18 GROTE—THE DESCENT OF THE PIERIDS. [Jan, 9, 
CONCLUSIONS ON THE DISMORPHIADZ. 
This small and peculiar family is of the utmost importance as 
bringing evidence of the solidarity of the Hesperiades as classified 
by me. The generalized features are distinctly those of the Skip- 
pers. The five-branched radius has the branches all equidistant, 
and they distinctly recall, in their position and course, the branches 
of the Lycznide and Hesperide. The radial branchlets have 
moved along; #4 has crept up #5 till it becomes a short fork. 
The cubital position of the second median branchlet shows the 
probability that the group, exhibiting a character which comes out 
in the Megathymide, and which is dormant in the Skippers proper, | 
has left the main stem when this feature was in abeyance. That 
the forms are now relatively specialized is shown by the faded- 
out fork to the second anal of primaries. In specialization the 
branchlets of the radius have moved outwardly, keeping up their 
equidistant character. This is another link showing that the but- 
terfly wing had originally separate veins and a five-branched radius. 
Relics of this type are afforded by the Charaxinz in the Nympha- 
lids. All these butterfly families converge, and the discovery of a 
comprehensive type would make easy what now must be pieced out 
with much care and thought. At present the butterflies are all greatly 
specialized, but the generalized characters are still there in fragments 
and can be put together. ‘To these all the families contribute their 
quota. The Papilionides remain excluded, from their peculiarly placed 
third anal vein of the primary wing. As Ihave repeatedly said, grant- 
ing the homology of the fork attached to second anal vein of the Hes- 
periades, with the short, downwardly curved third anal vein of the 
Papilionides, the diphyletism would be shown in the fact that the third 
anal has joined the second anal in the one case and remained free 
in the other. How important this is may be inferred from the fact 
that the first position is held unchanged to the Tineides through 
immense series of forms in all conceivable conditions of specializa- 
tion, while that of the Papilionides is equally tenacious through a 
small group of genera of very diverse shape and appearance. 
Family PIERIDID. 
Wings entire, primaries broad trigonate, secondaries full, rounded, 
rarely with projections. Radius three to five-branched, cells closed, 
sometimes partially degenerate, again with slight backward projec- 
