350 



LEPIDOPTERA 



>^ 



/ 



attains its liighest perfection in the 

 genus Caligo ; they are enormous 

 Insects, and some of them not rare. 

 The larva of C. rui-ylochns (Fig. 179) 

 during early life is green, and sits 

 on the leaf of a Musa, but after the 

 third moult it becomes lirown and 

 hides itself among the dry leaves. It 

 is common in the gardens of Eio de 

 Janeiro, where its pupae are found on 

 the walls, like those of our white 

 butterflies here. 



Sub - Fam. 6. Acraeides. — ^'^uh- 

 mcdian ncrvure of fore tcings not forked 

 at the base ; the median without sjmr. 

 Cells closed. Palpi in section cylindric, 

 sparingly set witli hairs. Larva armed 

 V'ith hranched spines. A somewhat 

 monotonous and uninteresting division ; 

 tlie size is moderate or small, and the 

 colours not artistic, but consisting of 

 ill-arranged spots ; the under side of 

 the hind wings very frequently diver- 

 sified by numerous line-like marks, 

 radiately arranged, and giving place at 

 the base to a few spots. There are 

 about 200 species known, of which the 

 majority are African ; there are but 

 few Oriental or South American species. 

 Some authorities consider there is 

 only one genus, but others prefer to 

 adopt seven or eight divisions. Alaena 

 is now placed in Lycaenidae, though 

 until recently it was considered to 

 belong here. The females of some 

 species possess an abdominal pouch 

 somewhat similar to that oi Parnassius. 



The members of this sub-tamily 

 are considered to be of the protected 

 kind. 



