188 
LITHOSIIDJE. 
This family was proposed by Stephens for the re- 
ception of a few moths, which he characterises as 
having the antennas moderate, very slender, seta- 
ceous, sometimes pectinated or ciliated in the males ; 
palpi not longer than the head, cylindric, terminal 
joint as short as, or shorter, than the second ; spiral 
tongue generally longer than the head ; wings hori- 
zontal, somewhat elliptic, the posterior much folded, 
the anterior without stigmata, thorax not crested, 
body slender. The larva is fusiform, sometimes 
hairy, with sixteen legs, solitary, either residing in 
a common web, or subcutaneous. 
This family is of limited extent, but the species 
are generally of great beauty; their gay colours 
emulating those of butterflies, which they resemble 
by flying occasionally in the day, although the twi- 
light is their proper season of activity. It is diffi- 
cult to determine their true relations, for they seem 
to touch upon different families according to the 
point of view under which they are regarded. Lin- 
nmus referred such as were known to him either to 
the Tine®, Bombyces, er Nocture, and they exhibit 
peculiarities which render such a distribution not 
unnatural, although they are now included in one 
group. 
