LETHITES RETNESn. 37 



LETHITES REYNESII Scuddek. 

 Plate I, figs. 2, 5. 



Satyrites Seynesii Scudd., Rev. et. Mag. de Zool., 1871-72, G6-72, pi. vii (1872); Ib., Descr. Pap. Foss. 

 1-7, pi. (1872); Ib., Geol. Mag. ix, 532-33, pi. xiii, flgs. 2, 3 (1872); lu., Doscr. Foss. Butt. 1-2, pi., 

 figs. 2, 3 (1872) ; BuoD., Distr. Corr. Foss. Ins. [Satyrites lieynesii], 8-9 (1873). 



I give below the original of the first paper cited above, excepting the 

 portion which was quoted under the genus. 



In a recent examination of the rich collection of fossil insects from Aix, 

 preserved in the Museum of the city of Marseilles, my attention was attracted 

 by two little slabs containing the traces of a fossil butterfly. Although by no 

 means so well preserved, nor so perfect as the remains of a butterfly from the 

 same beds, described by Dr. Boisduval more than thirty years ago, a glance 

 showed that it could not be referred to that species, since the costal nervure 

 of the fore wings was greatly swollen. No such form having to my knowl- 

 edge been described from these beds, Dr. Reynes, the accomplished director of 

 the establishment, courteously placed the best specimen in my hands for closer 

 study; and from it the following account and illustrations have been drawn. 

 The second specimen is very imperfectly preserved, but since it exhibits in all 

 its features an exact resemblance to similar parts in the better specimen it un- 

 doubtedly belongs to the same species. 



The fossil (PI. I, fig. 2) is a natural cast of a butterfly lying upon its 

 side, the wings folded back to back, the legs extended as if hanging, the 

 tongue uncurled and, with the antennae, drooping in a direction similar to that 

 of the legs. The right fore wing, which lies beneath, is pushed a little outward 

 and also forward, even at its base, showing that the specimen must have been 

 greatly macerated in very quiet water, before being covered by the deposits 

 which have preserved its more essential features. The condition and position 

 of all the parts also lead us to conjecture that it was swept into its final rest- 

 ing place by a gentle current, which left the shghter appendages lying in the 

 direction of its final action. 



It is evident that the object is a cast, for the veins of the wing which lie 



HICMOIRS A. A. A. S. 7 



