434 LYCJENIDJS. 



Pupa. " Pale yellowish green, the posterior end very blunt and 

 rounded ; the abdominal segments larger than the anterior, the 

 head small, a dark dorsal line, a double subdorsal series of small 

 black spots, the thorax slightly humped on the back ; the pupa 

 smooth throughout." (de Niceville.) 



The next two Subfamilies are monotypic. The forms ai-ranged 

 under them are curiously isolated, with no close affinity either to 

 each other or to the rest of the Lyccenidce. De ISiceville placed 

 Curetis, the sole genus of the Curetince, after Arhopala and 

 Mahaihala and before Thecla, but it seems to me that this inter- 

 rupts the close affinity between the Arhopalince and the TJieclince, 

 which, in mv opinion, is closer than between the Lyccenincs and 

 Arhopalince. I therefore provisionally place the Curetince after 

 the Lyccenince. 



The Subfamily Liphyrince is represented by one form only, 

 Liphyra brassolis. This insect, though placed in the Lyccenidce, is 

 so extraordinarily abnormal in the larval and pupal states and in 

 the appearance of the imago, that it is impossible to guess even to 

 what form or genus it is most nearly allied, but it seems to me 

 to come most suitably after Curetis. Vein 7 of the fore wing in 

 both sexes ends below the apex on the terminal margin as in 

 Curetis. 



Subfamily III. CURETIN^. 



Egg. " An oblate sphere flatter below than above, or turbinate, 

 being shaped like many Echini, covered with a very coarse 

 hexagonal reticulation, the apex of the egg having a deep central 

 depression." (de Niceville.') 



Larva. When full-grown about }^ of an inch in length. Head 

 completely hidden and even when the animal eats it is not 

 visible from above, the second segment entirely enclosing it. 

 The second segment is half as wide as the following, the third, 

 fourth and fifth rapidly and progressively enlarging, the next 

 three segments as rapidly decreasing in size, the remainder sub- 

 equal. The twelfth segment bears two most extraordinary struc- 

 tures, which consist of two diverging cylindrical rigid pillars 

 arising from the subdorsal region ; when the insect is touched or 

 alarmed, from each pillar is everted a tentacle as long as the rigid 

 pillar, bearing at its end long hairs. The tentacle, with its long 

 hairs spread out like a fan or rosette, is whirled round with great 

 rapidity in a plane parallel to the body, its use being almost 

 certainly to frighten away its enemies, as this larva is not 

 attended by protecting ants and lacks the honey-gland on the 

 eleventh segment present in so many Lycaenid larvae which are 

 affected by ants. (After de Niceville.) 



Pupa. Like a lump of jelly. Wing-cases quite smooth, rest of 

 the pupa covered with tiny pits giving it a rough appearance. 



