THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109 
This reference is followed by Wm. H. Edwards in the 
Synopsis accompanying the first volume of his work on N. A. 
Butterflies (1872). Scudder subsequently states that “it is 
not a buterfly,” and Mr. A. R. Grote, after an examination of 
specimens collected in Florida, regards it “as belonging to 
the Castnians, where it is placed by Walker.” 
It will thus be seen that this insect has sorely perplexed 
systematists, having been bandied from the butterflies to the 
moths ; and that the balance of opinion withdraws it from the 
butterflies and places it with the Castnians—a family which, 
in some respects, combines the characters of the two great 
Lepidopterous divisions, but is regarded, and justly, as having 
most affinities with the moths. 
I shall endeavour to show that this opinion is not well- 
founded; that Megathymus is a genuine butterfly, and that 
its greatest affinities are with the Hesperians. Together with 
one or two other species it forms a small, aberrant tribe ; but, 
in order to more fully discuss its affinities, it is necessary to 
give an exposition of its characters, as no detailed descriptions 
have yet been published. 
Affinities.—Scudder, who has certainly given more attention 
than perhaps any other author to the Hesperians, divides 
them into two groups, which he considers of tribal value. 
The first to which he applies Latreille’s name Hesperides is 
characterized chiefly by the primaries in the male having a 
costal fold (often inconspicuous, however); by the posterior 
extremity of the alimentary canal being protected beneath by 
a corneous sheath, which extends beyond the centrum or 
body of the upper pair of abdominal appendages, sometimes 
nearly to the extremity of the appendages; by the club of 
antenne being elongate, roundly bent, or with a sinuous 
lateral curve; by the prevailing colour being dark brown, 
with white or translucent angnlar spots; by the stout body 
and swift flight; by the eggs being distincly ribbed vertically ; 
and by the larve generally feeding on leguminous plants and 
living in horizontal nests made with the leaves. The second 
tribe, to which he gives Hiibner’s name Astyci, the front 
wings of the male have no costal fold; the extremity of the 
alimentary canal is not protected by any extruded sheath ; 
“the prevailing tints of the wings are tawny and black, marked 
also but often feebly with pale, sometimes vitreous, spots ;” 
