44 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA. 



Family NYMPHALIDAE. 

 The Brush-Footed Butterflies. 



Fig. 38. Venation of Nymphalidae, Argynnis leto. 



The family includes chiefly butterflies of medium or large size; but 

 a few of the species are small. With a single exception, these butterflies 

 differ from all others in our fauna, in having the fore legs greatly reduced 

 in size in both sexes. They cannot be used for walking, but are folded on 

 the breast like a tippet. 



In the venation of the wings all of the branches of the radius of the 

 fore wings are retained, this vein being five branched. (Fig. 38). 



The caterpillars are, in most of the sub-families, provided with horny 

 or fleshy projections. The chrysalids are usually angular, sometimes 

 rounded. They always hang head downwards, supported only by the 

 tail, which is fastened to a button of silk. 



Five sub-families are represented in the United States, but three of 

 the five in Montana. The following key will serve to separate them. 



FAMILY NYMPHALIDAE. 

 Key to Sub-families. 



1. With some of the veins greatly swollen at the base 



Agapetinae P. 105 

 with none of the veins of fore wing usually swollen at the base 2. 



2. Antennae clothed with scales, at least above, 3. 



antennae naked Euploeinae. P. 44 



3. Fore wings at least twice as long as broad Heliconinae 



Fore wings less than twice as long as broad 4. 



4. Papli much longer than thorax Libytheinae 



Palpi not as long as the tnorax Nyrnphalinae. P. 50 



SUBFAMILY EUPLOEINAE. 



Butterfly Large butterflies; head large, antennae inserted on the 

 summit, naked. The wings are rounded and somewhat elongated. 



