LIBYTHEA. 



Bachmanl appears to be tlie sole representative of its genus east of the Mis- 

 sissippi, unless possibly L. Tertna, Godart (L. llofya of Iliibuer. and Bois. and 

 Lee), a West Indian species, should be found in the extreme South. The genus 

 itself is very restricted, there being, according to Kirby (Cat. Di. Lep.), but eight 

 known species : three l)elonging to this Continent, one to Europe and Western 

 Asia, one to Africa, one to Mauritius, one to India ami Java, and one to the East- 

 ern Archipelago, — a reniarkal)le distribution. Of the third American species, 

 L. Curhienta, ibund in South America and Mexico, a few specimens have been 

 brought from Arizona, and New Mexico by the naturalists of the United States 

 Government Expeditions. The genus is peculiar in many respects, Init in none 

 more than in the development of the palpi, which are parallel to the axis of the 

 body, instead of nearly at right angles to it, and present the appearance of an 

 immense rostrum projecting from the fi-ont of the head, — as may be seen by ref- 

 erence to the Plate. The uses of the palpi of Lepidoptera are not understood, 

 except so far as they serve for a protection to the spiral tongue, and the cause 

 of their extraordinary prominence in Llhythea rather than in other genera is 

 not apparent. If they wi're not pacific little creatures, these buttertlies might 

 seem to be furnished with an '■ engine," as Spenser calls it, to inspire with 

 caution evil-minded foes, such as wasps, dragon-flies, and that " wicked wight," 

 " foe of faire things," the '• greisly tyrant spider." 



'• Like :is :i warlike I)rifi;aii<line applytle 



To figlit, layes t'ortli her threatfull pikes afore 

 The engines, which iu them sad death doo hy<le ; 

 So did this Flie oiitstretcli his fearefull homes." 



And surely the fiercest enemy miglit hesitate before that portentous beak and 

 those red eyes blazing like carbuncles. Nevertheless, I am sorry to have to say 

 that wasps and spiders maintain the mastery, and cause havoc, not only among 

 these, but all luitterflies. And dragon-tlies [Libelluhe) pounce upon tliem as 

 do hawks on small birds, bearing tiway their prey to be devoured at leisure. 

 Even the heavy-bodied, great-winged PapUios cannot escape these pirates of 

 the air. 



Llhythea difters also from most genera of butterflies in that the males are 

 tetrapod and the females hexapod, agreeing in this respect with the Erycinidce 

 only. In the PajjtHonlda' and Ilesperldai, all species and both sexes are hextipod. 

 In the NymphaUdce, which embraces Argynnls, Vanessa, Satyrus, etc., all the 

 species are tetrapod, also in both sexes. Nevertheless these last are furnished 

 with two pseudo-legs, not adapted to locomotion, and which appear as flat, furry 

 lappets folded down upon the front of the thorax. 



Although Bachmani is widely distributed, it is nowhere recognized as a com- 



