282 NYMPHALID^. MORPHINE. 



It is true that a strict definition of the subfamily is very difficult, if not impossible, to lay 

 down, but since they do possess features to a large extent distinctive, and as their affinities with 

 the Satyi-itKB are apparently as great as their affinities with the NymphalimT, Mr. Butler's 

 arrangement appears to us the most convenient to adopt until their life history becomes more 

 fully known. 



The Morphina resemble the Satyrina in having large wings and weak flight ; they 

 also love the shade, are chiefly found in undergrowth in forests, and some at least are crepus- 

 cular in their habits ; the underside of the wings is almost always ocellated ; the hindwing 

 of the male always bears more or less pronounced secondary sexual characters; the 

 antennDS are long and very slender, never abruptly clubbed, and the discoickl cell of the fore- 

 wing is always closed. They resemble the Elymniina: in habits and in the brilliant colouring 

 of the upperside ; they resemble the Nymphalina: in having the cell of the hindwing open, 

 except in Xanlhodenia, but the palpi are not dilated at the base ; and lastly the larva, so far as 

 they are known, approximate to a type which is dominant among the Sa/yrincF, but aberrant 

 among the Nymphalina;. Their distinctive structural features are chiefly in the neuration of 

 the fore wing in which the cell is short (it is long in Morpho, but short in all the Asiatic 

 genera) and very broad ; the second branch of the subcostal nervure is either wanting altogether 

 or originates far beyond the apex of the cell, and the first and second branches often anasto- 

 mose with each other, and the costal nervure for a short distance, and then run free to the costa. 

 These wilh the structure of the palpi separate them from the Nymphalina: ; the open cell in 

 the hindwing separates them from Satyrinm and Elymniina ; and the want of a praediscoidal 

 cell in the hindwing separates them from Elymniina and Brassolina (an American subfamily). 



The Moiphims are connected on the one hand with the Ny?nphalina through the genera in 

 which the cell of the hindwing is completely open ; and on the other hand with the Satyrina 

 through Xanthotania, in which the special characters are least developed, it having the cell of 

 the hindwing completely closed. Atnathusia and Zeuxidia, especially the latter, greatly 

 resemble Kallima (a genus of Nymphalina) in outline; but the arrangement of the subcostal 

 nervules in the forewing, the presence of ocelli, and of the secondary sexual characters on the 

 hindwing of the males at once distinguish them from it. 



Eey to the ZnAian Genera of M0IlFHZlT2i. 



A. Antennse long, slender, with long gradually-formed slender c!ub : palpi slender, the anterior edge not 

 widely dilated. Fomuing with the costal nervure slightly and gradually dilated at base ; the first 

 subcostal branch emitted near the end of the cell, the second (if present) beyond it ; the apex of the 

 cell far beyond the origin of the second median nervule. Hindwing v;h.\i no prsediscoidal cell. 



a, Hindwing with the discoidal cell closed by a very slender lower disco-cellular nervule 

 near the origin of the second median nervule. 

 a', Forewing, subcostal nervure with its four branches all free. 



«'. Forewing with the apex round, outer margin convex. Hindwing 

 with the anal angle rounded, outer margin convex. 



XXXIII.— Xi»THOT.«:tfIA. 



h. Hindwing with the discoidal cell partially closed by an atrophied lower disco-cellular 

 nervule. 



o' . Forewing, subcostal nervure with four branches, the first anastomosing with 



the coital nervure. 



a'. Forewing with the apex acute ; the inner margin convex throughout ; 



the median nervure with the commencement of a fourth branch 



beyond the apex of the cell. Hindwing with a narrow somewhat 



acute tail at anal angle. 



XXXIV.— Zeuxidii. 

 *. Hindwing with the discoidal cell completely open, but apparently partially closed by * 

 transverse fold in the wing membrane some distance beyond the origin of the second 

 median nervule. 



«'. Forewing with the apex slightly rounded, outer margin concave, inner 

 margin slightly convex at base, then straight. Hindwing with either 

 a short broad, or somewhat long narrow tail at anal angle. 



XXXV.-Amathusu, 



