104 MESSES. H. J. EL WES AND JAMES EDWARDS: 



Although the Hesperiidse as a group are very well-marked and easy of recognition, 

 their classification inter se is a matter of great difficulty, owing, mainly, to the paucity 

 of index characters. Venation is probably of less assistance here than in any other 

 group of Ehopalocera. The fore wing has a free vein near the costa, another near 

 the dorsum, and a discal cell from which arise ten simple veins ; the hind wing has 

 a discal cell giving off six simple veins, a free vein near the costa, and two near the 

 dorsum. The modifications of this type are few in number and slight in character. 



Taking the group as a whole, we may divide off — First, Pyrrhopyge and its allies, 

 a group characterized by the large blunt recurved club to the antenna? and the cell 

 of the fore wing more than two-thirds as long as the costa ; and secondly, Ismene 

 and its allies, a group characterized by the porrect and filiform third joint of the palpi. 

 There then remains a vast number of species for the grouping of which no such 

 satisfactory characters are available. They may, however, be divided into two series 

 according to the position and direction of vein 5 in the fore wing, in which particular 

 they may be regarded as conforming to one of two types : the first, exemplified by 

 Thanaos tages, in which vein 5 of the fore wing is straight and therefore practically 

 parallel to vein 6 ; and the second, exemplified by Augiades sylvanus, in which 

 the basal third of vein 5 is decurved towards the origin of vein 4, and consequently 

 recedes to that extent from vein 6. This basis of subdivision is not invariably well- 

 marked, but that circumstance does not give rise to any real difficulty, because in 

 doubtful cases the correct position of a given species is determinable from other 

 considerations. 



All the specimens, dissections, and drawings of genitalia, including a great number 

 not figured, are open to the examination of any naturalist who may be interested 

 in the subject. 



We have not considered it necessary to give a full synonymy of the species dealt 

 with, but only those references which are original or important. 



Orthophoetus. 



Pteroxys, Watson, P. Z. S. 1893, p. 29, nom. prseocc. Type phanceus, Hew. 

 Orthophoetus, Watson, Jour. As. Soc. Beng. 1895. 



In defining this genus Watson says " fore wing : d with a costal fold " ; this is true 

 of lidderdali, Elwes, and lalita, Dohy., but not of phanceus, Hew., which, however, he 

 gives as the type. In the latter species as well as lidderdali, Elwes, and lalita, Dohy., 

 the third joint of the palpi is concealed ; but it would be better to extend the 

 definition of the genus so as to include the Celcenorrhinus omeia of Leech, a species 

 which is very closely allied to the three former, but has the third joint of the palpi 

 distinct; there is no costal fold in the male of omeia, Leech. 



The species might be thus distinguished : — 



