Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/81

Rh before he was aware of the existence of the Weiner Verzeichniss. Adopting the views of Mr. Macleay, he endeavoured to work out on this basis a circular arrangement of the lepidopterous order, and accordingly divided it into the five following sections, namely, Papilionidæ, Sphingidæ, Bombycidæ, Noctuidæ, and Phalænidæ. The small portion of his work hitherto published is almost entirely confined to the diurnal Lepidoptera, and we have accordingly spoken of it in one of the volumes of this series devoted to that section; but he supposes that the other primary sections admit of a corresponding division into five types of form. Thus among the Sphingidæ, these are thought to be represented by Zygæna, Macroglossa, Smerinthus, Acherontia, and Sphinx. Among the Bombycidæ, the five predominating forms are:—1. Fasciculatæ, such as the genera Arctia and Laria; 2. Verticillatæ, examplified by Saturnia; 3. Pilosæ, as in Lasiocampa; 4. Lignivoræ, typified by Hepialus, Cossus, &c.; 5. Cuspidatæ, represented by Notodonta. The Noctuidæ are divided in a similar manner, but we are so imperfectly acquainted with the larvæ of many of these, that the grouping is professedly provisional:—1. Nudæ, as in Agrotis, Polia, &c.; 2. Fusiformes, typified by Lithosia; 3. Fasiatæ; 4. Ciliatæ, exemplified by Catocala; 5. Semigeometræ, as in Plusia. A like number of dominating forms, to which all the others are supposed to be referrible, is thought to be exhibited by the Phalænidæ; viz.—1. Seminoctuales (Phal. margaritaria); 2. Geometræ; 3. Pyralidæ; 4. Tortrices; 5. Tineæ.