90 NATURAL ARRANQE3IENT OF INSECTS. 



perfect, while their long wings and very slender shape 

 equally separate them from the Pierincp. The club of 

 the antenna is long, not abrupt, and greatly compressed ; 

 while the head exhibits the peculiar appearance of being 

 porrect, or placed upon a long neck. The larva of one 

 species (JL. Amphione) is furnished with two solid spines 

 near the head, as in the Erycinidce ; but we know 

 nothing of its habits. AVe first became acquainted with 

 this remarkable group of insects in South America ; 

 where, during the autumn of 18 16, we captured eight or 

 ten species.* The general appearance of the genus Leu- 

 eopJmsia induces us to place it at the confines of this 

 group. 



(82.) Under the Parnassince we place the genera 

 Parnassius and Thais of Latreille, — two remarkable 

 and apparently isolated groups, peculiar to the conti- 

 nent of Europe. Parnassius, in its larva state, is pro- 

 vided with the forked retractile horns of the genuine 

 Papilios ; and its chrysalis appears to be hid within a 

 leaf. In Thais, which evidently borders upon the next 

 division, the caterpillar is armed with a row of fleshy 

 spines, and the chrysalis is obtuse at its anterior part. 



(83.) The family of the Nymphalid^, or brush- 

 footed butterflies, next succeed. These are eminently 

 distinguished from the last, both in their larva, their 

 pupa, and their perfect state. In the first, the caterpillar 

 is more or less covered with sharp spines , which gives it, 

 as has been well observed, a terrific or threatening as- 

 pect. These spines are often surmounted or accompanied 

 by hairs possessing such a stinging or irritating quality, 

 as to cause the most intolerable pain to those who handle 

 them. This we have unluckily experienced in Tropical 

 America ; but no such quality belongs to the British 

 species. The pupa is for the most part angulated, but 

 it is sometimes smooth ; in either case, however, it is 

 adorned with rich metallic colours, sometimes disposed 

 in the shape of spots, at others covering the entire 



* The genus was defined and published in Zool. Illustrations, vol. i. 

 pL 15. 



