LEPIDOPTERA. 



123 



Character. y-,i ",. [■ hactenus latent. 



Genus PH.EDRA. 

 PoLYOMMATUs. MM. Lotr. et Godt. Hesperia. Fab. 

 Papilio. Cramer, Drury, Herbst. 

 Larva. 

 Chrysalis. 



Imago : Antennoi breves, cylindricae, sensim extrorsum incrassatfe, apice rotundato, inflexo, 

 acumine obsoleto, laterali; articulis exterioribus verticillato-ciliatis, interstitiis transverse 

 sulcatis. 



Palpi mediocres, graciles, compressi ; articulo basilar! brevissimo, arcuato, capiti adnato ; articulo 

 secundo oblongo, porrecto ; his subtus pilis brevibus, sericeis, aequalibus, deorsum spectantibus 

 arct6 vestitis ; articulo terminali brevi, attenuate, holosericeo. 



Proboscis brevissimus, tenuis. 



Caput breve, obtusum, latum. Oculi planiusculi, pilis brevissimis parce conspersi. Corpus mediocre, 

 attenuatum. AIcb antics oblongaa, posticffi rotundato-obtusce, areola discoidali postice aperta. 

 Pedes antici tarsis pro sexu diversis ; maris articulo solitario, elongate, obtuso, ungue acuto 

 abrupte inflexo terminate, sulcis quatuor transversis, obsoletis exarato, pilis holosericeis obsito ; 

 foemince quinque-articulatis ; articulo basilari elongato-ovato, tribus intermediis minimis orbi- 

 culatis, decrescentibus, ultimo ovali, unguibus duobus parvis, lateralibus, pulvilloque interme- 

 dio munito : pedes medii et postici, in utroque sexu, tarsis quinque-articulatis, singulis ungui- 

 bus duobus lateralibus, appendiculis et pulvillo intermedio instructis. 



Character. The larva and chrysalis as yet unknown. In the perfect insect : Antennce short, cylin- 

 drical, gradually thickening to the extremity, which is rounded, obtuse, with an obscure late- 

 rally inflected, mamillary point ; exterior articulations surrounded by minute bristles, while the 

 interstices are transversely sulcated or delicately wrinkled. Palpi of moderate length, slender, 

 compressed ; basal joint short, applied to the head ; second joint oblong, obliquely porrected ; 

 both these are densely clothed with silky hairs of equal length ; third joint short, attenuated, 

 tending forward, covered with a delicate silky down. Proboscis short and slender. Head short, 

 obtuse, broad. Eyes plane, very sparingly clothed with a short, scattered, down. Body of 

 moderate length, attenuated. Wings : anterior oblong ; posterior rounded, obtuse ; discoidal 

 cell not closed. Feet .- anterior with tarsi differently constructed in the sexes ; in the male con- 

 sisting of a single elongate, obtuse joint, terminated by an acute abruptly inflected claw, marked 

 with four very obsolete transverse grooves, which are concealed by the silky down investing the 

 tarsus; in the female with tarsi consistingof five joints; the fii"st oblong-ovate, the three follow- 

 ing very short, orbicular and decreasing in dimensions; the fifth oval and provided with two 

 small lateral claws and an intermediate pulvillus : the tarsi of the middle and posterior feet have 

 all five joints the terminal one being armed with two lateral claws, intermediate appendages, 

 and a pulvillus. 



After the remarks which were made on the genus Loxura and on the indications afforded by it of the 

 evident approach of the Chilognathiform stirps, the introduction of another genus of the Vermiform stirps, 

 wliich does not contribute to supply those deficiencies indicated in the series, requires some explana- 

 tion. Tlie individuals of the genus now defined with the name of Ph^hra, possess in their perfect state a 

 complication of characters, partaking of several genera, besides certain peculiarities of their own. In the 

 structure of the antennae they agree upon the whole with Loxura ; and the palpi although shorter than in 



R 2 that 



