THE HESPERID^E. 97 



different forms than an Erycina and a Hesperia, 

 whether we look to them in their larva or their perfect 

 state ; and for this, and other reasons, we adhere to the 

 arrangement we formerly proposed. 



(90.) The HESPERID^E constitute the last family of 

 diurnal Lepidoptera. These insects have neither size 

 nor brilliancy to recommend them; while their long, 

 abruptly hooked antennae give them such an isolated cha- 

 racter, that the family can never he mistaken. Nor are 

 their distinguishing characters confined to outward struc- 

 ture. Their flight is even more rapid than that of the 

 Nymphalidce, and, in the more typical species, is per- 

 formed with such celerity that the eye can scarcely 

 follow the insect. They may, indeed, be compared to 

 the fissirostral or swallow tribe among birds, which, in 

 fact, they truly represent ; while their palpable affinity 

 to the hawk moths (Sphingides), has induced almost 

 every writer to place them as the connecting link be- 

 tween the diurnal and crepuscular Lepidoptera. Tro- 

 pical America is the great metropolis of this family, 

 where the species are so numerous that we found near 

 300 in Brazil alone : many occur both in India and in 

 Australia; a few in Southern Africa; but we have as yet 

 seen none from the Pacific Islands. In Europe and 

 Britain there are but few, and these are but thinly scat- 

 tered. Much misconception and many errors exist re- 

 garding the habits of these insects, such as the mode of 

 carrying their wings, &c. Some of these we have al- 

 ready rectified. * There are several important divisions 

 in this family, but our present rapid survey will not 

 admit of their particular enumeration. 



(91.) The larvae of the Hesperida (fig. 6. a, d) 

 are so strikingly distinguished from those of the Poty- 

 ommatidcB) and the only one known of the Erycinidce, 

 that it is really surprising how entomologists still con- 

 tinue to arrange them in the same group. The larva, 

 in general shape, closely resembles that of the common 

 cabbage butterfly, but with these differences ; the 



* Zool. 111., 2d series 

 H. 



