Dimorphism and Polymorphism in Butterflies. 29 



both these parts are broadly rounded, but in most of the 

 species of this genus no such striking distinction in shape 

 occurs. 



Another curious point is found in connection with the 

 atrophy or partial atrophy of some of the legs. In the 

 Hesperidte or Skippers, the little brownies of the butterfly 

 world, which are universally admitted to be tlie lowest 

 family of butterflies, there are six fully developed legs, 

 while in the Nymj)halida3, which is certainly a higher 

 family, there are only four legs used in walking, the front 

 pair having become aborted into furry lappets, folded 

 down on the breast, whence the English name sometimes 

 given to this group. Brush Footed Butterflies. 



But the most curious point in this connection is that 

 between the six-footed butterflies and four-footed butter- 

 flies stands an intermediate family, the Lyccenidpe, which 

 are among the gems of the butterfly world, in which the 

 fore legs are perfectly formed in the females, but more or 

 less atrophied in the males, so that if the doctrine which 

 assigns the higher plane to the four-footed butterflies is 

 sound, it must be admitted that the ladies of this inter- 

 mediate family are upon a lower level of creation than 

 their lords and masters, a most deplorable conclusion. 



In this family there are often great differences between 

 the sexes in color and ornamentation in addition to the 

 structural difference just referred to. 



In the Theclidi the differences are generally not great, 

 though one beautiful species, Liieta, differs so much that 

 the sexes were described as different species by Mr. Wm. H. 

 Edwards, one of the very foremost American lepidopterists. 



In Chrysophanus the males are frequently brown with 

 a purplish reflection, and the females of a fiery coppery 

 hue, whence their name " Coppers," as in Chrysophanus 

 Thoe, which occurs here, though rarely, but in some of the 

 species, such as Hypophleas, which is abundant all 

 through this eastern part of the continent, no such 

 distinction exists. 



