1898.] GROTE — SPECIALTZAT.IOXS OF LEPIDOPTEROUS^WIXG. 23 



A feature of generalization is offered by ii and iii of secondaries 

 which appear completely separate. 



NymphalidcB. — This term is used in a restricted sense, equivalent 

 to the Nymphalina; of Comstock, or typical Nymphalids, apparently 

 taken from Scudder. 



Nymphalince. — Characterized by the position of i, ii and iii, of 

 hind wings, which spring from one point owing to the fact that ii 

 and iii are absorbed or fused up to the origin of i, which remains 

 nearly constant in all the butterflies examined. This character 

 is secondary in its nature and I have not yet studied the phylog- 

 eny of the genera fully. In this subfamily the suppression of the 

 media reaches its widest extent and is only paralleled again in the 

 Attacinae. In the most specialized forms the cell entirely opens, 

 all trace of the cross-vein vanishes on both wings. Vein ivo be- 

 comes radial. Vein ivi leaves upper angle of cell and does not fuse 

 with radius. 



ArgynnificB. — Characterized by the fusion of ii and iii on hind 

 wings not attaining the point of origin of i. No taxonomical 

 features of neuration clearly define the minor groups, which are 

 generally bound together by steps in the grade of specialization 

 shown in the gradual suppression of the media. The "Goat 

 Weed Butterflies " belong probably to the Charaxinse, a specialized 

 form having lost the '' long fork " through absorption, but are not so 

 specialized as the Nymphalinae or ''Purples," as might be inferred 

 by their position in Comstock's Manual. In this work, as well as 

 Mr. Scudder's, the sequence, as based on a specialization of the 

 wings (and no other characters or class of characters allow of such 

 fine distinction) is irregular. In the Check List of Dr. Skinner 

 (1891) the disarrangement is nearly complete. 



AgapefidcB {'idXynd^e). — Wings (except in the Pararginae) as in 

 Pieridae, but vein viii of fore wings entirely absent ; vein iii4 of 

 fore wings to apex. The veins in many forms show a secondary 

 sexual character in the enlargement of vein ii, the cubitus, or vii 

 at base in male. This character is indicated in the Nymphalidae, in 

 Potamis and some Fritillaries and in the Ager. 



ParargincB. — The cross-vein of hind wings, or its traces, joins 

 the cubitus ; in other words the union of vein ivg with cubitus 

 is complete, since this branch of the media has left the cross-vein. 

 Here there is, in this apparently restricted group, a complete paral- 

 lelism with the Nymphalidae, from which the butterflies differ by 



