538 AGERONIA. By H. Friiistorfer. 



the sexes. It has forirerly been tried to separate two subgenera, Ageronid and Perirboniia, with the argumen- 

 tation that in Ageronia the first subcostal veins are isolated, while in Peridromia they issue from a common 

 pedicule, thus forming a fork. But this characteristic mark varies already within the sexes; as for instance 

 the (^ oi A. arete has forked subcostal veins, whereas in the $ they are isolated. God man and Salvin have 

 also tried to use the mouth of the basilar discocellular vein as a motive for separation, because in vSome species 

 the cell is said to terminate before the bifurcation of the anterior medians, in other species at the bifurcation 

 itself. By considering the position of the discocellulars not only the nearest allies would be separated afar, 

 but the two sexes of one species would sometimes even have to be divided among two ,, genera". The 

 latter case would e. g. take place in A. arete, with the cell terminating in the r^,^ before, in the $$, however, 

 at the bifurcation of the medians. Dr. .Schatz has even pictorially depicted the same curious .symptom in 

 another species, A. arethttsa. Nevertheless we approve also here of the two sections, though with the leser- 

 vation that they are considered only as subgenera. We, therefore, distinguish: 



A. both the sexes with two isolated suljcostal veins anterior to tlie termination of the lell of the forewings (group 

 of species Ageronia), 



B. the subcostal veins running isolattd only in the ?. in the (J issuing from a common peclicxile (gioup of species Pfri- 

 droniia). 



The configuration of the clasping-organs seems to justify the hitherto prevailing isolated position of 

 the Ageroniidi by considerable deviations from tlie nearest allies. The primary genital organs jjrove a certain 

 alliance with the Apaturides by the uncommonly long oedeagus and saccus, but this alliance is cancelled again 

 by the shape of the penis being almost as thin as a needle. The tegumen is of a feeble structure with 

 a plain and strong point resembling certain Satyrides and, possibly, Euthaliides. The valve which in nearly 

 all the species is distally cut off obliquely, may be considered as limenitoidal, with distant relations to those 

 of the genera Adelphn and Athyma. It lacks, however, the dorsal notch of these genera, and it much more 

 resembles an edged glass plate than the pelvis of the Limenitides. The contours of the clasping-organs, when 

 being looked at somewhat imaginatively, might have the shape of a fishing aquatic bird. The n^ost interesting 

 fact, however, is the existence of an organ at the sternit of the eleventh abdominal segment, which was disco- 

 vered by Professor Reverdin in October 1914. This peculiar formation was denominated the Godman and 

 SALViN-organ in the ,, Entomologist Record" on the I5th of May 1915, p. 98, because these authors mentioned 

 two small rods being inserted to the upper ends of the ventral part of the terminal segment at the abdomen, 

 already in 1883 in the ,,Biologia" (Vol. I p. 268). In the meantime I have found a similar organ in different 

 Nymphalid genera, such as in Cy.stineura, Lihythina, CybdeUs, Temenis, Bolboneura, Pyrrhogyra, Ltmnia, 

 Nica, Peria, Vila, Dynamine, Ectima and all the Catagrammidi, even in the Libytheinae. In the latter it has 

 certainly changed its place, being found before the tegumen at the tergit of the last segment. The new organ 

 is the most magnificently developed in the Epiphile, where it is shaped horizontally, just like in the Eunica 

 and all the Eurytelids. The latter category I denominated the ,,REVERDiN-organ", which enters the most deeply 

 into the venter in the Eunica, while in the Catonephele it rises broadly in the shape of a sickle, as was ascer- 

 tained in 1899 by Stichel who denominated it ,,Rami". The Godmak- Salvin organ which is .so far peculiar 

 to the Ageroniids, occurs yet in a combination with peculiar spiculae, being either as pointed as a needle or 

 lanciform and exhibiting certain analogies with the JuLLiBN-organ. Their dimen.sions and the way they are 

 fastened, differ considerably from the JuLLiEN-organ, but we may still pre.sume that their functions serve for 

 the same purpose. Dr. Reverdin thinks it credible that the GoDMAN-organ might stand in a certain relationship 

 to the noise of the Ageronids, which has hitherto not yet been cleared up physiologically. I myself am inclined 

 to suppose that it is an enticing organ in order to support the actions of the proper clasping-organs. At all 

 events it is a matter of fact that the GoDMAN-organ differs in all the species, and that thereupon the single 

 species can be distinguished with much greater certainty than it is possible with the aid of the proper clasping- 

 organs differing but insignificantly and being, therefore, very similar to one another. The GoDMAN-organ may 

 be very long and thin (arinofne) or shorter and more of the shape of a club (arethusa), it may bear only 

 few spiculae (arete) or be set quite densely with them (arethvsn). The sternit itself differs distally in all the 

 species. It may be distally entire (chloe. ferox) or deeply gouged (arethusa, febrna), bearing in the latter case 

 a dense cluster of bristly scales in the indentation. 



The larvae, when being grown up, bear on theii' heads two horns, being somewhat knobby at the tips, on 

 the back and the sides spines set with short branches; the pupae, however, are of a very peculiar shape, being 

 distinguished by two long, wing-like, narrow bands (horns?) on both sides of the head. The pujia is most pecu- 

 liarly sensitive to light, raising its front body horizontally in the light, while in the darkness it relap.ses into 

 its hanging position. This interesting observation of Dr. Mueller explains perhaps the statement of Lacor- 

 DAIRE, becau.se a horizontally fastened pupa may easily rouse the suspicion that additionally it is suppoited 

 by a thread. 



The butterflies rest on moss- or lichen-clad trunks of trees high above the ground and they are very 

 clever in adapting themselves to their surioundings. Sometimes S or 10 of them are found on a trunk ah\ays 

 with the head turned downwards, and when having been chased up, they rt^turn again, though to the other 



