139 



GENUS 



THE genus Melitcea, which approximates pretty 

 closely to the following one in its characters, has un- 

 tennse with a very abrupt knob, which is large and 

 flattish ; palpi long and projecting, rather slender in 

 some of the species, with the terminal joint ending 

 in a point, and nearly half the length of the second ; 

 somewhat thickened in others, with the terminal 

 joint ovate and minute ; wings of moderate size, the 

 anterior pair elongate-triangular, and the anterior 

 legs spurious in both sexes, the claws in the other 

 legs being either double, or simple, with a short 

 cushion. The majority are without silver spots be- 

 neath, M* Silene and Euphrosyne being the only 

 kinds possessing that ornament. The caterpillars are 

 generally spinose, and the chrysalides are suspended 

 by the tail 



