LIBYTHEA. 359 
Fam. LIBYTHEIDA*. 
LIBYTHEA. 
Libythea, Fabricius, Mag. f. Insekt. vi. p. 284 (1807); Westw. Gen. Diurn. Lep. p. 412. 
This is a very widely distributed genus, occurring in temperate and tropical countries 
nearly all over the world, except Australia and the islands of the Pacific. In continental 
America we have one wide-ranging species in L. carinenta, which extends from the 
southern frontier of the United States to the Argentine Republic. North-east of this 
a closely-allied form exists in L. bachmani, which is, perhaps, hardly separable from 
LL. carinenta. The islands of Cuba and Haiti have each a distinct species, raising the 
total of the American species to three or four. In Europe and North Asia with Japan 
we find one species ; in India and the islands of Java, Borneo, &c. two or three closely 
allied forms ; in New Guinea, the adjoining islands, the Philippines, &c. other species 
occur; and in West Africa we also find one allied to the European form. 
The early stages of Libythea bachmani of North America have been carefully described 
and drawn by Mr. W. H. Edwards, and the transformations were long given by Boisduval 
and Leconte. 
The subcostal nervure of the primaries emits two branches before the end of the cell, 
the upper radial and the middle discocellular start from the same point of the subcostal, 
there being no upper discocellular (or if present it is extremely short), the middle and 
lower discocellulars form one curve, the lower being slightly the longer, and both being 
atrophied towards the middle, where the lower radial joins them. The lower disco- 
cellular meets the median some way beyond the origin of the second branch. There is a 
slender internal nervure proceeding from the submedian to the base of the wing. The 
secondaries have atrophied discocellulars, the lower one of which meets the median 
close to the origin of the second branch. The front legs of the male have a rather 
* The systematic position of the genus Libythea has long been a matter of discussion. Prof. Westwood 
(Gen. Diurn. Lep. p. 412) places it in a distinct Family, and we here follow him. Mr. Bates, on the other 
hand, includes the genus as a separate subfamily of Erycinide (Journ. Ent. ii. p. 176). There can be little 
doubt that Libythea occupies a somewhat intermediate position between the great families of the Nymphalidx 
and Erycinide. As in the former the pupa is suspended freely by the tail, whilst that of the Erycinide is 
either rigidly attached by the extremity or secured with a girdle across the middle. The structure of the fore 
legs of the female is as in the Erycinide, these legs being perfect and not more or less atrophied as in the 
Nymphalide. In the extraordinary development of the palpi Libythea stands alone, and its general appearance 
and extensive distribution also indicate an isolated position. The construction of the male secondary organs 
follows in main the same general plan as in the genera of the Nymphalidx, whereas, so far as we can see at 
present, the Erycinide diverge widely. Another point remains to be noticed, and that is the presence in the 
primaries of Libythea of an internal nervure. This nervure is always found in the Danaine, in Hetera and 
its allies of the Satyrins, and, so far as we have seen at present, in the Erycinide. In the Nymphalina it is 
absent altogether. 
