AMATHUSIIDdE. By H. Frtjhstorfer. 
403 
5. Family: Amathusiidae. 
After Schatz had, in 1889, separated the interesting though few genera belonging here as “ Mor- 
phidae of the old world ” and compared them to the “ Morphidae of the new world ” Moore in 1895 selected the 
name Amathusiinae to include scientifically a group of butterflies, which until then had occupied an extre¬ 
mely uncertain place in the System. For were not the Amathusiidae often treated as Nymphalidae, whe¬ 
reas by far the larger part of their characters incline to the Satyridae, as the genial Felder had already recogni¬ 
zed in 1866, and Erich Haase first circumscribed them by his descriptive title of Satyromorpha (1891). 
The Amathusiidae can be easily separated from the genuine Morphidae by the strongly curved lower 
discocellular and the absence of the basal median spur on the forewing, in which, with the exception of Fly- 
antis, only one subcostal branch is given off before the apex of the cell. The shape of the lower discocellular 
in the forewing recalls especially that of Elymnias. The mode of life of the Amathusiidae is also satyroid 
and, like the neuratlon, shows a much greater contrast to the neotropical Morphidae than to the Satyridae. 
The true Morpho are children of the sun, the Amathusiidae love the dusk, and even the few day-flying 
genera Faunis , Xanthoteania and Taenaris prefer the shade of the wood, which they never leave. 
The clasping organs of the Amathusiidae are entirely analogous to those of the Satyridae, and in a few 
cases ( Taenaris) as little to be distinguished from them, as, for instance, a part of the Brassolidae (Opsi- 
phanes). 
The larvae of the asiatic genera feed on Monocotyleclonae, those of the south american Morpho on 
various Dicotoledons, yet they all have in common a close long fur-like or tufted pubescence, which places 
them in contrast with the naked Satyrid larvae, and this is the only important character in consequence of which 
we here refrain from uniting the Amathusiidae with the Satyridae. The recently attempted separation of the 
Hyantidae and the Discophoridae as special families must therefore be rejected as unnatural, and equally un¬ 
necessary and unjustifyable. 
The genera of the Amathusiidae are more strictly localized than those of the Satyridae, thus the Ama- 
thusinae occur exclusively in the Indian, the Taenarinae and Hyantinae, with the exception of a few outposts, 
only in the australian Region. A few genera, like Stichophthalma , Aemona are continental, the Taenarinae 
insular. In contrast to the Morpho, almost all have secondary sexual distinctions, which in Zeuxidia sur¬ 
pass even those of the Satyridae ( Culapa) in luxurious development, and appear to be correlated to an aroma¬ 
tic scent, which, in the case of dried specimens of Amathusia plateni and some Discophora, is sometimes still 
perceptible in a cabinet filled with naphthaline vapour after a space of ten years. 
The Amathusiidae avoid direct sunlight, fly only in the shade and love the evening twilight hours, or 
even the earl}' night. During the day they usually move only when disturbed, and then only go a short 
distance; they prefer to rest with closed ivings in the densest bamboo thickets along the watercourses of the 
primeval forest. Only these genera which are more closely allied to the Satyridae ( Faunis, Xanthotaenia and 
Thaumantis) like the ground, resting upon it and on dead leaves. The position of rest with folded wings cer¬ 
tainly protects the creatures most effectually from pursuit, since in all the species the underside harmonizes 
well with the surroundings, whereas the upper surface having for the most part splendid blue colouring, would 
speedily betray them. 
Like the Hestias and the stately species of Euploea, the Amathusiidae prefer lower country; with their 
mostly enormous size, and the weak body which has to bear almost disproportionate wings, they only feel 
safe in the woods, and therefore avoid the alpine regions also, they being exposed to violent winds. 
According to Doherty’s statements the eggs are similar to those of the Satyridae, but rather flat, 
hai’d, translucent ( Discophora , Thaumantis) or dark facetted {Faunis). Dr. Martin has recently bred up two 
species from the egg, and finds this to be, in Thaumantis lucipor, spherical, comparatively large, of a dull 
white colour and covered with peculiar lines. 
Larvae usually gregarious, at first whitish grey, later with reel-grey pubescence. Head with two 
protuberances and closely set with long setae; body cylindrical centrally thickened and with moderately long 
anal fork. They sometimes occur in enormous quantities and may then make great havoc, especially with 
the leaves of the coco-palm, which they strip to the midrib. 
Pupa hanging, as far as is known green, elongate, slender, partly boat-shaped, head drawn out into 
two long points, which enclose the palpi. Duration of pupal stage 10—-12 days. 
The specimens from which the figures of 100—106 species Were taken are from the Frtthstorfer col¬ 
lection — (Geneva-Florissant.) in which also the type of the newly described species are preserved, with a few 
exceptions, where the Berlin and the British Museums are especially mentioned. 
Subfamily Amathusiinae Moore. 
Male genitalia without uncus anticus, forewing with distinct second discocellular. Two main groups: 
a) Uncus with lateral clasps; b) Uncus without such clasps. 
