LIBYTHEA. 
Bachmani appears to be the sole representative of its genus east of the Mis¬ 
sissippi, unless possibly L. Terena, Godart (L. Motya of Hubner, and Bois. and 
Lee.), a West Indian species, should be found in the extreme South. The genus 
itself is very restricted, there being, according to Kirby (Cat. Di. Lep.), but eight 
known species: three belonging to this Continent, one to Europe and Western 
Asia, one to Africa, one to Mauritius, one to India and Java, and one to the East¬ 
ern Archipelago, — a remarkable distribution. Of the third American species, 
L. Carinenta, found in South America and Mexico, a few specimens have been 
brought from Arizona and New Mexico by the naturalists of the United States 
Government Expeditions. The genus is peculiar in many respects, but in none 
more than in the development of the palpi, which are parallel to the axis of the 
body, instead of nearly at right angles to it, and present the appearance of an 
immense rostrum projecting from the front of the head, — as may be seen by ref¬ 
erence to the Plate. The uses of the palpi of Lepidoptera are not understood, 
except so far as they serve for a protection to the spiral tongue, and the cause 
of their extraordinary prominence in Libythea rather than in other genera is 
not apparent. If they were not pacific little creatures, these butterflies might 
seem to be furnished with an “ engine,” as Spenser calls it, to inspire with 
caution evil-minded foes, such as wasps, dragon-flies, and that “ wicked wight, ’ 
“ foe of faire things,” the “ greisly tyrant spider.” 
“ Like as a warlike brigandine applyde 
To fight, layes forth her threatfull pikes afore 
The engines, which in them sad death doo hyde ; 
So did this Flie outstretch his fearefull homes.” 
And surely the fiercest enemy might hesitate before that portentous beak and 
those red eyes blazing like carbuncles. Nevertheless, I am sorry to have to say 
that wasps and spiders maintain the mastery, and cause havoc, not only among 
these, but all butterflies. And dragon-flies (. Libellulce) pounce upon them as 
do hawks on small birds, bearing away their prey to be devoured at leisure. 
Even the heavy-bodied, great-winged Papilios cannot escape these pirates of 
the air. 
Libythea differs also from most genera of butterflies in that the males are 
tetrapod and the females hexapod, agreeing in this respect with the Erycinidce 
only. In the Papilionidce and Hesperidce, all species and both sexes are hexapod. 
In the Nymphalidce, which embraces Argynnis, Vanessa, Satyrus, etc., all the 
species are tetrapod, also in both sexes. Nevertheless these last are furnished 
with two pseudo-legs, not adapted to locomotion, and which appear as flat, furry 
lappets folded down upon the front of the thorax. 
Although Bachmani is widely distributed, it is nowhere recognized as a com- 
