MEMOIRS OF THE IS^ATIOXAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
81 
Dioptidse (iucluding Phryganidia) and of the Cyllopodidie is nearly identical with that of 
Melanchroia^ and the latter is a truegeoinetrid in its venation, and in the shape of its larva, being 
-a looper. Of its ])upa we know nothing. The venation of the geoinetrids is very persistent 
Hence I conclude that the day-tiying, usually bright-colored Dioptidte and Cyllo])odida?, as well 
as the Ilypsida*, are direct offshoots from the Lithosian stein, and that their general resemblance 
to such Lithosians as Crocota and Eudule, as well as Ameria, is based on real alhnity. The day- 
flying habits of some geoinetrids is also well known. The larva of Euphanessa is a geometrid, 
but its moth has been usually associated with the Lithosiida?, though its venation is geometrid. 
Eiley describes thelarva of ffifanz/rca as having “extremely vsmalP’ anterior abdominal legs, the 
anal ones being much longer. Probably when we learn more of the transformations of the families 
we have mentioned it will be found that the presence or absence of certain abdominal legs will 
be found to be a secondary adaptational character. It is noticeable that the dull-colored 
Phryganidia, with only incipient clouds instead of bars and spots, is a primitive form as regards 
markings. 
After an examination of the pupal and imaginal characters of Geoinetrids, Dioptids, Hypsids 
and Syntomids, it seems to me that all these gronjis represent more or less i»arallel lines of 
develoiimeut which originated Irom the generalized Lithosiidie, the latter, with the Zygauikhe, 
having sprung from generalized Tineina. The Nolidai re])rescut a side branch, which evolved 
ii^oin a Lithosian perhaps like Clemeusia. The Arctiidie have also apparently directly descended 
from the Lithosiidie. The Syutomidm and N^yctemeridm, which seem closely allied by larvid 
■characters, have also directly descended from the Lithosihhe. 
Finally, it appears that the Geometridm are a rather more primitive type, and have no 
relationship to the Xoctiiidm, the latter having more or less directly descended from the Agaristidm, 
the latter from the Hypsidm or an allied group. The fact that the young larvie of many Yoctuidm 
have only two ])airs of legs seems to have no phylogenetic significance. 
In this preliminary abstract space has prevented my giving details and figures to prove the 
truth of the assertions and conclusions here presented. 
llint.s on the origin of the Koctnidw . — The Koctuidie may have descended from the Agaristida^, 
since the pupa? of several genera 1 have examined are of the same type «as those of Alypia and 
Eudryas, having a similar laiiceolate labium (secoud maxillary palpi). It is jiossible that the 
Agaristidre are the direct ofishoots of the Hypsidm or came from aii extinct group closely allied 
to them. Of this I can, from the want of specimens, only judge from the figures in Ilorsfield and 
Moore’s Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects, etc., Part II. The caterpillars of Uypsa, Eusemia, 
particularly U, basalis, are not only much like ordinary [Noctuidm, but are also closely similar to 
those of Eudryas and xVlypia, that of E. basalis being humped on the eighth abdominal segment, 
and with the dark bars and si)ots of the larvm of these Ag.iristids. Hence, quite contrary to our 
former luepossessioiis, it appears probable that the Noctuidm may be the descendants of th^ 
Agaristuhe, instead of being connected by the Deltoids with the Pyralids. That the ISToctukbe, 
as well as the Geometridie, are a modem group is shown not only by the pupal and other 
characters, but by the fact that they comprise so many closely allied genera and species, the pupm 
as well as imagines possessing no vestigial characters. 
The following tubular view will cxiiress in a tentative way my present views as to the 
phylogeny of the Lepidoptera, or, in other words, the relationship of the suborders and of the 
principal families, and will thus serve teiiiporarily as a genealogical tree of the order. 
It will be seen by this scheme that the genera of the Protolepidojitera, Palaeoleiiidoi^tera, 
and those Keolejiidoptera with incomplete jiupm (iucluding all the families uj) to Lithosiidm) have 
narrow wings, the internal border of the Avings, or “ Iblded portion” of Spuler, being slightly 
developed. The flight of these genera is a fluttering one and, in general, of short duration. 
In the later Lithosiidm we see a rujiid enlargement of the folded portion or a widening of 
the wings, and with this widening of the wings, with an increase in wing-power and the ability 
to take longer and higher flights, we seem to have had a great increase in the numbei' of genera 
and families, until in the butterflies, with their very broad wings, we have not only a fluttering 
and direct long flight, but also the power of soaring high in the air. On the other hand, the 
S. Miss. 50 6 
