THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109 



This reference is followed by Wm. H. Edwards in tbe 

 Synopsis accompanying llie first volume of his work on N. A. 

 Butterflies (I 872). Scudder subsequently slates that "it is 

 not a buterfly," and Mr. A. R. Grote, after an examination of 

 specimens collected in Florida, regards it " as belonging to 

 the Castnians, where it is placed by Walker." 



It will thus be seen that this insect has sorely perplexed 

 systematists, having been bandied from the butterflies to the 

 moths ; and that the balance of opinion withdraws it from the 

 butterflies and places it with the Castnians — a family which, 

 in some respects, combines the characters of the two great 

 Lepidopterous divisions, but is regarded, and justly, as having 

 most affinities with the moths. 



1 shall endeavour to show that this opinion is not well- 

 founded; that Megathymus is a genuine butterfly, and that 

 its greatest affinities are with the Hesperians. Together with 

 one or two other species it tbrms a sujall, aberrant tribe ; but, 

 in order to more fully discuss its affinities, it is necessary to 

 give an exposition of its characters, as no detailed descriptions 

 have yet been published. 



Affinities. — Scudder, who has certainly given more attention 

 than perhaps any other author to the Hesperians, divides 

 them into two groups, which he considers of tribal value. 

 The first to which he applies Latreille's name Hesperides is 

 characterized chiefly by the primaries in the male having a 

 costal fold (often inconspicuous, however) ; by the posterior 

 extremity of the alimentary canal being protected beneath by 

 a corneous sheath, which extends beyond the centrum or 

 body of the upper pair of abdominal appendages, sometimes 

 nearly to the extremity of the appendages; by the club of 

 antennae being elongate, roundly bent, or with a sinuous 

 lateral curve ; by the prevailing colour being dark brown, 

 with white or translucent angular spots; by the stout body 

 and swift flight ; by the eggs being distincly ribbed vertically ; 

 and by the larvae generally feeding on leguminous plants and 

 living in horizontal nests made with the leaves. The second 

 tribe, to which he gives liiibner's nau)e Astyci, the front 

 wings of the male have no costal fold ; the extremity of the 

 alimentary canal is not protected by any extruded sheath ; 

 " the prevailing tints of the wings are lawny and black, marked 

 also but often feebly with pale, sometimes vitreous, spots ;" 



