HESPERIIDI. 217 



each having its own special field, and these are, in general, the same 

 throughout the group, i.e., each separate pavement or area bears its 

 own peculiar scales, which, though they vary to a considerable degree, 

 even in species of the same genus, are, nevertheless, generally reducible 

 to a single type distinct from the others." 



Scudder diagnoses the subfamily (op. cit., pp. 1375-4) under the 

 name Hesperidi, which he then divides into two sections, Eitdamini 

 and Antigonini of Mabille, the former of which he says differs a little 

 from the latter, in the mode in which the wings are held in repose, in 

 which respect they generally resemble, as Wallace has remarked 

 (Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 2nd ser., ii., pp. 263-4), the majority of 

 butterflies, all the wings being equally erect. They also differ from 

 them in the greater stoutness of the body, and their remarkable swift- 

 ness of flight, which Wallace believes, exceeds that of any other insects, 

 the eye not being able to follow them as they dart past, and the air, 

 forcibly divided, gives out a deep sound, louder than that produced by 

 the humming-bird itself. " These higher genera, too, are almost 

 wholly peculiar to America, and entirely absent from Europe, while 

 the lower forms, Antigonini of Mabille, are common to both continents, 

 and, in the temperate zones, are, perhaps, nearly equally abundant in 

 both. In these lower forms, the wings are either perfectly, or almost 

 perfectly, expanded, or else they begin to show an inequality of position, 

 mostly peculiar to the tribe below." Wallace's statement (op. cit., pp. 

 263-4) that the group, consisting of the genera Pyrgus, Nisoniades and 

 Achlyodes, have " the upper wings, more or less convex, and never 

 erect them in repose," is not accurate, either of Palsearctic or Nearctic 

 species. Scudder's Hesperidi, sect ii., is described (Butts. New Engl., ii., 

 p. 1445) as having : — 



Egg : With vertical ribs much, higher on the shoulder than below, the cross 

 lines only moderately frequent, and the cells less elongated than in the preceding 

 section. Larva (newly-hatched) : With the dorsal thoracic shield inconspicuous. 

 Larva (mature) : With the head distinctly broader than high ; frontal triangle not 

 distinctly carinate ; dorsal thoracic shield not conspicuous. Pupa : With the 

 mesonotum not so long as its greatest width ; cremaster slight, elongated. Imago : 

 Comprising species of small size ; hindwings rounded ; median forking sooner than 

 subcostal vein on hindwing ; club of antenna sickle-shaped ; last palpal joint linear, 

 four or more times longer than broad. Wings fully expanded in repose by day. 

 Genera — TJianaos, Pholisora, Hesperia. 



The eggs of the subfamily, are longitudinally ribbed and trans- 

 versely lined (see pi. iii., figs. 1-2), and differ greatly from those of 

 the Urbicolines (pi. i., figs. 1-6). The larvae are much thicker and 

 heavier, and live on plants, other than grasses, to which the Urbicolines 

 appear to be almost exclusively attached. The pupae are smooth, 

 rounded, covered with short hairs, and altogether different in form and 

 general appearance from the slender, pointed (at nosehorn and anus), 

 and very active Urbicolines. The pupa, too, is supported in its puparium 

 by a few slight threads fastened over the body, whilst the Urbicoline 

 pupa has an anal pad, girth, and often also nose-hooks, by which it is 

 attached to its cocoon. 



Tribe : Hesperiidi. 



The tribe Hesperiidi, which contains the Fabrician genus Hesperia, 

 agrees almost exactly with the Vulgares of Hiibner, diagnosed simply 

 as possessing species, which have "the wings black, with lighter 



