INTRODUCTION. xv 
essentially tropical genera, those found in the Southern United States are —Colenis, 
Agraulis, Phyciodes, Anartia, Eunica, Peridromia, Victorina, Cystineura, Timetes, 
Adelpha, Aganisthos, and Anea: Microtia, Myscelia, Eubagis, Callicore, Ageronia, 
Didonis, Chlorippe (as understood by us), Prepona, and Smyrna do not reach beyond 
Northern Mexico ; Metamorpha, Hematera, Ectima, Pycina, and Hypna inhabit the 
southern portion only of Central America, and Panacea just touches our southern 
boundary. The most conspicuous South-American forms wholly absent are Callithea, 
Batesia, Perisama, and Cybdelis. The holarctic genera extending southward are 
Argynnis (which has only come under our notice from Northern Mexico during recent 
years), Melitea, Vanessa, Grapta, Limenitis, and Doxocopa. Of those widely distributed 
and common to both the Nearctic and Neotropical regions may be mentioned Synchioe, 
Euptoieta, Phyciodes, Pyrameis, and Junonia. So far as at present known, Morpheis 
and Bolboneura are peculiar to Mexico or Guatemala. Twenty-seven at least out of 
the total number of genera (57) are common to the Antilles. | 
These insects are nearly all strong on the wing, but are of very diverse habits. The 
species of Ageronia, Peridromia, Ectima, Gynecia, and Callizona have the habit of 
resting on tree-trunks, with their wings fully extended horizontally (placing them 
vertically when disturbed), after the manner of various Geometrid moths, or of the 
Noctuid genus [hysania, those of the first two invariably turning their heads towards 
the ground. Others, Chlorippe, Aganisthos, Victorina, Amphirene, Timetes, Adelpha, 
Colenis, Lresia, Phyciodes, Eubagis, Pyrrhogyra, Callicore, Catagramma, &c., 
frequent the pools left in the water-courses during the dry season, as well as the 
refuse cane thrown out from the sugar-mills, damp places in the roads, &c.; while 
Siderone, Anewa, and Protogonius resort to moist spots, dung, &c., amongst dead 
leaves. Limetes chiron, like the moth Uranidia fulgens, has been noticed by various 
observers migrating in great numbers; but it is possible that most or all of these 
specimens are of the male sex, the females of this genus being rarely found. Various 
species of Anwa frequent the tops of trees, only descending occasionally to damp spots 
in the vicinity, and some of the most interesting forms of Nymphaline peculiar to 
Central America belong to this genus, viz. A. nobilis, A. excellens, and A. Jansoni ; 
Agrias edon has been observed by Arcé in Chiriqui to have the same habit. 
LIBYTHEID. 
The only known genus of this family, Libythea, is of very wide distribution, as 
we have already stated in our remarks on these insects (I. p. 359). The single species 
