2 NYMPHALID.E. NYMPHALIN.E. 



Mr. Westwood in the * Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera' included the genera Enispe, 

 Amathusia, Zmxidia, and DiscopJwra in his Family VII, Nymphalidce, they are here placed 

 in the Subfamily Morphina:. In his Family XI, Euryielidcv, he has arranged the genera 

 Eurytela, Etgolisz.ndi Hypanis (= Byblia), but their more natural position seems to be at the 

 head of the Nymphalince. They are closely allied to the Satyrintz, but still more closely to 

 the subfamily in which they find a place in this work. 



The Nymphalince, excluding the genera which were placed in a separate subfamily by 

 Westwood under the name of Ejirytelida:, comprise two groups in which the form of the LARVA, 

 widely differs, the first in which the larva is smooth, limaciform, and having on the head non- 

 retractile horn-like appendages, and of which the typical genus is Apatura ; and the second 

 in which the larva is cylindrical, and armed with long spines or with elongated tubercles 

 armed with bristles, and of which the type is Limenitis. In the first group also the pupa is 

 typically without angular projections or metallic spots, and in the second group it usually 

 presents both these features. The European genera have already been divided into these two 

 groups by Dr. I>ang (" Butterflies of Europe"), Apatura and Charaxes coming in the first group 

 under the name of Apatiiridce, and Limenitis, Neptis, Vanessa, Fyrameis, Melitaa, and 

 Ar^ynnis in the second as Nymphalidce. The ultimate natural division of the group will no 

 doubt be on these lines, but unfortunately as yet the life-history of many of the Indian genera 

 is so little known thit we cannot for want of data work on them, and I have therefore 

 adopted an artificial classification for the present based on the characters of the perfect insect 

 only, and although it is unsatisfactory as separating widely such genera as Apatura and 

 Charaxes, Euripus and Hestina, Argynnis and Melitcea, it is the best that I can offer and 

 will serve its purpose until a more profound knowledge enables us to rectify its errors and 

 shortcomings. 



The Nymphalina: contain the typical genera of the entire family of Nymphalidce with the 

 forelegs very feebly developed and unfitted for walking ; they are distinguished from the 

 Danainm by the body being far less leathery in texture, and more densely clothed with hair 

 or furry scales, by the absence of the anal tufts of hair in the males, and by the juices not being 

 acrid ; from the Elymniince by the absence of the prsediscoidal cell in the hindwing, the 

 greater dilation of the palpi, and the absence (except in Ergolis, Eurytela, and Byblia) 

 of the dilation of the costal nervure ; and from the Acraince by their having the hindwing 

 channelled to receive the abdomen. But they are linked to the Satyrince and Elymniince 

 through the Euryttlida:, and to the Morphince by the frequent absence of the lower disco- 

 cellular nervule in the hindwing, and through Tanaecia by the arrangement of the subscostal 

 nervules in the forewing. In the typical genera, the long protruding wide-apart palpi dilated 

 on the front edge and the strongly clubbed antennae are the prominent characteristics ; but the 

 subfamily presents great divergencies in many respects. 



There is great diversity in size, Penthema and Kallima being very large, while Melitcea and 

 some species of Neptis are very small insects. There is also great variation in form, in many 

 genera the hindwing is tailed and sometimes lobed in addition, in others it is deeply scalloped, 

 while in others again it is slightly waved or entire. The apex of the forewing m some genera 

 is truncate, in others rounded or acute, and lastly in Kallima it is produced into a lengthened 

 point. In neuration also there is great variety, in some genera the cells of the forewing and 

 hindwing are closed, in others they are open ; and the subcostal nervules of the forewing are 

 given off from the costal nervure at very different points. It is on this latter character that the 

 key to the genera is primarily based, bnt it cannot be strictly adhered to, as in four genera 

 (Hestina, Neptis, Argynnis and Cyrestis) the species can be divided into two groups, one in 

 which the first subcostal nervule only of the forewing is given off before the end of the cell, in 

 the other the second branch is given off in addition before the termination of the cell. 



The genus Terinos is remarkable in having the eyes hairy, and in some species the neuration 

 of the male different from that of the female. As a rule, however, in the subfamily there are 

 but few prominent secondary sexual characters. In Er^olis and Terinos there are large 

 patches of glandular hairs or scales in the male, and in one species of Cirrhochroa and some of 



