528 Rev. R. P. MuiTay's descriptions of 



is seldom to be relied on: moreover, tliey present a very 

 variable character: e. g., Lye. Ceraunus, F., possesses but 

 one of these spots on each hindwing: while specimens in 

 my cabinet, which were referred by Mr. Butler to his 

 L. ZackcBina, only differ from L. Ceraunus by possessing 

 two of these spots. L. Cassius, Cram., possesses two 

 spots: L. pseudo- Cassius, Murray, has three. I need only 

 refer in addition to the long list of species belonging to the 

 Argus and Trochilus groups, in which these spots form a 

 more or less complete marginal edging to the wing, in 

 support of my opinion that these markings should cease to 

 be relied on as of generic value. 



The tailed hindwings appear at first sight of more im- 

 portance, being certainly, to some extent, a structural 

 character ; but a careful consideration of many interesting 

 species, both in Lyccenn and the allied genus Chrysophanus, 

 has forced me, somewhat reluctantly, to the conclusion 

 that this, too, must be abandoned as a generic character. 



In Chrysophanus the hindwing ordinarily presents a 

 more or less marked projection on the first median nervule, 

 which, however, cannot be designated a tail. In C. Orus, 

 Cram., fi-om South Africa, this projection is wanting, so 

 that the outline of the hindwing is rounded. On the other 

 hand, we are unexpectedly met, in Persia, by a group of 

 species, which are undoubtedly true Chrysopliani, but 

 which possess a tail, at least as well developed as in any 

 knoAvn species belonging to the so-called genus Lampidcs. 

 These species are named C. Lampon, Led., C. PJioenicnrus, 

 Led., and C, Carpius, Led. The last two are very dis- 

 tinct species, to which it is unnecessary to refer further. 

 But C. Lampon is so closely allied to C. Ochimus, H.-S., 

 that it can with difficulty be distinguished from it, except 

 by the possession of a long filifonn tail. This curious 

 tendency to produce tailed forms seems confined to Persia, 

 so far as the genus Chrysophanus is concerned (the Persian 

 I^yccBncB do not share the character), since none either of 

 the European or Himalayan species present the character, 

 and the only new Chrysophanus discovered by M. 

 Fedtchenko in Eastern Turkestan ( C. Solskyi) is equally 

 destitute of a tail. 



But to proceed to the genus Lycana. Here we find, 

 roughly speaking, three groups : those with no tails, those 

 with well developed tails, and those with very short tails. 

 Of these latter, L. Parsimon, Fabr., may be accepted as 

 the representative. It is closely aUied to other species 



