THE SNOUT BUTTERFLIES 237 



there are certain types which scientists have found were 

 once abundant but which now are on the wane. As a rule 

 these are better represented in the museums through fossil 

 species than by those, now living. To a considerable ex- 

 tent also such forms are likely to present various features 

 which mark their primitive condition and the living allies 

 have peculiarities which set them off as distinct from those 

 of their own relations which have been modeled in a more 

 modern fashion. Among the mammals the curious mar- 

 supials, of which our southern opossum is an example, 

 furnish good illustrations of this general truth. Among 

 the birds the curious little Least Bittern is an example. 

 Among the butterflies the strange Snout butterfly is by 

 far the best example. 



These Snout butterflies, of which only two species are 

 now living in North America, are the sole representatives 

 with us of the family Lihytheidae or the Long-beaks. Only 

 one of these species occurs to any extent at least north of 

 Texas. It is the curious little creature called the Snout 

 butterfly. It has a strange appearance due to the angular 

 outline of both front and hind wings and the long palpi 

 which project forward from the head in a way to attract 

 attention. The common name is due to these projecting 

 palpi. Even the coloring is primitive, the general tone 

 of the wings being blackish brown, distinctly marked with 

 white and orange spots. The under surface is less prim- 

 itive in its coloring, being toned in iridescent grayish 

 brown in a way to suggest protective coloring, except in 

 that part of each front wing which is not hidden when the 

 insect is at rest. This shows the white and orange-brown 

 markings. 



Some years ago there were found in certain fossil de- 



