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Genus IDEA. 



The above genus is of very limited extent, compre- 

 hending only four species. They are, however, 

 somewhat remarkable insects, both on account of 

 their size, and the manner in which their colours 

 are distributed. The wings are slightly transparent 

 and of a greyish white, with black stripes running 

 along all the nervures, and occasionally forming 

 blotches on the surface. The nearest approach to 

 this mode of colouring among other tribes is pre- 

 sented by certain species of Euplcea, and particu- 

 larly by Pap. dissimilis, which on this account has 

 been termed the Idea-likeness butterfly. The most 

 conspicuous of its generic characters are the slender- 

 ness of the antennae, which are so slightly thickened 

 towards the apex as to appear nearly filiform, and 

 the elongated oval form of the wings : in other 

 respects Idea nearly conforms to the genera with 

 which it is associated. The palpi have the terminal 

 joint minute and conical, the second long and thick- 

 est in the middle, the radical one not half its length. 

 The tarsal division of the anterior legs is dilated, 

 and furnished with two or three unequal spines. 



