1898J THE NEURATION OF RHOPALOCERA 395 



a four- branched cubitus in the forewings, the generalized cubitus- 

 anal connection, and the two anal nervures of the forewings being 

 retained, likewise the subcostal-radius connection of the hindwings. 

 One anal nervure only, however, is retained in the hindwings ; that 

 is to say, one of those present in Nymphalid-Pierids has been lost. 



My conclusion from a study of the neuration is that the distinct 

 separation of Papilionids in phylogeny from the other Phopalocera 

 cannot hold good, and in this I join issue with Dr (Jrote. 

 Whether I have clearly demonstrated this in the above, I cannot 

 say ; but the facts are distinctly in evidence that, however widely 

 the specialized forms differ, the generalized forms of neuration 

 indicate a natural sequence in modification — the evolution of the 

 Papilionid form from a primaeval form such as is illustrated by 

 Cossids ; and of this evolution the generalized Hesperids (1), 

 Nymphalid-Pierid (2), and finally generalized Papilionids represent 

 the surviving links in the continuity of specialization, a primary 

 modification of neuration antecedent to and quite apart from the 

 special modifications peculiar to the several groups. 



I need only refer to Dr Chapman's paper, " Butterfly Pupae " 

 (En torn. Record and Journal of Variation, vol. vi. pp. 106 and 125), 

 to support my conclusions : " The lowest {i.e. most ancient) forms 

 in all the families are really very close together." — " Pierid and 

 Xymphalid started together, shortly afterwards separating." Nym- 

 phalid pupae are capable of lateral movement only, as are Pierids, 

 but have lost the ' girth ' which is characteristic of the Pierid and 

 Papilionid method of pupation ; Nymphalids, however, retain the 

 ' double nosehorn ' pupal structure of Papilionids {i.e. a generalized 

 pupal character), Pierids having lost this particular pupal character. 

 The ' double nosehorn ' is surely corroborative of my conclusion that 

 the features A, B, C of Anosia are homologous with the Papilionid 

 cubitus-anal connection, short anal nervure in forewings, and sub- 

 costal-radius connection in hindwings, which establish affinity be- 

 tween the Xymphalid-Pierid and Papilionid groups. 



If Papilionids be separated from Nymphalid-Pierids in the man- 

 ner proposed by Grote, then the neuration of Papilionids must be 

 regarded as isolated, highly specialized, and without surviving forms 

 connecting it with primaeval neuration from which it has been 

 derived. On the other hand, the " primary modification of 

 neuration " among primitive Ehopalocera shows the formation of 

 the three-branched cubitus in forewings, with two anal nervures 

 in hindwings ; then follows the formation of the four-branched 

 cubitus, with loss of one anal nervure in hindwings. This is 

 more in accord, I believe, with the evidence of development, and 

 supplies the connecting links between the primaeval neuration and 

 that of the highly specialized Papilionid. A. Quail. 



Pai.mkkston North, New Zealand. 



