BATTLEDORE SCALES OF LEPIDOPTERA. 261 



Plumules is not an appropriate name for some of the 

 forms of the scales which serve for distinctive classifica- 

 tion ; nor is battledores, which has been applied to those 

 of the Lyceena genus ; a more universal name would be 

 better, proclaiming their private and peculiar property ; and 

 I would suggest Idiolepides (from 'lhto<;, private and pecu- 

 liar, and \67rt9, a scale) ; but we will at present continue 

 the former term, plumules. 



Before entering into a relation of the families and genera 

 in which these objects are found, let me say something 

 about them specially for microscopists. I have before 

 described them as rotund or cylindrical ; but a term sug- 

 gested by Mr. Sidebotham, viz. bellows- shaped, is more 

 characteristic and correct. It is manifest that, if the form 

 of plumule of P. Rapa were actually rotund or cylindrical, 

 the peduncle and bulb would often, on a slide, be covered 

 with the membrane ; but, when mounted, the scale always 

 shows the lobes on each side of the bulb, proving its, in 

 some degree, appressed form. 



Then, as to the parts of the insect where they are to be 

 found : generally on the upper surfaces of the wings, some- 

 times most abundant on the primary, sometimes on the 

 secondary ; usually in or near the discoidal cells of both 

 wings ; but occasionally very strangely placed, as we shall 

 presently see when referring to the genus Euplcea. 



The best way of collecting and mounting is by gently 

 pressing the wing of the insect against a glass slide, by 

 which means a sufficient quantity of the scales will adhere : 

 to get a clean mounting, it is necessary to brush oif the dirt 

 which may be on the wing with a camel-hair pencil j but 

 then care must be taken that the pencil does not convey 

 scales to slides of other species -, and, in fact, suspicious 

 care must be used when mounting a number of slides, 

 as the light scales will often be floating in the air and 

 alighting unexpectedly on the slide which is under opera- 



