NYMPHALIDAE. By Dr. A. Skitz. 159 



6. Family: Nymphalidae. 



When giving in the InlroclucUon an exposition of the systems of elassification, as well as on p. 79 in 

 the general characterization of the Satyrids, we have already mentioned E. Haase's principle of division accord- 

 ing to which the large section of the Nymphalina falls into 3 groups. To these Nymphalina belong all the 

 butterflies with the forelegs vestigial in both sexes. The 3 groups are the Danaomorphae and Salyromorphae 

 already dealt with, and the Acraeomorphae described below. 



The Acraeomorphae comprise 3 families according to Haase: Nymphalidae s. str., Acraeidae and Heli- 

 coniidae. The last is exclusively American; the Acraeids contain one species from the Palaearctic Region, the 

 great mass of forms inhabiting chiefly Africa and the warmer countries of America. Several authors (E. Reutter, 

 a. o.) give to these 3 groups only the rank of subfamilies, and indeed the Acraeas are so close to the Melitaeas, 

 and HeUconiiis to Colaenis and Cethosia, that a more trenchant separation is only possible if one neglects certain 

 morpho- and biological distinctions of great weight. For the sake of conformity with former works on Lepi- 

 doptera we too shall separate the Acraeids as well as Cethosia from the Nymphalids, but draw attention to 

 such a proceeding being in our opinion but doubtfully correct. 



The Nymphalids are most sharply characterized, as follows: The butterflies have the forelegs in both 

 sexes atrophied, the pupae are suspended by the tail only, and the larvae bear either well-developed, often 

 branched thorns (e. g. Vanessa), or reduced excrescences, which are present only on the head (Apatura, 

 Charaxes) or on the sides ( Euthalia), being atrophied to minute setiferious warts elsewhere on the body. 



The Nymphalids are represented in the Palaearctic Region by nearly 40 genera and a very large number 

 of species, some forms extending to the higliest North of the explored regions of the globe. Although not so 

 numerous in species as the Satyrid.s, the Nymphalids are very conspicuous in our countries on account of their 

 size and their often imposing colouration. This bright-coloured and often strikingly beautiful pattern stands 

 in close phyletic connection in the various species, inclusive even of the forms with very aberrant markings, 

 as has been proved by the fundamental experiments of Standfuss and Fischer. The original pattern of the 

 colouration of the Nymphalids are bands according Eimer, or bands and spots according to Haase, such pattern 

 being still recognizable in N-eptis (black, banded with white) and Argynnis (red, spotted with black). Protective 

 colouration on the underside of the wings is of rather frequent occurrence. 



The Nymphalidae, with the exception of the Heliconius-like genus Cethosia and the Acraeids, are not 

 protected by internal properties. They have correspondingly a swift and adroit flight, which becomes still 

 more rapid when the insect is chased. An exception are only those forms which arc mimetically adapted to certain 

 slow-flying Danaids, wliose flight they imitate, as for instance the genus Hestina and the $? of Hypolimnas. The 

 Inilterflies have but a feeble vital power as regards enduring injuries to their body, the strong thorax breaking 

 in many species even under the slightest pressure, the butterfly then being immediately dead or dying, not 

 reviving and flying away as do the Danaids. The larvae and pupae of many species are strongly liable to get 

 infested with parasites, especially Microgaster, which deposit the eggs on the chrysalis the moment the latter 

 sheds the larval skin. The larvae are largely gregarious, often till pupation, and many hibernate. They 

 feed mostly on non-poisonous plants (leaved trees, nettles, Violaceae, etc.), and are only defended by protective 

 resemblance and external thorns against many of their enemies. 



The butterflies without exception are day-fliers; in contradistinction to the often shade-loving Satyrids 

 they prefer sunny roads and hillsides. As regards their distribution they are by no means restricted to the 

 mountains, but on the contrary are much more inhabitants of the low lands and hills. Some species live almost 

 exclusively at the height of the tree-tops, visiting the ground only to feed at certain hours of the day, when 

 they may be baited. Others are fond of flowers and rove about everywhere in fields and gardens, being among 

 the most abundant Lepidoptera. Some pass the cold season as imago even in the northern districts, becoming 

 lethargic in the autumn in their hiding-places and reviving to renewed activity in the spring, sometimes also 

 on abnormally warm winter-days, not attending to the function of propagation until the spring. 



