vn 



the same species but that some of them, either of different or of the same 

 sex, possess such tails while others do not, which clearly indicates that an 

 evolutionary process is there in course of operation, causing these appendages 

 gradually to disappear, its stage of decay having proceeded further in one 

 individual than in another, sometimes in one sex or in one of the forms of 

 the same sex. As an indication of specific differences these tails are useless, 

 although, by reason of the same lack of comprehension of evolutionary 

 principles, this is still being done by many systematists. I may here refer to 

 my remarks in the text under Lycaena Ardates, Moore. Surendra Vivarna, 

 Horsf. and S. Florimel, Doh., are likewise regarded as distinct species princi- 

 pally on this ground. Purely for the same reason Bethune Baker differentiates 

 between Arhopala Atosia, Hew. and A. Epimutis, Moore. According to de 

 Niceville tailed and tailless races of Lycaena Malaya, Horsf occur, but this is 

 not the case in Java. In Lycaena Datarica Sn. the tails, although present, are 

 reduced to a minimum, clearly once more demonstrating the fact that they are 

 gradually diminishing, and thus have almost disappeared. Notwithstanding, as 

 already stated, even generic distinctions continue to be based upon them. 



The Lycaenidae are for the most part regular suncreatures, and fly all 

 day, until towards evening the slanting position of the sun makes its warmth 

 less felt. I found it noted somewhere that in order to escape the great heat 

 they place themselves on the underside of leaves in the middle of the day, 

 but this is founded upon erroneous observation. As 1 have pointed out on 

 p. X of my monograph on the Hesperidae, some of them have this habit and 

 it is also told of the Erycinidae, but it is not the case with the Lycaenidae. 



The most conspicuous characteristic of the Lycaenidae is the splendour 

 and richness of there colouring ; many of them are ornamented with a beautiful 

 metalic shimmer, and as occurs in no other Rhopalocera except in the Ame- 

 rican Morphidae. It is therefore natural, that to the naturalist who makes a 

 study of this family, the problem of the nature of these colour phenomena, and 

 of their extreme variety must be of special interest. Conventional science gives 

 no serious solution of these ploblems, on the contrary, it endeavours to conceal 

 its ignorance behind a mist of phraseology of temperature and all manner of 

 other meterological or light — ^influences, frequently with great self-complacency. 

 A genuine study of the subject, however, has usually been neglected. On the 

 other hand, I have made a serious study of the subject for many years, and 

 have published my conclusions in a quantity of papers. So far with very 

 indifferent success certainly: and no wonder! For in the first place my conclu- 

 sions were in complete disagreement with the accepted phraseology, and how 

 rare are the minds that are Independant enough to be able or willing to move 



