44 NATURAL HISTORY. 



spots at the base. They are generally black, with orange borders or markings. The species of Necyria 

 and Ancyluris are among the most beautiful of the group. They are black, with red or blue stripes, and 

 the hind wings are often prolonged into a lobe, or a short tail. They are comparatively large Butterflies, 

 expanding nearly two inches across the wings. Zeonia includes smaller Butterflies, with transparent 

 wings, the black veins and borders excepted. The hind wings are marked with red, and terminate in a 

 long narrow tail. Helicopis includes some very delicate cream-coloured Butterflies, with three tails on 

 the hind wings. They are varied with black or yellow above, and the under surface of the hind wings 

 is spangled with metallic golden spots, as is also the case with several species of allied genera. 



The species of Emesis are mostly very dull, dark brown Butterflies, with darker transverse lines, 

 and the fore wings slightly pointed. The under surface is lighter, being dull brownish-yellow, or 

 ochreous. Mesene includes a number of small red Butterflies, not expanding more than, an inch across 

 the wings, generally with black borders, or black markings on the costa of the fore wings. 



A very characteristic and easily recognisable genus is Ni/mphidium, the species of which are 

 nearly all white, with the costa of the fore wings and all the borders more or less broadly brown, and 

 frequently marked with red lines or spots on the borders. Several long-winged genera have very 

 little resemblance to the group to which they belong, but are more like species of Ithomia, or the 

 allied genera. Such are some of the species of Stalachtis, It/to miola, &c., while Chamcelimnas 

 includes a number of Butterflies with a lemon-yellow basal stripe, and a transverse band of the same 

 colour near the tip of the black fore wings, and the hind wings are yellow, with black borders. These 

 closely resemble an extensive group of day-flying Moths, also South American, both in shape, size, 

 colour, and markings. 



Passing on from this large group of delicately-marked, but rather uninteresting Butterflies, we 

 come to another extensive and more familiar family of small Butterflies. 



FAMILY III. LYC^NID^E. 



In this family we find the legs of the males nearly as well developed as those of the females, 

 except that they are rather smaller, and the last joint of the tarsi terminates in a simple hook. Their 

 larvae are short and stout, somewhat resembling a Woodlouse in shape. 



The great majority of these Butterflies are of small size, the largest seldom expanding more than 

 an inch and a half or two inches, and the prevailing colours are blue, copper-red, or brown. The 

 under surface is generally marked either with black eyes enclosed in pale rings, or with pale trans- 

 verse lines ; and the hind wings frequently end in a short and slender tail. This family is well 

 represented in all parts of the world, especially in the Northern Hemisphere and in South America ; 

 but the number of distinctly defined genera is small, although the species are very numerous. 



Miletus symetlius is a small brown Butterfly, with a white spot on the fore wings, and a grey 

 under surface, marked with obscure lines. It is common in the East Indies, and its legs are unusually 



stout ; but what is much more remarkable is that it is said to 

 inhabit Ants' nests. Strange as this habit is, it is by no 

 means unexampled, for it is well known that a great variety 

 of insects do inhabit Ants' nests, and among them is a small 

 Scottish Moth (Tinea ochraceella), belonging to the same 

 genus as the Clothes' Moths. 



The species of Zeritis are red, with brown borders, and 

 with metallic spots on the under surface of the hind wings. 

 They are found in Africa, but do not equal the splendid 

 colouring of the European Copper Butterflies of the genus 

 LYC.ENA PHL^IAS. LyccKna. The Small Copper (L. phlceas) has bright coppery- 



red fore wings, with black spots and borders, and the hind 



wings are black, with a marginal copper band. It abounds almost everywhere in dry, sunny, flowery 

 places, and is found throughout Europe, North Africa, Northern and Western Asia, and a great part 

 of North America. It is a pugnacious little Butterfly, often attacking and driving away much larger 

 insects, if they approach the flower on which it is resting. The caterpillar is green, with red lines on 

 the back and sides, and feeds on sorrel. 



