AGERONIA. 131 



Antennas ralher long, slender, and gradually thickened ; 

 palpi rather short ; eyes naked. Wings rather broad, with the 

 hind-margins rounded, and only slightly dentated; cells closed 

 by rudimentary nervures, the fore-wings with the costa arched, 

 and the hind-margin regularly curved. 



"The larvae resemble those of Epicalia [Catonephele], Cal- 

 lithea, &c., in being armed with branching spines, and in 

 having two longer spines projecting from the summit of the 

 head. They differ from the larvae of allied species in having, 

 besides the shorter spines of the body, several longer and 

 thicker hispid lobes proceeding from the second, third, fifth, 

 tenth, and eleventh segments. They feed on the leaves of a 

 succulent climbing plant on the borders of woods. 



" The chrysalides have a deep notch on the dorsal surface 

 of the thorax, and two long flattened appendages proceeding 

 from the head." (Bates.) 



Boisduval and Doubleday treated this genus as a separate 

 family, on account of the statement of Lacordaire that the pupa 

 is girt with a silken thread ; but on Bates discovering that this 

 was an error, the genus was removed to the Nymphalida. 

 Since then, however, Schatz has pointed out that Dr. W. Miiller 

 has made further observations in the transformations otAgcronia> 

 from which it appears that the pupa has the habit of raising the 

 fore part of its body into a horizontal position in daylight, but 

 sinks back into the usual position of the pupae of the Nym- 

 fihalida, and hangs by the tail, when in darkness. That the 

 species of Ageronia differ considerably both in habits and 

 structure appears certain, and if this habit is peculiar to a species 

 which was not bred by Bates (as is very possibly the case) it will 

 account for his not having noticed it ; for had he done so, he 

 would certainly have recorded it. I do not remember that such a 

 habit has been noticed in the pupa of any other Butterfly. 



In many respects, this genus is one of special interest. The 



