312 



NYMPHALIDiE. 



the length of the fore margin, and then unituig with the costa. Postcostal vein slender ; the first and second 

 branches arising before the extremity of the discoidal cell ; third branch arising a little before the middle of 

 the length of the wing, and running close to the postcostal vein for some distance, when it suddenly widens, 

 approaclies close to the costa, along which it runs to tiie tip of the wing ; fourth branch arising at about five 

 sixths of the length of the wing, and extending to the apical margin a little distance below the apex. Upper 

 disco-cellular vein very minute, arising from the postcostal at about one third of the length of the wing from 

 the base ; middle disco-cellular veiy short and rather oblique ; lower disco-cellular longer, nearly transverse, 

 closing the discoidal cell at a little distance more than one third of the length of the wing from the base, and 

 uniting with the third branch of the median vein at a very short distance beyond its origin ; this third branch 

 of the median vein regularly arched. 



Hind Wings triangularly ovate. Costal margin rounded at the base, slightly arched to the outer angle. Apical 

 margin rounded, more or less scalloped, especially towards the anal angle ; the tip of the third branch of the 

 median vein, and occasionally that of the first branch, being elongated into a slender, acute, short tail. Anal 

 margin densely hairy ; upper surface slightly varied in its colours ; under surface beautifully marked with 

 slender, irregularly undulating, black lines. Precostal vein erect, its tip bent slightly outwards. Postcostal 

 vein branching near its base. Lower disco-cellular extremely slender, closing the discoidal cell, and uniting 

 with the outer branch of the median vein at a very short distance from its base. 



Fore Legs of the male small and pectoral. Femur and tibia of nearly equal length ; the former furnished with 

 short hairs beneath, set on at right angles. The tibia thickly hairy ; the hairs set on obliquely. Tarsus not 

 more than one third the length of the tibia, similarly hirsute, slender, attenuated, apparently with an 

 articulation near the tip. Fore Legs of the female not longer than those of the male, more scaly. Tibia 

 shorter than the femur. Tarsus as long as the tibia, slightly compressed, and widening towards the apex, 

 which is oblic^uely truncate, exhibiting several pairs of small spines beneath, indicating the articulations. 



Four Hincl Legs robust, scaly, moderately long. Tibia of tlie middle pair shorter than the femur, with a patch of 

 short plush on the inside at the base ; under side with two rows of fine short spines. Tibial spurs short. 

 Tarsi as long as the tibiae, more slender, scaly ; under side with several rows of fine short spines. Ungues 

 small, very acute, and curved. Paronychia minute. 

 Abdomen small, somewhat conical. 



TsAifSFORMATioxs uukuown. 



The species of this genus bear considerable affinity to those of Nymphalis in general appearance and size, as well as in the peculiarity 

 of tlie markings of tlie under surface of the liind wings. They are, in fact, the American representatives of the typical Nymphales ; 

 differing from them at once in the position of tlie fourth branch of the postcostal vein of the fore wings, which in Nymphalis aiises 

 close beyond the extremity of the discoidal cell, instead of near the tip of the wing, as in Megistanis. 



The insect represented in our PI. XLVIII. fig. 2. as an example of this genus, recedes from the type in its shorter and more entire 

 fore wings, in the greater depth of the scallops in the hind wings, two of them forming more decided tails than in M. Cadmus. The 

 under surface of all the wings in M. Ba:otus is pale bluish white, with numerous slender black markings ; each wing near the inner 

 angle being marked witli a patch of fulvous, simulating an indistinct ocellus in the hind wings. In this and other respects, M. Baiotus 

 is very closely allied to M. ^Ticlus ; but that species has the upper surface of all the wings of a black colour, the interior being marked 

 near the tip with a few small white dots. Notwithstanding this difference, it appears to us not improbable that M. Bajotus may 

 ultimately prove to be only a local variety of M. ^clus. 



We know nothing of the habits or transformations of the species of this genus. 



MEGISTANIS. 



1. Meg. Cadmus. 



Papilio Cadmus Cramer, Pap. t. 22. f. A. B. 



Papilio Acheronta Fubricius, Ent. Syst. iii. pt. 1. p. 76. 



n. 23,(). ; Gotlart, Enc. M. ix. p. 358. n. 27. 

 Papilio Pherecides Cramer, Pap. t. 330. f. A. B. 

 Coea Plierecydes and Coea Acheronta Hiibner, Ferz. hek. 

 Schm. n. 442. 444. 

 Brazil to New York. B. M. 



2. Meo. JEclus. 



Papilio .^clus Fabrkhis, Ent. Syst. iii. pt. 1. p. 63. n. 

 198. J Godart, Enc. M. ix. p. 35.5. n. iC. 



Papilio Aeilus Cramer, Pap. t. 317. f. A.B. 

 Eriboea Aile Hiihrt. Verz. bek. Schm. n. 428. 

 Amboyna. 



Meo. B.EOTUS. 



Megistanis Ba;otus Boisduval MS. ; E. Doubleday, List 

 Lep. Brit. Mas. p. lOC). ; Doubl. Westw. i^ Hewits. 

 Gen. Diiirn. Lep. pi. 48. f. 2. 

 Sta Fe de Bogota B.M. 



