EPIPHILE. 225 



arising from the second subcostal nervule soon after its origin. Cell closed by a slender disco- 

 cellular ncrvule. 

 Anterior Legs of the male rather large, densely clothed with very long hairs. Femur rather longer 

 than the tibia. Tibia subcylindric, simple. Tarsus shorter than the tibia, cylindric, rounded at 

 both extremities. 

 Middle and Posterior Legs moderately stout. Femora of the middle pair longer than the 

 posterior pair, about equal in length to the tibia;. Tibiae spiny internally ; the spines arranged 

 in two series, and armed also externo-laterally with a few spines. Spurs rather stout. Tarsi 

 about equal in length to the tibia? ; all the joints spiny laterally, and, except the fifth joint, 

 below ; the spines of the lower surface arranged in two regular series. First joint about equal 

 to, or a little longer than, the rest combined ; second joint about one third the length of the first, 

 and rather shorter than the fifth ; third joint rather more than half the length of the second, and 

 about twice as long as the fourth. Claws curved, grooved below. Outer paronychia as long as 

 the claws, narrow, blunt at the apex, hairy. Inner paronychia very short, broad, velvety. 

 Pulvillus two-jointed, nearly equal in length to the claw; the last joint very broad. 

 Abdomen rather slender, about two thirds the length of the inner margin of the posterior wings. 



Larva and Pupa unknown. 



Epiphile partakes of the characters of the two preceding genera, having the hairy eyes of the one, and the nenration 

 of the wings of the other. It differs from both iu its densely hairy anterior feet, which, in one 6ex at least, resemble 

 those of Vanessa. Whether the anterior feet of the female differ from those of the male I do not know. Those of 

 the reputed females do not differ from those of the males to which they are supposed to belong. In no species have I 

 found any individuals offering the structure of the anterior tarsus commonly found in the females of this family. It 

 may be that all the specimens I have examined are males, or the genus may offer the extraordinary anomaly of both 

 sexes agreeing in the form of the anterior tarsus. 



The species of this genus are amongst the most beautiful of the Nymphalida:. The upper surface, in nearly all the 

 species, is varied with fuscous black and fulvous orange, disposed either in broad patches or in transverse bands, the 

 fuscous colour often with brilliant metallic blue or rich purple reflexions. Certain individuals wanting the metallic 

 hues, and offering some few peculiar characters, have been supposed to be the females of other individuals, to which 

 they seem to bear a very close relation ; but, as I have already remarked, these do not present the usual structure of the 

 anterior tarsus found in the females of this family, and without the dissection of recent specimens it is not easy to 

 determine their sex. The lower surface of the posterior wings is mostly marbled with brown, and otters, upon the 

 anterior margin near the middle, a subtriangular white spot. 



This genus is found in all the tropical parts of the New World, but seems to be rather more abundant in the 

 mountainous, or at least in the elevated, districts. Several undescribed species exist in collections. 



Tune, I St.'). ; 



