196 MR. H. W. BATES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA 



structure of the anterior legs in the adult state of the insects. The Ueterocera have 

 always six perfect legs : most of the families of Rhopalocera have the anterior pair in a 

 more or less rudimentary condition ; and as the atrophy seems to have reached its furthest 

 stage in the Ilelicontdte, this group must l)c considered as occupying the highest rank in 

 the order. Other characters accompany the one derived from the structure of the legs, 

 which it is unnecessary here to enumerate. It will Ije seen from these remarks that the 

 order Lepidoptera is one of those groups in the Animal Kingdom which show, heyond the 

 many collateral branches of development that always exist, a clear linear advancement 

 of organization. 



The Seliconidce, Danakl(e, and Acrcekhe are related to each other in a different way 

 from that which appears in the received classifications. A few remarks on their mutual 

 afiinities are necessary, in order to exhil)it the true relations of the IIeHco)iklce to the 

 allied groups of the Old World tropics. It has escaped the notice of all authors, that the 

 Ilelicouklce are composed of two groups, which differ vei*y consideralily in important 

 l)OLiits of structure ; in fact, the majority of the genera of which the family is composed 

 ought to be withdrawn from it, and placed with the Dunaklcc. The very great superficial 

 resemblance between the two sets of genera has led to their being united by all authors, 

 and j^revented inquiry into their real relationship. To avoid innovation, I will retain the 

 family as it stands, and call the group which is allied to the Danaklce, Daxaoid Heli- 

 coNiDiE, and the other, which a})proximates somewhat to the Acrceklce, Acr.eoid Heli- 

 coxiu.^. The Acrajoid groixj) comprehends the genera HeUcoiiius and Etiekles; the 

 Danaoid, the whole of the remaining Uelkonkhe. The following are the tUstinguishing 

 characters of the two groups : — 



Aci'ccokl HeVieon'ulte. The hind wing-cell is very small, and the nervures are so 

 arranged that the upper and lower radials* (discoidal nervures of Doubleday) appear 

 to be branch and sub-branch of the subcostal nervure, the discocellulars being short 

 and continuous with them ; the costal nerviu-e is prolonged to the apex of the wing. 

 The larvie are similar to those of Acrtea and Argynnis (Ni/iiqjhalkhs), l^eing beset 

 with hispid spines f. The head is bnjad, the palpi thick. 

 DaiKiohl UcViconklcB. The hind wing-cell is very large, and irregular in shape ; the two 

 radials never appear as branches of the subcostal, but are very uncertain in position, 

 owing to the very vacillating length and direction of the discocellulars : the costal 

 nervure is short, and terminates on the costa, not reaching the apex of the wing. 

 The larvte (only one species is known) are smootli, lik(> those of the DaimkJiC, l)ut 

 are furnished with tubercles, instead of long fleshy threads. Head small, orbicular; 

 palpi sli'nder|. 



* I liavo addpti'd tlu' terminology of Doublcilay (Doiibl., Ilewits., ,iiul WestwooJ's Geiipra of Diurnal Lepidojjtera) 

 with ri'j^ard to the ucuratiou or veining of the wings, excepting that I call the " nervnles " of the subcostal and 

 median neivnres "branches," and the "discoidal nervures" "radials," these alterations appearing necessary to 

 jirevcut the verbal confusion of nervule with nervure, and discoidal with discocellular. 



f The early states of these insects were not known to Uoubleday. I reared, myself, IlcUronius Eratii (and Doris) 

 and Eucidcs l/ijlna. M'e are aecjuainted, through other sources, with the larvic of //. Mfliximeiic, II. Riciiii, and 

 Mcchtniitis I'lihjninia. 



X Since the above nuinoir was read, Dr. C. Felder of N'ienna, in an article entitled, "Specimen Faun;u Lc]iidopte- 

 ri'liigiex ri|iarnm Negro snperioris in IJrasilia se|itentrionali," ' Wiener Eutomologische Monatschrift,' March 18G2, 



