The Classification of Butterflies 
The Lyc/ENiDvf', the “Gossamer-winged Butterflies.” 
This great family comprises the butterflies which are familiarly 
known as the “hair-streaks,” the “blues,” and the “coppers.” 
The males have four and the females six walking feel. The cat¬ 
erpillars are small, short, and slug-shaped. The chrysalids are 
provided with a girdle, are attached at the end of the abdomen, and 
lie closely oppressed to the surface upon which they have undergone 
transformation. Blue is a very common color in this family, 
which includes some of the gayest of the small forms which are 
found in the butterfly world. In alighting they always carry their 
wings folded together and upright. 
The Papilionid^e, the “ Swallowtails ” and their allies. 
These butterflies have six walking feel in both sexes. The cater¬ 
pillars are elongate, and in some genera provided with osmateria, 
or protrusive organs secreting a powerful and disagreeable odor. 
The chrysalids are elongate, attached at the anal extremity, and 
held in place by a girdle of silk, but not closely oppressed to the 
surface upon which they have undergone transformation. 
The Hesperiid^b, or the “Skippers.” 
They are generally small in si%e, with stout bodies, very quick 
and powerful in flight. They have six walking feet in both sexes. 
The tibiae of the hind feet, with few exceptions, have spurs. The 
caterpillars are cylindrical, smooth, tapering forward and back¬ 
ward from the middle, and generally having large globular heads. 
For the most part they undergo transformation into chrysalids 
which have a girdle and an anal hook, or cremaster, in a loose co - 
coon, composed of a few threads of silk, and thus approximate the 
moths in their habits. The genus Megathymus has the curious 
habit of burrowing in its larval stage in the underground stems 
of the yucca. 
To one or the other of these five families all the butterflies, 
numbering about six hundred and fifty species, which are found 
from the Rio Grande of Texas to the arctic circle, can be referred. 
Scientific Names. — From what has been said it is plain to the 
reader that the student of this delightful branch of science is cer¬ 
tain to be called upon to use some rather long and, at first sight, 
uncouth words in the pursuit of the subject. But experience, 
that best of teachers, will soon enable him to master any little 
difficulties which may arise from this source, and he will come 
fnnlly to recognize how useful these terms are in designating dis- 
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