194 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



been referred to in each case. Whatever modification there may 

 be in the number, size, or arrangement of ocelli or orange 

 crescents on the under surface of the several species or 

 individuals of one sj^ecies, this white streak is always found 

 occupying the same relative position. Often, in consequence of 

 pale coloration of the hind wings, the character is not well 

 defined ; but in specimens with dark-coloured secondaries, such 

 as that figured, PI. II., fig. 7, it generally stands out bokily. 

 This white streak may be a feature in course of development, but 

 I am rather disposed to consider it an ancestral character. The 

 same kind of mark is found in a similar position on the hind 

 wings of several species of Lyccena, besides those under con- 

 sideration ; but I do not propose referring further to these than 

 by instancing damon, Schiff., wliich has a white streak of stripe- 

 like proportions ; and astrarche, Bgstr. 



Eumedon, Esp., has a white streak, but this is in the form of 

 a lay from the external edge of discoidal spot of hind wing, 

 passing beneath the third and fourth ocelli of central series. 

 Traces of a similar ray are found in several examples of amaiida, 

 Schn., and of all the species previously mentioned, except damon. 



The marginal borders, discoidal and hind-marginal spots on the 

 upper surface of the males are, I think, like the white streaks on 

 the under sides of both sexes, remnants of an ancestral form ; 

 and, in accordance with this view, I should suppose that both 

 sexes of the original stock, from which several species of Lyccena, 

 including those with wliich we are chiefly concerned, have 

 descended, were dark brown or blackish on the upper surface, 

 with fringes but little paler, and probably discoidal sjjots on all 

 the wings. The first ornamental characters acquired by both 

 sexes were probably white or orange bands ; these afterwards 

 becoming modified, but chiefly in being broken up into crescents, 

 when ocelli w^ould also be formed on the hind margins. Then 

 some shade of blue would appear by degrees on the upper surface 

 of the males, and here " sexual selection " would play its part, as 

 the females would choose partners which best pleased their fancy ; 

 and each female that had mated with a blue male would transmit 

 to its offspring the particular shade of blue of its consort. Thus 

 in time races would be established, and the descendants of the 

 original stock divided. During the course of these developments 

 tlio modified descendants of the original stock would have been 



