NYMPHALID^. NYMPHALIN^. 3 



Argynnis there is placed on either side of certain of the nervules on the upperside of the forewing 

 a streak of differently-formed hairs or scales. The hairy clothing of the forelegs of different 

 genera of Nymphalvuv is exceedingly variable, in Vanessa it is carried to the greatest extreme 

 amongst butterflies, both sexes having nearly equally hairy forelegs (hence the name " brush- 

 footed butterflies" often applied to this group), while in other species the forelegs have close-set 

 scales rather than long hairs. The hairy clothing of the palpi exhibits much diversity also. 

 Speaking generally though not always the thorax is very stout, and the abdomen is short with 

 the abdominal margin of the hindwing deeply channelled to receive it. 



In their habits in the perfect state they are pre-eminently bold, sunshine-loving insects, never 

 skulking in the shade amongst trees and bushes as do the butterflies of the subfamilies Mor- 

 phines and Saiyrin(s. They also usually rest with the wings widely-spread open ; in the 

 preceding subfamilies this is the exception. In the genus Charaxes the power of rapid flight 

 is very great, as would be expected from the great strength of the veins and the structure of 

 the stout thorax to which the wings are attached. In the genus Neptis and the " White Admiral" 

 group of Limenitis the flight is easy, graceful and sailing, while in Vanessa, Argynnis, Apatnra, 

 &c., though the flight is rapid and irregular, they are often easily caught owing to their habit of 

 returning again and again to the same resting place on a particular leaf. The flight of Cyrestis 

 is weak, and they often when pursued suddenly alight on the underside of a leaf; so 

 also does Stibochiona nicea. Many of the species are very foul feeders, the depraved tastes of 

 the " Purple Emperor" are well known, species of Charaxes have also been taken on carrion, 

 C. fabius is very fond of the juice of the toddy palm, Enthalia of rotten fruit, &c. One of 

 the most successful modes of catching many species of rare butterflies is to place rotten fruit 

 or some other attractive, strong-smelling bait on the ground near their haunts, when numbers 

 of specimens may often be found busily regaling themselves where previously not an indivi- 

 dual was to be seen. 



The NyviphalincB are found throughout the known world, one species, P. cardui, being 

 cosmopolitan and found from India to the Polar regions, but the greatest development of the 

 subfamily is in tropical and subtropical regions ; out of considerably more than one hundred 

 genera described only eight are found in Europe, while no less than forty-five occur in India 

 including all the European ones, but these latter are for the most part confined in our limits to 

 the Himalayas. The characters of the tropical forms present the greatest difficulty and much 

 less is known about them. Many of the genera are represented by large numbers of species, 

 several by one or two species only, and many of the species are very common over wide areas. 

 The perfect insect appears to have more settled characters and to be less subject to variation 

 than among the Satyrina:, but a notable exception is found in the colouring of the " oak leaf" 

 butterfly [Kallima inachis) in which the underside is hardly ever alike in two specimens. 



The external structure of the larvae is very variable. The most usual form is more or less 

 of a cylindrical shape, thickly furnished with rows of branched spines (Plate II, Athyma 

 leucothoe), a pair on the head being often more prominent and larger than the rest- In typical 

 Apatnra however the body is smooth and shagreened, and there are two horns on the posterior 

 portion of the head pointing backwards, and the tail is bifurcated, reminding one at once of the 

 larvce of the Elyinniince and Satyrina. The larvae of the genera EtUhalia and Symphcedra are 

 amongst the most remarkable in butterflies. Projecting from the body all round are long 

 widely-branched spines somewhat resembling fern fronds. These spines spring in a single 

 row from the sides, and when the insect is at rest on the surface of a leaf lie flat upon the leaf. 

 The larvae are usually green, and though so conspicuous-looking when separated from 

 their natural surroundings are exceedingly well-hid and difficult to see when at rest in their 

 usual position in the middle of a leaf, the light-coloured line down the centre of the back 

 answering to the mid-rib of the leaf. An example of this form is given on Plate II, 

 Adolias ( =Eielhalia) garuda. 



The pupa; are always freely suspended by the tail, never girt across the body by a thread 

 (see Plate II). Many of them are beautifully gilt, and from this cause have been termed 

 «' Aurelia," hence " Aurelian," an old name for entomologists. They vary very greatly in form. 



