IX. “MARACUJA BUTTERFLIES” 
653 
9. The neurafcion of the wings in all Maracuja butterflies is extra¬ 
ordinarily similar. This agreement is especially noticeable if one 
compares the neuration of the various species, and best of all, by the 
comparison of enlarged drawings. The difference between Heliconius and 
Eueides on the one side, and Golaenis and Dione on the other, consists in 
the fact that the former pair have a closed, the latter an open, cell in the 
hind-wing ; but this difference is scarcely noticed, so completely does it dis¬ 
appear under the overpowering impression of similarity. To put this into 
words would require too long an explanation. I therefore confine myself 
to pointing out a few peculiarities—easily overlooked because of their 
apparent unimportance—as proof of the close blood relationship of all the 
Maracuja butterflies. 
(a) The median vein of the fore-wing gives off, near the base, a short 
[interno-median] spur, running towards the inner marginal [submedian] 
vein, its point curving towards the border [hind or outer margin],—in most 
species, as in Golaenis \_Metamorpha~\ dido and Dione vanillae , very distinct, 
but only slightly developed in Golaenis julia and Dione juno. A similar 
spur is found in some other species of various families, as in Morpho and 
among the Nymphalinae in Adelpha (Heterochroa ). But it is wanting, 
so far as I know, in all the Nymphaline genera, for which any claim to 
close relationship with the Maracuja butterflies could be made, as also 
in Acraea. 
{!)) In the cell of the fore-wings there springs from the angle between 
the median and subcostal veins, the stump, more or less long and 
distinct, of the aborted discoidal. This basal stump extends especially 
far in Eueides aliphera , is especially stout in Golaenis \_Metamorpha~\ dido , 
and least distinct in Golaenis julia. I have sought in vain for any trace 
of this vestige of the discoidal in Acraea and in many Nymphalinae. 
(c) Not far from the base of the wing the subcostal vein becomes 
suddenly thinner at a point where its posterior boundary sharply bends in 
towards the anterior, the latter preserving its direction unchanged. This 
is the spot at which the subcostal formerly divided into its two chief 
branches, of which the posterior subsequently disappeared right down 
to its origin from the anterior. It is sometimes possible, as in Golaenis 
[. Metamorpha ] dido and Heliconius eucrate \narcaea\ to trace fairly 
distinctly the course of this lost branch of the subcostal through the 
whole length of the cell. Even in specimens of the same species, this 
former dividing point of the subcostal is not always equally recognizable : 
it is usually most distinct in Heliconius eucrate [ narcaea :], Dione vanillae 
and Dione juno. I have not been able to detect any trace of it in Acraea 
or among the Nymphalinae. 
(d) As to the hind-wings, I will only remark on the praecostal vein 
curved towards the base of the wing, which distinguishes the Maracuja 
butterflies from Acraea and also probably from all those Nymphalinae 
which may claim to approach them. 
