LEPID OP TER A. 247 
ever, in that the second anal vein of the hind wings is not 
forked towards the base (Fig. 296). 
The venation of the wings of the more generalized Tineids is quite 
primitive in type; there are two anal veins in the fore wings, three 
anal veins in the hind wings, and the base of vein V is preserved 
throughout the length of the discal cell. But the more specialized 
members of the superfamily present a wide departure from this gen¬ 
eralized type. With these the base pf vein V has disappeared from 
both pairs of wings, and the venation of the hind wings is reduced to 
a greater extent than is seen elsewhere in winged Lepidoptera. 
Correlated with this great reduction of the hind wings there has 
been a great expansion of the fringe of the wing. It is evident that 
the fringe of the wing takes the place of the wing-membrane as an 
organ of flight. In those Tineids that we have studied carefully the 
hairs composing the fringe are inserted in the lower side of the wing- 
membrane a short distance back from the edge of the wing; and the 
edge of the wing is stiffened above by strong overlapping scales. 
This arrangement renders the fringe rigid during the downward 
stroke of the wing, but admits of its depression during the upward 
stroke; a combination well adapted to facilitate flight. The substi¬ 
tution of wide fringes for the wing-membrane occurs in some other 
minute insects, as Thrips and certain minute, parasitic Hymenop- 
tera. 
To this superfamily belong the smallest of the Lepidop¬ 
tera; many of them are so minute that the larvae live until 
full grown within the tissue of leaves. 
These tiny moths are often very beautiful, their wings 
being marked with scales that shine like silver or gold ; but 
they are so small that it is necessary to examine them with 
a lens to appreciate their beauty. 
The larvae of nearly all Tineids feed upon vegetable 
matter. The majority of them feed upon or within the 
leaves of plants, but many live within nuts, or seeds, or dried 
fruits; a few feed upon dead animal matter, as woolens, 
furs, and feathers; and some are predaceous, destroying 
scale-bugs. 
Entomologists have a custom of terminating the name 
of each species of Tineid with -< ella . Thus we have Tinea 
