255 DESCRIPTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. By E. Meyrick, B.A., F.R.S., Corresponding Member. XVIII. GELECHIAD^. This family forms a smaller proportion of the Tineina in the Australian region than it does in Europe, amounting perhaps to about 12 per cent, of the whole. As, however, the species are often retired in habit, small, inconspicuous, and rather difficult to study, they have been much neglected, and may perhaps prove eventually to be more relatively numerous than they seem at present. Fortunately only seven species were known to Walker, others assigned by him to this family being wrongly attributed. Mr. 0. Lower has in late years described some number; he has very kindly transmitted specimens of all these (frequently the actual types) to me for examination, so that I have been able to ascertain positively their identity in all cases; this assistance has been most valuable. Much material in specimens and notes of localities has also been received from him, as well as from Mr. G. Lyell, the late Mr. G. Barnard, and other collectors whose records are duly acknowledged in their place. Altogether 274 species are here recorded, of which 207 are now described as new. Of this total 85 species, or not much less than a third, are included in the endemic genus Protolechia, but no other strictly endemic genus attains any large size, though 40 out of the 55 genera are endemic, so far as is known. The family characters are as follows : — Head smooth. Tongue developed. Antennae in $ ciliated or more usually simple, basal joint usually without pecten. Labial palpi long, curved, ascending, terminal joint pointed, usually slender and very acute. Maxillary palpi very short, appressed.
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