305 



Subfamily II. LYC^NIN^E. 



Egg. " Less than half as high as wide, concave above, widest 

 above the middle ; reticulations coarse *and asymmetrical." 

 (Doherty.) 



Larva. Of the slug-like shape peculiar to the family Lyccenidce ; 

 tegumeu rough, finely wrinkled, minutely tuberculate, or hairy. 

 Colour generally green, the back marked with darker colours, 

 sometimes pink. The larvae of several forms are known to be 

 carnivorous. 



Papa. Short and thick, as a rule finely hairy. 



Imago. Variable in size, but none very large. This subfamily 

 contains some of the smallest butterflies in the world, the male 

 of Zizera gaika is only 15| mm. ; that of Chilades trochilus 

 still smaller. Colouring on the upperside generally blue or 

 purple, many very beautifully metallic or shining. A few are 

 dull-coloured, dark or pale brown. Venation of the wings and 

 general structure very similar in all the forms, making it difficult 

 of division into good and easily recognizable genera. The margins 

 of the wings are invariably entire ; in no Indian form are they 

 dentate, scolloped, or irregular ; the hind wings in a very large 

 number are tailed close to the tornal angle ; this appendage is 

 short and filamentous, never in this subfamily either long or of 

 appreciable width ; lornal area of the hind wings never lobate, 

 sublobate, or toothed, as in the Arhopalince and Thedince, from 

 the former of which it is further distinguished by the difference in 

 venation of the fore wing. 



The key to the genera, subjoined below, is more or less artificial, 

 and is intended as a guide only in the difficult work of identifica- 

 tion. The sequence of the genera (not in the key but in the 

 succeeding text) is 7iearly as possible that followed by de Niceville 

 in the ' Butterflies of India.' 



Key to the Genera of the Lycsenina3. 



A. Hind wing : without tails. 



a. Fore wing : vein 11 anastomosed with 



vein 12. 

 a'. Hind wing: costa arched. 



a 2 . Underside fore and hind wings : with 

 terminal markings, and on latter wing 

 costal and dorsal markings also, but 



no discal markings PITHECOPS, p. 307. 



b' 2 . Underside fore and hind wings : with 

 some discal markings always present. 



a 3 . Eyes smooth ZIZERA, p. 355. 



b 3 . Eyes hairy AZANCS p. 361. 



//. Hind wing : costa straight or slightly [p. 368. 



concave OKTHOMIEI.LA, 



