BUTTERFLIES. 141 



SUB-FAMILY VII. Nymphalince. 



Discoidal cells of the hind wings open ; structure both of the 

 larva and imago very variable. 



The typical Nymphalince are a very extensive group, which it is 

 not easy to divide satisfactorily into smaller sections ; and, indeed, 

 most authors do not consider even the Morphines sufficiently dis- 

 tinct to be separated from them. But these two groups are dis- 

 tinguished from all the other Nymphalidce by the open hind-wing 

 cells. 



The genus Colcenis, Hiibn., has long and rather narrow wings. 

 The species are about four inches in expanse, and are usually of a 

 tawny colour; but C. Dido, Linn., is black and green. These 

 butterflies frequent plantations and clearings throughout tropical 

 America. 



Dione, Hiibn., a genus of similar habits, includes species with 

 shorter wings, of a rich tawny, spotted, but not bordered with 

 black. The under surface is splendidly spotted with silver, to a 

 much greater extent than in any of our own fritillaries. 



The East Indian genus Cathosia, Fabr., includes species with 

 rounded and dentated wings, which are remarkable for the elegant 

 festooned markings of the under surface of the wings. Above 

 they are of a pale salmon colour (or sometimes white in the 

 females), with black spots and borders. 



These and several other tropical genera, which we have not 

 room to notice, are allied to the genus Argynnis, Fabr., which 

 includes fulvous, black-spotted and black-bordered butterflies, 

 with silver spots or streaks on the under surface of the hind 

 wings. These are very numerous throughout Europe, Asia, and 

 North America, and are known to collectors as Fritillaries. Some 

 of the smaller species extend to the extreme limits of animal life 

 in the Arctic regions ; but the genus is not found south of the 

 Sahara, in Africa, where it is replaced by Acrcea ; nor in South 

 America (except a few small species confined to the mountains of 

 the west), being there replaced by Colcenis, and allied genera. 



The species of Melitcea, Fabr., much resemble those of Argynnis, 

 but do not exceed the dimensions of the smaller species of that 

 genus, rarely measuring more than an inch and a half across the 

 wings, whereas many species of Argynnis expand three inches 

 and upwards. They are tawny, and are rarely marked with black 

 spots, which are replaced by black lines ; and the under surface 



