538 AGERONTA. By H. FRUHSTORFER. 
the sexes. It has formerly been tried to separate two subgenera, Ageronia and Peridromia, with the argumen- 
tation that in Ageronia the first subcostal veins are isolated, while in Peridromia they issue from a common 
pedicule, thus forming a fork. But this characteristic mark varies already within the sexes; as for instance 
the 3 of A. arete has forked subcostal veins, whereas in the 9 they are isolated. GopMAN and Satyin have 
also tried to use the mouth of the basilar discocellular vein as a motive for separation, because in some species 
the cell is said to terminate before the bifurcation of the anterior medians, in other species at the bifurcation 
itself. By considering the position of the discocellulars not only the nearest allies would be separated afar, 
but the two sexes of one species would sometimes even have to be divided among two ,,genera‘*. The 
latter case would e. g. take place in A. arete, with the cell terminating in the §¢ before, in the 99, however, 
at the bifurcation of the medians. Dr. ScHatz has even pictorially depicted the same curious symptom in 
another species, A. arethusa. Nevertheless we approve also here of the two sections, though with the reser- 
vation that they are considered only as subgenera. We, therefore, distinguish: 
A. both the sexes with two isolated subcostal veins anterior to the termination of the cell of the forewings (group 
of species Ageronia), ; 
B. the subcostal veins running isolatcd only in the 9, inthe ¢ issuing from a common pedicule (group of species Peri- 
dromia). 
The configuration of the clasping-organs seems to justify the hitherto prevailing isolated position of 
the Ageroniidi by considerable deviations from the nearest allies. The primary genital organs prove a certain 
alliance with the Apaturides by the uncommonly long oedeagus and saccus, but this alliance is cancelled again 
by the shape of the penis being almost as thin as a needle. The tegumen is of a feeble structure with 
a plain and strong point resembling certain Satyrides and, possibly, Euthaliides. The valve which in nearly 
all the species is distally cut off obliquely, may be considered as limenitoidal, with distant relations to those 
of the genera Adelpha and Athyma. It lacks, however, the dorsal notch of these genera, and it much more 
resembles an edged glass plate than the pelvis of the Limenitides. The contours of the clasping-organs, when 
being looked at somewhat imaginatively, might have the shape of a fishing aquatic bird. The most interesting 
fact, however, is the existence of an organ at the sternit of the eleventh abdominal segment, which was disco- 
vered by Professor REVERDIN in October 1914. This peculiar formation was denominated the GopMAN and 
SALVIN-organ in the ,,Entomologist Record** on the 15th of May 1915, p. 98, because these authors mentioned 
two small rods being inserted to the upper ends of the ventral part of the terminal segment at the abdomen, 
already in 1883 in the ,,Biologia‘‘ (Vol. I p. 268). In the meantime I have found a similar organ in different 
Nymphalid genera, such as in Cystineura, Libythina, Cybdelis, Temenis, Bolboneura, Pyrrhogyra, Lucinia, 
Nica, Peria, Vila, Dynamine, Ectima and all the Catagrammidi, even in the Libytheinae. In the latter it has 
certainly changed its place, being found before the tegumen at the tergit of the last segment. The new organ 
is the most magnificently developed in the Lpiphile, where it is shaped horizontally, just like in the Eunica 
and all the Hurytelids. The latter category I denominated the ,, REVERDIN-organ‘*, which enters the most deeply 
into the venter in the Hunica, while in the Catonephele it rises broadly in the shape of a sickle, as was ascer- 
tained in 1899 by StrcHeL who denominated it ,,Rami‘*. The GopMAN-SaALvIN organ which is so far peculiar 
to the Ageroniids, occurs yet in a combination with peculiar spiculae, being either as pointed as a needle or 
lanciform and exhibiting certain analogies with the JuLLIEN-organ. Their dimensions and the way they are 
fastened, differ considerably from the JULLIEN-organ, but we may still presume that their functions serve for 
the same purpose. Dr. REvERDIN thinks it credible that the GopMan-organ might stand in a certain relationship 
to the noise of the Ageronids, which has hitherto not yet been cleared up physiologically. I myself am inclined 
to suppose that it is an enticing organ in order to support the actions of the proper clasping-organs. At all 
events it is a matter of fact that the GopmaN-organ differs in all the species, and that thereupon the single 
species can be distinguished with much greater certainty than it is possible with the aid of the proper clasping- 
organs differing but insignificantly and being, therefore, very similar to one another. The GopMAN-organ may 
be very long and thin (arinome) or shorter and more of the shape of a club (arethusa), it may bear only 
few spiculae (arete) or be set quite densely with them (arethusa). The sternit itself differs distally in all the 
species. It may be distally entire (chloé, ferox) or deeply gouged (arethusa, februa), bearing in the latter case 
a dense cluster of bristly scales in the indentation. 
The larvae, when being grown up, bear on their heads two horns, being somewhat knobby at the tips, on 
the back and the sides spines set with short branches: the pupae, however, are of a very peculiar shape, being 
distinguished by two long, wing-like, narrow bands (horns?) on both sides of the head. The pupa is most pecu- 
liarly sensitive to light, raising its front body horizontally in the light, while in the darkness it relapses into 
its hanging position. This interesting observation of Dr. Murtier explains perhaps the statement of Lacor- 
DATRE, because a horizontally fastened pupa may easily rouse the suspicion that additionally it is supported 
by a thread. 
The butterflies rest on moss- or lichen-clad trunks of trees high above the ground and they are very 
clever in adapting themselves to their surroundings. Sometimes 8 or 10 of them are found on a trunk always 
with the head turned downwards, and when having been chased up, they return again, though to the other 

