ 
Not uncommon among ash-trees in June and July. Mr. Henry 
Doubleday found the full-fed larvee descending from the trees by 
their threads, and bred from them both the typical insect and the 
variety. Mr. Preston had previously found the larva feeding on 
the hardly-developed leaf-buds of the ash. 
Family IV. PLUTELLIDA. 
Caput hirsutum. Palpi labiales articulo secundo infra in fasciculum pro- 
ducto. Antenne in quiete porrecte. Larva fusiformis, non sacco- 
phora. 
Head rough. Labial palpi with the second joint furnished beneath 
with a projecting tuft of scales. Antenne porrected in repose. Larva 
fusiform, xo¢ living in a case. : 
The porrected antenne of these insects give them a certain re- 
semblance with the Coleophoride, from which the broader posterior 
wings and rough head sufficiently distinguish them, independent 
of the difference in the habits of the larve. 
The greater breadth of the anterior wings of the only species 
known in the first genus, does not interfere with its affinities in 
other respects, and its true place is certainly here. 
‘ne The four genera in this family may be easily distinguished 
Us :— 
VOL, II, K 
