AND THEIR TRAXSFORMATIOXS 



l'2:> 



A specimen of this species in Mr. Stephens', cahinet, obtained from " an okl cabinet," in which it was named 



ran,scus, and " other specinK.ns " in the Late Mr. Milne's cabinet, ^vhich he also believed to be Pani-scus, are the 



only authorities for the introduction of this species into our English lists ; and it is more tlian probable that these 



were Continental specimens, introduced under mistake for the then rare I'aniscus, with which their possessors 



thought them identical ; indeed, Jlr. Curtis entirely omits the species. 



PAMPHILA, Fabriciu.s. HESPERIA, Bo,s,„ val. 



These insects are at once distinguished from all the preceding by the males possessing an oblique velvety patcii 

 of scales on the disk of the fore wings ; moreover when in repose the fore wings alone are elevated. There is also 

 a diversity in the colouring of the sexes, the females being brighter than the males. The head is larce, as broad 

 as the thorax, the eyes large and prominent, the palpi short, wide apart, very hairy, the last joint short, nearlv 

 naked, and exposed. The antenucB are terminated by a thick, nearly straight club, which is often furnished at 

 the tip with a hook. The thorax is very robust, and the body as long as the hind wings. The wings are entire, 

 with the fringe not alternated in its colours ; the anterior ones arc elongated, and the latter slightly sinuated at 

 the anal angle, forming a short rudimental tail. A character which I have not seen noticed exists in the ty]iical 

 species, the outer margin of the fore wings of the females being much more rounded than in the males. Tlie 

 general colour of the wings is either tawny orange, marked with brown, or brown, strongly marked with the 

 former colour ; and generally the colours are so disposed as to leave a series of squarish spots near the outer 

 maroin of the fore win^rs. 



The powerful flight of these insects far surpasses that of the other Ilesperiidse, owing to the strength of their 

 muscles and superior robustness of the body. In the larva state they generally feed upon low plants, especially 

 GraminefP. The exotic species are very numerous. The five species described in the following pages constitute 

 several sections. 



A. (Augiades, Hiibn.) Antennas hooked at the tip, head very large, palpi very short, squamose, last joint 



exposed, hind wings subtriangular. Vitellius ? and its supposed female Bucephalus. 



B. Head moderately large, palpi longer and hairy, hind wings more rounded, wings maculated; antcnnc-e 



hooked at the tip. Comma and Sylvanus. 



C. (Thymelinus, Hiibn.) Head moderate, palpi moderately long and hairy, antenna) with the tip nearly straight, 



and not hooked at the tip. Linea and Comma. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XL. 



Insects.— Fig. 1. Pampliila Vitellius? male. 2. Showing tlio unJcr side. 3. The supposed female (figured by Mr. Stephens from the 

 English specimen as P. Bueephalus). 

 Fig. 4. Pamphila Sylvanus, male. 5. Tlie female. G. Showing the under side. 

 Pljnts. — Figs. 7 and 8. Aira alpina (smooth Alpine Iiair-grass.) 



P Vitellius = is from a specimen taken in North America by Mr. noubleday, who .s decidedly of opinion that the insect c.,ptured i„ England, 

 and described as P. Bucephalus, is the female of this species. P. Sylvanus, male a,ul fcmale.are from strongly-marked British specia,en,, .ho 



, ,1 . • (■„ „f fi.p ,-it,rmllar for although this species is SO generally distributed over 



furnished by Mr. Doubleday. I have not been able to give a hguro ol the citirpiliar, lor, o t i t . 



the whole island, the caterpillar is at present unrecorded. U. N. II. 



S 



