INTRODUCTION. 



51 



The perfect insect of the Anopluriform stirps is, like that of the Thysanuriform 

 stirps, characterized by a predominance of a brown tint, but it wants the defined 

 ocelh of that stirps, and the markings exhibit great beauty and diversity of form, 

 The principal subdivisions that I have hitherto observed are the Erycince, the Uranice 

 and the true Hesperidce. The Erycince are a very remarkable group, and several par- 

 ticulars regarding them will be mentioned in considering the structure of the legs 

 in this stirps. The genus Urania is well known as containing several of the most 

 striking Lepidoptera, both as to form and beauty of colours ; but it appears to be 

 confined to the New World. In the Hesperidce contained in our collection, the colour 

 is almost uniformly of an intense brown, inclining to black ; the spots are white and 

 yellow, partially transparent, but not greatly diversified. The form of the wings is 

 comparatively simple ; the anterior wings are triangular, the posterior wings rounded 

 and entire, rarely lengthened or angulated. The most interesting peculiarities of the 

 Hesperidae by which they are related to the Phalamida;, have already been mentioned. 



The palpi in the Anopluriform stirps are greatly diversified in the various subdivi- 

 sions, and depart more from one particular form of structure, than they do in the 

 other stirpes hitherto considered : they cannot therefore be defined by a general 

 description ; but they exhibit three principal modifications. In the true Hesperidce 

 the basal and intermediate joints are robust, broad, depressed, and occupy a large 

 portion of the head inferiorly, on each side of the proboscis ; they are closely 

 covered with hair or short bristles, which are in most cases truncated and even, 

 resembling the surface of a brush ; the second joint is abruptly truncated at the end ; 

 the third joint is naked, but of diversified structure; in some cases considerably 

 projecting and approaching the character of the Vermiform stirps, in others short 

 and nearly concealed by the brush-like covering of the second joint. In the genus 

 Urania, the palpi are lengthened, slender, having the second joint greatly compressed 

 and the third delicate, somewhat cylindrical and nearly naked. (Latr. Gen. Insector. 

 iv. p. 207). In the Erycince the palpi are characterized by shortness and by delicacy 

 of structure : one modification of them is represented on pi. ii. fig. 3, b. The 

 antenna; vary considerably in the different subdivisions ; in the true Hesperidas they 

 are filiform at the base with a decided fusiform club, of various proportionate length 

 and form, terminated by an elongated acute point, which is uncinate or hooked. 

 They are, in many cases, marked externally with transverse strias ; but I have not as 

 yet determined the extent and generality of this character, The abdomen, in the 

 typical species or true Hesperida?, is more robust than in the former stirpes of this 

 tribe ; its resemblance to that of the Nocturnal Lepidoptera has already been pointed 

 out. The proboscis is long, slender, and often partially concealed by the palpi. 



The feet of the insects belonging to the Anopluriform stirps possess many pecu- 

 liarities which at present I am not prepared to describe at large ; but some remarks 



H 2 on 



