HELICOPIS GNIDUS*. 
PLATE XXIV. Figs. 1 and 2, Fem. 
Hesperia Gnidus, Fabr Pap. Endymion, Cramer, PI. 224, 
C, D, (Male,) E, F, (Fem) Eryeina Gnidus, Codart ; 
Stoll's Supp. PL 4, fig. 5, A, (Cater), 5, B, (Chrysalis). 
The genus Helicopis was proposed by Fabricius in 
his Systema Glossatarum, and he refers to the species 
abovementioned asone of its typical forms. Although 
its characters are sufficiently distinctive, it was long 
confounded with other groups to which it has little 
relation. It belongs to that section of the diurnal 
lepidoptera in which the caterpillars are short and 
depressed, having some resemblance to an oniscus, 
whence they are called onisciform. The palpi are 
rather long and slender, and the terminal joint is 
nearly naked or free from scales. In Helicopis the 
antennas terminate in a slightly curved club : the 
anterior legs are much shorter than the others and 
clothed with hairs ; hinder margin of the anterior 
wings convex and entire, the corresponding margin 
of the posterior with six linear tails, the central one 
much longer than the rest ; discoidal cell of the 
posterior wings open behind ; claws very minute. 
* Owing to the resemblance which this species bears to 
//. Cupidu, the latter name has been inadvertently attached to 
the figure on the adjoining Plate. 
