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4 BRITISH MOTHS 
and especially in the trans- 
In 
in other and more essential respects, namely in the structure of the mouth, wings, 7 i 
formations of the insects composing these two Linnzan groups, there is still less distinction Bao : “a 
other words, the characters employed by Linnzus are thus proved to possess less value than he ie to na 
Acting upon these considerations, Dr. Horsfield and Messrs. Newman and Stephens have ana, ies 
plans of arrangement, in which the group Crepuscularia is retained, and the genus Phaleena ace into ties 
primary groups, each of which is regarded as equivalent in value to the Diurna; e eee: s oars ty 
named Diurna, Crepuscularia, Pomeridiana, Nocturna, Semidiurna, and Vespertina. My ats to these 
arrangements is, that whilst the Diurna constitute an admirably distinct tribe, it is impossible to point out another 
group similarly defined throughout the order. Looking for a moment at the Crepuscularia, cee as 
thus restricted, we have antennz of diversified form ; flight in the hottest sunbeams as well as in the twilight ; 
wings of varied forms and powers of flight ; proboscis much longer than the body in some, and wanting in others; 
and transformations various ; whilst it is almost impossible to draw the line of distinction between some of the 
Smerinthi and certain North American Bombycidx, between Urania and some of the giant Noctuide, Aigeria and 
the Hepialide, Anthrocera and some Bombycide. It is, however, more especially amongst the exotic species 
that we find this difficulty, where the chain of relation between the Crepuscularia and Arctiide, as well as other 
tribes, is almost unbroken. The same remark may be almost as fully made respecting any of the other groups 
into which the Linnzan Bombyces are divided by these authors. . 
I consequently consider it will be more advantageous, at least until we possess more precise materials for a 
general classification of the order*, to unite the Linnwan Sphinges and Phalenz into one primary section —that 
of the Herrrocera, Boisd.—named from the diversified structure of the antenne, which are never terminated by 
a club, like those of the butterflies, but are generally setaceous, filiform, or fusiform; those of the males being, 
moreover, often furnished with more or less developed lateral, bristle-like appendages forming branches; the 
wings are ordinarily furnished with the spring and socket apparatus for retaining them together during flight ; 
the caterpillars are extremely varied in form, colours, clothing, &c. ; but the pupa are generally of a conical form, 
without angular projections, and they are ordinarily enclosed in a cocoon of varied construction, the quiescent 
state being often undergone in the ground, 
Tt will easily be conceived from the preceding remarks, that if the question of the primary divisions of the 
Lepidoptera be unsettled, that of the family groups cannot be better determined. As, however, the discussion of 
these questions would occupy too great a space in the present work, I must refer the student to the second volume 
of my Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects, in which I have entered upon it at some length. 
Admitting, as I do, my inability to offer a satisfactory distribution of the Heterocera into primary groups, I have 
in that work proposed the following series of secondary groups or families, and which I shall adopt in the 
folowing pages :—1. Sphingide ; 2. Uraniide ; 3. Anthroceride ; 4. /Egeriide ; 5. Hepialide ; 6. Bombycide ; 
7. Arctiide (including the Notodontide of Stephens) ; 8. Lithosiide ; 9. Noctuidee ; 10. Geometride ; 11. Pyra- 
lide ; 12. Tortricide ; 13. Yponomeutide; 14. Tineide ; and 15. Alucitide. 
The second of these families 
consists entirely of exotic insects, and will require no further notice in the present work. 
a pre pee ee ee 
* Mr. Swainson well observes that * so little h 
have been multiplied and are d 
neglected.’’ 
as been done towards the philosophic investig 
ation of these groups, that whilst their genera 
aily multiplying in the artificial systems of the d 
ay, the study of their affinities has been of late years much 

