INTRODUCTION, 



HE HESPERIIDJE comprise the fifth Family of the order 

 Rhopalocera as generally subdivided. They are characterized 

 as follows in the "Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon": 

 ;, with all six legs perfect. Wings, with the discoidal 

 cell of hindwing slenderly, and often incompletely closed; subcostal 

 nervure of forewing always with four branches, all four emitted before 

 end of cell. Of small size, very robust build and rapid flight. Body 

 of all but a few very robust ; antennae, wide apart at base, with a 

 thick club, or strong curved hook at tip ; palpi, short, very broad, 

 closely pressed against the face, densely squamose. Hindlegs, gene- 

 rally with a pair of movable spines at the tip of the tibiae, and 

 another pair in the middle ; middle legs with a pair of movable spines 

 at the tip of the tibiae." 



The eggs of this family have been studied by Mr. Doherty, and he has 

 proposed 1 - a classification of the Indian genera founded on the character- 

 istics of the egg. 



This proposed classification is quoted at full. 



" HESPERIIM. Eggs, very large, very few (except in the first group), 

 only one or two matured at a time ; opaque, dome-shaped, smooth ; or 

 with delicate, depressed serrate ribs, few or very numerous, and with 

 distinct cross lines. 



SUB-DIVISIONS OF THE HESPERIID/E. 



HESPERiiN&.-Egg, small, hard, seven-eighths as high as wide or even 

 higher, constricted at base, with wide, scalloped, anastomosing ribs. This 

 group is very distinct. The only Indian genera belonging to it are 

 Hespevia (Pyrgus) and Gomalia. 



suASTiN&.-Egg, lower, dome-shaped, large, hard, constricted at base, 

 with a few broad depressed, delicate, biserrate ribs. This group does not 

 seem to be represented in Europe or North America. 



BAORIN&. -Cyclopides Group. Egg, similar, two-thirds as high as wide, 

 constricted at base, with very numerous slender ribs. 



BAORiN&.-Baovis Group. Egg, half as high as wide, leathery, limpet- 

 shaped, widest, and often carinate at base, smooth, generally overlaid with 

 pigment above, as in many Papilios, sometimes with numerous obsolete 

 ribs. This group seems to be equivalent to the Astyci as defined by 

 Scudder." 



Under Suastina Mr. Doherty includes Badamia, CJwaspes, Plastingia, 



Suastus, Hyarotis, Tagiades, Sarangesa, Satampa, Abaratha, Antigonus, Halpe, 



Isoteinon, and Coladenia -, under Baorina (Cyclopides group), Cyclopides and 



part of the old genus Plesioneura ; under Ba-orine (Baoris group) remainder 



*J. A. S, B., Vol. LV, pt. 2, 1886, p. in. ~ 



