202 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



Imago- — Of small or moderate size, the palpi generally com- 

 pressed, and fringed with long hair-like scales ; wings generally 

 broad and rounded ; wing-cells closed. Principal nervures of 

 the wings often thickened or inflated at the base, the wings 

 almost always ornamented with ocellated spots beneath, and 

 sometimes abeve. 



Eang-e. — Cosmopolitan ; though certain genera are confined to 

 restricted areas. As a rule, the Satyrina of tropical climates, 

 though more numerous, by no means surpass those of tem- 

 perate climates in beauty and variety, or even in size. 



Habits. — These Butterflies have generally a rather weak flight, 

 and frequent meadows, heaths, and mountains. Other species 

 are found in woods, and some of the tropical species, such as 

 Melanitis leda (Linn.), are crepuscular, if not nocturnal, in their 

 habits. Some species frequently settle on rocks and tree- 

 trunks, which they themselves often resemble in colour. 



Characteristics. — The Satyrhice are rather dull-coloured insects, 

 brown, white, and tawny, or rufous being the prevailing hues. 

 One or two South American genera (ffefara and its allies) have 

 transparent wings, but the majority are opaque. Some species 

 belonging to this, and allied genera, are ornamented with 

 patches of bright scarlet or rich purple, and one or two species 

 of the genera Euptychia, Ptychandra, &c, are of a bright blue 

 colour. Many of the black and dark brown forms, including 

 some European, but not British, species, exhibit a purplish or 

 greenish lustre over the dark ground-colour of the wings. A 

 few genera are tailed, but tailed or dentated wings are both 

 rather unusual in this Sub-family. 



The Satyrincc are well represented in Europe, and many of 

 our commonest and best known Butterflies belong to this Sub- 

 family. In the United States they are much less numerous in 

 genera and species. 



