THE 
HABITS AND STRUCTUKE OF MOTHS 
The order Lepidoptera, or scale-winged insects, is generally 
divided into two great sections, the Rhopalocera or Butter¬ 
flies, and the Heterocera or Moths. The Khopalocera derive 
their name from two Greek words, poirdXov , a club, and /eepa?, 
a horn, and are so called because their antennae expand into 
a club at the extremity, whilst the Heterocera (e-repo?, other; 
/cepas, a horn) have no such expansion. There are a variety 
of other differences, but none so distinctive and invariable. 
Whilst moths usually fly at night, and when resting hold 
their wings horizontally or drooping over the abdomen, butter¬ 
flies fly by day and rest with their wings raised vertically, a 
position seldom assumed by moths. The flight of moths is 
usually more direct than that of butterflies, which more 
often flutter from flower to flower. 
Moths have been classified in different ways. Three 
principal systems of classification of British moths have 
been employed since the middle of the century. The first 
is that used by Stainton in his “ Manual of British Butter¬ 
flies and Moths ” (1856-59), and is as follows :— 
1. Sphingina, consisting of the Sphinges or Hawk Moths. 
2. Bombycina, including the Ghost Moth, Goat Moth, 
Emperor Moth, and Tiger Moths, &c. 
3. Noctuina, comprising the bulk of the nocturnal or stout¬ 
bodied Moths, such as the Yellow Underwing, Wainscots, 
Silver Y, and Red Underwing. 
4. Geometrina , consisting of an extensive group of slender¬ 
bodied moths with comparatively large wings, such as the 
Thorns, Carpets, Waves, and Pugs. 
5. Pyralidina, including the Pearls, Veneers, Grass-Moths, 
and Knot-Horns. 
6. Tortricina, consisting of a very extensive group of 
small species, generally of dull colours, such as the Lozo- 
tmnice , Sciaphilce, &c. 
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