TUE TRIBES OF NYMPIIALINAE. 227 



trees ; these are the G\'neciae and Callizonae, which hohl their wings erect in repose, the 

 Ectimae and Pandorae, wliose wings are partly open, partly closed, when they settle, 

 and the Ageroniae, which extend their wings flat on the trunks of trees. These latter 

 are most peculiarly coloured, and differ much from all other Nymphalinae in their 

 habits, as will be familiar to all readers of travels in Brazil. Lastly, the fifth group is 

 composed of numerous genera and species closely related to our purple Emperor, 

 which also live habitually in the forest, but have a most rapid flight, and settle fre- 

 quently on outstretched branches or foliage. They are all bold creatures, not moving 

 from their perches until driven oft", and, even when scared away, returning to them 

 after a few minutes' aljsence, dashing meanwhile Avith arrowy swiftness along the 

 forest-alleys. Such are the species of Agrias, the most beautiful genus in the whole 

 subfamily; the Preponae, the Sidcrones and the Paphiae, of all of which there are 

 numerous species in the Amazons region, some of them extremely common. 



Out of the sixteen known forms of fossil butterflies, six belong to this 

 subfamily, five of tlicui from American deposits. 



Tuble of tribes of Nymphalinae, based on the egg. 



Sides reticulate, with filamentous projections Nymphalidi. 



Sides vertically ribbed above, without filamentous projections. 

 Kibs extending- from base to sunnnit of sides. 



Egg broadly domed above, the summit not greatly narrower than the base ; ribs gen- 

 erally with a very direct course. 



Ribs not very elevated, of about equal height throughout the egg Apaturidi. 



Ribs strongly compressed, prominent, much higher on upper than on lower part of 



egg Vanessidi. 



Egg rapidly narrowing in upper half, so that the constricted and subtruucate top is very 



much narrower than the base ; ribs with rather an uncertain wavy course 



Argynnidi. 

 Vertical ribs wanting on basal third or half of sides Melitaeidi. 



Table of tribes, based on the caterpillar at birth. 



Hairs of body short, not longer or scarcely longer than segments. 



Ranged papillae of body inconspicuous, equal Apaturidi. 



Ranged papillae of l)ody conspicuous, unequal Nymphalidi. 



Hairs of body long, very much longer than segments. 



Course of ranged papillae distinctly shifted in position at the division line between thoracic 



and abdoniimal segments ; hairs not spiculiferous Vanessidi. 



Course of ranged papillae not shifted or scarcely shifted in position throughout; hairs gen- 

 erally spiculiferous. 



Hairs delicately tapering, but slightly enlarged at the extremity Argynnidi. 



Hairs delicately tapering throughout, finely pointed Melitaeidi. 



Table of tribes, based on the mature caterpillar. 



Body simply pilose, the hairs arising from papillae innumerable Apaturidi' 



Body armed with spines or tubercles, with only scattered papillae. 



Body hunched, furnished irregularly with denticulate or stellate tubercles... Nymphalidi. 

 Body uniform, furnished with uniform or very nearly uniform series of horny or coria- 

 ceous spines. 

 Spines horny, armed on the sides with scattered needles, and terminating with a dis- 

 tinct and independent thorn, slightly smaller at base than the apex of the spine 

 proper. 

 Some of the spines arranged in a mediodorsal row (occasionally reduced to a single 

 spine or a mere lenticular wart, found only on the seventh or eighth abdominal 



segment) ; lateral needles of spines often mounted on prominent spiuules 



Vanessidi. 

 None of the spines arranged in a mediodorsal series; lateral needles of spines 



mounted on slight papillae only Argynnidi. 



Spines coriaceous, armed on the sides with crowded needles, no apical one holding a 

 distinctly independent position Melitaeidi. 



