miOPALOCEU. I .V. I /,. I )■. I .V.( . 



89 



Tig. 10. Posterior win;;, ilelanltis 

 ismene, showing nii'diiin iiervules. 



Mr. Gnmt Allou has advocatod the view ul' a correlation between the colours of animals 

 and the food on which they feed. " Where bright blossoms are common insects are brilliant, 

 while where most blossoms are inconspicuous most insects are dingy."* "In short, the 

 immense majority of animals which do not feed on biight-coloured food are of plain hues, &c." t 

 Mr. Allen has greatly relied on the brilliancy of flower-frequenting butterflies in support of his 

 theory, which might also have been assisted by a reference to the generally sombre-hued 

 Satijriiuv, whose home and sustenance are the wind-fertihsed grasses, with their obscure and 



degenerate flowers. I 



Seven genera only can at present l)e included in this fauna, which is doubtless an iusuflicient 



enumeration. 



SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. 



1. First and second subc-ostal nervules of anterior wings emitted l)efore 

 end of cell. 

 A. Posterior wings with their outer margins more or less waved and 

 obtusely angulated. 

 a. Median nervules of anterior wings with their bases widely separated. 

 b. Costal nei-vures of anterior wings not dilated. 



c. Nervules of posterior wings all well separated at their bases. 

 (/. Lower disco-cellular nervule of posterior wings distinctly 



longer than the upper one. ----- Melanitis. 

 hb. Costal nervures of anterior wings dilated towards base. 

 c. Wings beneath provided with perfect ocelli. § 

 <c. First and second median nervules of posterior wings with 

 a common origin at apex of cell. 

 </(/. Disco-cellular nervules of posterior wings about or 

 almost subecjual in length. 



./". Antenute distinctly clavate. ... - Lethe. 

 //'. Antennae slender, the apical portion gradually but 

 slightl}' thickened. 

 (bid. Lower disco-cellular nervule of posterior wings distinctly 



longer than the upper one. ----- Ccelites. 

 ccc. First and second median nervules of posterior wings 

 approximating, but considerably separated at their 

 origin ; the first only at apex of cell. - - - Erites. 



an. First and second median nervules of anterior wings with a 

 common origin at apex of cell. 



ec. Posterior wings without (or sometimes provided 

 with imperfect) ocelli, 

 car. First and second median nervules of posterior wings with 



a common origin at apex of cell. . . - - Elvmnias. 

 B. Posterior wings with their outer margins sometimes more or less 

 waved, but not angulated or tailed. 



bbb. Costal and sometimes also median and submedian nervures 

 dilated at base. 



(/. Males providcHl with long hair-covered pseudo 

 „,,,..,.,.. ' scent-'dands ------ Mycalesis. 



Fig. 1-i. Anl. wing, J'Aymmas casi- SLciiu ^i.iuun. 



p/tone.sliowing median nervules. 2. First subcostal nervule only of anterior wing before end of cell. - Yi'tuima. 



* 'Tlie Colour Sense,' p. 160. j Ibid. p. 181. 



.( The story of degeneracy of these flowers has been recently well told in the 'St. .James's Gazette' (May 8, 1882), 

 under the title of"" The Flowering of the Grasses," by a skilful biologist, using the jwni de plaine of 'Colin Clout.' 



§ I here use the term "ocelli" for brevity, preferring that of " ocellated spots," as elsewhere applied in the text. 

 Although the first term is used by many excellent lepidopterists, still it has an earher and distinct entomological definition, 

 especially in lilnjnchota. 



Fig. 11. I'ost. wing, Lethe europa, 

 showing median nervules. 



Fig. 12. Post, wings, Erites ani/a- 

 laris, showing median nervules. 



Fio. 1:!. Anterior wing, Melanitis 

 ismene, showing median nervules. 



