%\)t dCanaiian Entomologist, 



VOL. XIX. LONDON, NOVEMBER, 1887. No. 11 



COMPARATIVE TABLES FOR THE FAMILIES OF 



BUTTERFLIES. 



BV SAMUEL H. SCUDDER, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 



The need of a better knowledge of the actual structure of butterflies 

 among those in this country who follow their study, is shown by the per- 

 sistence with which an antiquated classification is adhered to, — a classifi- 

 cation whose only value is historical, which conceals aflrnities and takes 

 no account of the progress of investigation. In the hope of stimulating 

 the examination of objects and not of books, the following Table for the 

 determination of the four families of butterflies, originally prepared for 

 my forthcoming work on the New England species, is here published. As 

 will be seen, it includes in the analysis every stage of life, and while it 

 intentionally oversteps the boundaries of New England in some respectSj 

 it does not, for the earlier stages, pretend to cover the outer field, except- 

 ing where it seemed important for some special purpose. Many of the 

 characters here tabulated have never before been pointed out ; others are 

 the common property of science ; that all characters are exhausted, or 

 that some, and especially those drawn from the earlier stages, may not 

 with increase of information require modification, is by no means main- 

 tained. 



A. Imago of variable size, usually rather slender, with ample wings. 

 Head in a vertical plane, the tongue being inserted opposite the lower 

 half of the eye. Antennae approximate at the base, the space between 

 them not equalling half the vertical diameter of the eye, the tip of the 

 club rarely curved and never produced to a distinct point. . Eyes with no 

 overhanging pencil of bristly hairs, though in rare cases (some Lycaeninse) 

 a small tuft of hairs occurs at the base of the antennas ; cornea of eyes 

 not extending over the posterior fourth of the ocellar globe. Front tibiae 

 rarely (Papilioninre) with any epiphysis, and hind tibise with only termi- 

 nal spurs. Inner edge of hind wings rarely (Papilioninai) plaited, but 



