i88 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



established ; though Fabricius still retained it among the 

 butterflies. But when the antennae are carefully examined, 

 they do not exhibit the real Rhopalocerous structure. In 

 like manner, the Castnians differ from other groups of 

 Heterocerous lepidoptera, in the complicated arrangement 

 of the veins of the wings, and in various ways. 



In general appearance they vary much, but, typically, 

 they have large wings, with loose and remarkably large 

 scales, and a position in repose deflexed or incumbent, 

 being furnished with a wing-guide or guides ; and the 

 antennae, though club-like at the tip, are generally long 

 and more or less supple. All these characters are 

 constant, and are Heterocerous characters. As a rule, 

 the head is broad, and the body large and somewhat 

 pointed. The Castnians resemble butterflies in this 

 particular, in their evidently diurnal habits, as evinced 

 by the brilliancy of their colours. They fly in open day, 

 during the heat of the sun, with incredible rapidity, 

 loving to rest wide-spread on the earth or on trunks of 

 trees, and at certain hours pilfering the flowers of their 

 sweets, and frequenting the inlets of thick forests, where 

 they rest occasionally on the tree trunks, far above the 

 ground. Numerous species are reckoned within their 

 number, many of large size, and generally adorned with 

 beautiful colours, a rich effect heightened by the metallic 

 gloss of the prominent scales with which most of them are 

 covered. In respect of colour the sexes may differ much. 



