74 HAUSTELLATA. — LEPIDOPTERA. 



of species in tlio g-eniis Poutia, it has been assumed that nearly 

 half of the species described in these volumes are mere varieties, 

 since I so absurdly vialic, as it is said, nine species out of five * 

 in the genus alluded to above; but the unprejudiced reader does 

 not require his attention to be drawn to the observations subjoined 

 to the characters of that genus in page 14, in which it is distinctly 

 stated that I have diffidently ventured to call the attention of ento- 

 mologists to a subject that appeared to have been greatly neglected, 

 and to add one or two apparently distinct species to the number 

 previously, or rather lately, described. 



Family III. — LYC/^ENiDiEt, Leach. 



Antcnncc widi a distinct club^ which is sometimes compressed and furnished 

 with a rudimentary hook at the tip : anterior legs slightly abbreviated, or 

 imperfect; all the legs bearing minute simple r/aw\« ; hinder tihiw with one 

 pair of spurs only at the apex : posterior wings with a groove to receive the 

 abdomen. Larva oval, depressed; pnjya short, contracted, obtuse at both 

 extremities, smooth ; fastened by a transverse thread. 



The individuals of this family are known by their inferior size, 

 and the delicacy of their form : the indigenous species are severally 

 characterized by tints of dusky, copper, or blue, according to the 



* Every writer upon species has erred in this particular, from the time of 

 Linue to t\\e present period: — refer to Linne"s genera Coccinella and Cicada, 

 as examples— to the labours of our compatriots, Messrs. Donovan, Haworth, 

 Kirby, and Marshara — or to those of Gyllenhal, Sturm, and De Jean. Have 

 not they occasionally (from necessity) described varieties as species, and vice 

 versa? Have not recent genera been enriched with species whose validity is 

 doubtful? I consequently am liable to similar misconceptions; but it shall be 

 my endeavour to guard against them as far as possible during the prosecution 

 of this work, bearing in m^ind the just remark of Seneca, that although " much 

 remains for us to do, much will remain for those who come after us;" — as no 

 individual can attain perfection. 



f In adopting this term, I beg distinctly to be understood that it is not with 

 any intention of oppugning the nomenclature of Mr. Swainson, who calls this 

 family by the name Polyommatida;, in his remarks upon the Papilionidii?, but 

 solely vvith a view of acting consistently, inasmuch as I have already employed 

 it in page 5, in accordance with the nomenclature of Dr. Leach, who gave the 

 term here used to the whole of Latrielle's second division of the Diurna : though, 

 as the name of the fa\nily should unquestionably be derived from that of the 

 typical group, I shall not attempt, from my limited knowledge of exotic forms, 

 to decide v/hich of the two oufrht to be retained. 



