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CHARAXIDINAE. By Dr. C. Aurivillius. 
Synopsis of the Subfamilies. 
I. Veins 7 and 8 of the forewing always much longer than their common stalk. The precostal vein of 
the hindwing always arising far beyond the point where vein 8 separates from the upper median. 
1 . Charaxidinae. 
II. Veins 7 and 8 of the forewing always much shorter than their common stalk. 
A. The precostal vein of the hindwing almost always arising before or at the point where vein 8 
separates from the cell (only in Catuna and Aterica after this point). The club of the antenna always 
gradually thickened, elongate and irregularly rounded. The foretarsus of the female only with spines 
at the 2nd—4th or 3rd—4th joints. 
a) Vein 8 of the forewing runs into the distal margin. The distal margin of the hindwing never 
obed at vein 2 and at the same time with a tail at vein 4. 
* The precostal vein of the hindwing arises nearer to the base than to vein 7. 2. Nymphalinae. 
** Veins 5—7 of the hindwing arise close together and so near to the base that the precostal 
vein is further from the base than from vein 7. 3. Neptidinae. 
b) Vein 8 of the forewing runs into the costal margin of the apex. The distal margin of the hind¬ 
wing tailed at vein 4 and with an obtuse lobe between veins 1 b and 2, close to the latter. 
4. Marpesiinae. 
B. The precostal vein of the hindwing always arising after the separation of vein 8 from the cell. The 
club of the antenna moderately long and usually flattened. The foretarsus of the female with spines on joints 1—4. 
a) The lower median vein of the forewing to the beginning of vein 2, and vein 12 at the base slightly 
but distinctly thickened. 5. Eunicinae. 
b) The lower median vein of the forewing not inflated or thickened. 
* Vein 12 of the forewing swollen at the base into a large oval bladder. 6. Eurytelinae. 
** Vein 12 of the forewing not swollen. 
1 . The palpus not inflated. 7. Vanessinae. 
2. The middle joint of the palpus inflated, light coloured, clothed with black bristly hairs. 
8 . Argynnidinae. 
1. Subfamily: Charaxidinae. 
Widely as the Charaxidinae may differ superficially, they are always easy to recognize by the characters 
given in the synopsis. The genus Euxanthe differs so much from Charaxes in shape, markings and colouring 
that their relationship was formerly not suspected. But the examination of the neuration showed at once 
that Euxanthe must be a near ally of Charaxes and this has since been fully proved by the discovery of the 
earlier stages. Many lepidopterists do not trouble themselves at all about the arrangement of the wing- 
veins and consider such investigations as unnecessary or too difficult. They are, however, at least in the 
butterflies, very simple if the wings are examined from beneath and in this way an insight is obtained into 
the real relationship of the forms and merely superficial resemblances cannot deceive. Thousands of species 
of Lepidoptera have been referred to wrong genera and hundreds of genera classified in incorrect families because 
so many authors have neglected to examine carefully the structure of their favourites. 
The larvae of the Charaxidinae are very characteristic. Their body is entirely unarmed, thickest at or 
somewhat before the middle and then gradually tapering both anteriorly and posteriorly; the surface is naked 
but finely granulated and at the anal extremity there are two obtuse prominences. The head is large, much 
thicker than the first thoracic segment, with the mouth obliquely directed anteriorly, and bearing at the posterior 
margin four long, finely dentate spines. All the species yet known have a bright green ground-colour, usually 
interrupted by a few lighter dorsal patches. They are very sluggish and often do not quit the twig on which 
the egg was laid. 
The pupae are very thick, rounded and quite smooth; the dorsum is strongly convex and the head 
has two very obtuse points; the terminal segment has two small, rounded protuberances at the anterior margin 
