94) NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



have never been investigated, and we shall not attempt 

 their definitions. The general structure of the cater- 

 pillar in this family is termed by Mr. MacLeay, Thysa- 

 nuriform, or, in other words, bearing a close analogy to 

 the Lepisnia, and similar apterous insects of the same 

 division. It may be described, typically, as much 

 lengthened, narrow at the end, having two long sets, or 

 caudal appendages resembUng tails; the head being 

 armed with spines, or greatly widened in its form, like 

 a shield : in the less typical groups, the end of the body 

 terminates in two points, and the head is frequently 

 divided in a similar way. The ringlet (Hipparchia 

 Hyper an thus), in the larva and all its other stages, is a 

 native andfamiUar example of the Argus butterflies. The 

 pupa is more or less smooth; and is suspended with 

 the head downwards, similar to the last family. The 

 anterior part is sometimes much pointed ; but in the 

 European examples it is generally obtuse. Green is the 

 prevalent colour ; but no instances are known of these 

 pups being ornamented with metallic colours. 



(86.) The Satyrid^, in their perfect or imago state, 

 differ very little in general structure from the Nympha- 

 lidcB. The anterior feet have the same shortness and 

 brush-formed appearance ; the palpi are equally perfect ; 

 but the antennae are more slender. All these circum- 

 stances confirm the justness of our observations, that if 

 any one set of characters are made the key-stone of 

 a system, that system is sure to end in being thoroughly 

 artificial. 



(87.) We retain the name of Erycinid^ to the next 

 group, because there are many reasons for supposing 

 the genus Erycina of Fabricius constitutes the type, 

 rather than that of Lyccena or Polyommatus, as sup- 

 posed by some writers.* As the Satyridfs contain the 

 largest butterflies, so do the Erycinida; comprehend the 

 smallest. Their forms, however, are singularly diversi- 



* See the subgenera of Polyommatus, illustrated and defined in Zool, 

 lU. 2d series. 



