248 A NCE STRY A ND CLA SSI PICA TION. 



affinity of this last group to the skippers is also 

 indicated on the diagram by the directness of 

 their line from the very base ; it is one of the 

 most curious features in the structure of butter- 

 flies that its highest and lowest members should 

 resemble each other in so many minor points. 

 For instance, the tone of coloring and pattern of 

 markings on the wings of many satyrs, as well 

 as the position and general nature of the sexual 

 marks on the front pair of some males, find a 

 close counterpart on the wings of some skippers ; 

 so also the chrysalids of satyrs are among the 

 simplest, most rounded, and compact in the whole 

 family, approaching in this respect the lowest 

 butterflies. Nevertheless, in all the prime feat- 

 ures of their organization, the satyrs outrank all 

 others or divide the honors with another small 

 group. 



It may be remarked that, with slight variations, 

 this distribution of the groups of butterflies, 

 founded upon the relative perfection of their 

 organization, is generally accepted by the best in- 

 vestigators, and is based upon a mass of minor 

 features which cannot be recounted here. A 

 single exception to this statement should, how- 

 ever, be made in regard to the typical butterflies, 

 whose position is the point of greatest dispute, 

 many continuing to place them highest of all on 

 account of the beauty and special perfection of 



