15 
NYMPHALIDAE 
Family NYMPHALIDAE. 
No measurements are given as, unless stated expressly to tlie contrary, the figure is always that of 
a butterfly of average size. As the male is usually more jilentiful than the female, and as the characters 
used in the published descrijitions are usually taken from the male, that sex alone is figured, except in 
cases where marked sexual diirerences of shape or pattern occur. Usually the male has brighter colours 
than the female, and the termen of the forowing is straighter in the male and more rounded in the 
lemale: when the pidpi differ in length, those of the female are the longer: when the dark borders of 
the wings differ in breadth, those of the female are the broader. 
Ovum, \ariable: sometimes spherical: sometimes smootli: sometimes I’ibbed; often translucent. 
Larva. Usually cylindrical: sometimes smooth: sometimes with short hairs: sometimes with branching 
spines or with frontal horns: sometimes with a bifid tail. 
Pupa. Sometimes smooth and rounded: sometimes rugged and angular: sometimes with metallic 
coloui's: usually suspended by the tail: rarely loose upon the earth under grass or dead leaves. 
Imago. Iront I^nir of legs imperfect in both sexes and useless for walking: those of the male with 
one or two tarsal joints only: lliose of the female with four or five tarsal joints. Usually of moderate 
size: dominant colour some shade of brown; wings often ornamented with ocelli, especially beneath. 
Key to the Subfamilies of NYMPHALIDAE. 
A. Cell of bolli wings closed. 
a. Vein la of forewing forked at base. DANAiyAE. 
b. Vein la of forewiiig not forked at base, 
ah Hindwing Avithout precostal cell. 
(r. Veins not swollen at base: palpi clothed Avith feAv hairs only. ACUAEIXAE. 
hh Veins usually SA\’'ollen at base: palpi very hairy . SATYliIXAE. 
b^. Ilindwing Avith jjrecostal cell . ELYAIXIiyAE. 
B. Cell of botli Avings usually open: if closed, discoeellulars only feebly develoj^ed. 
a. Palpi small, narroAA', sharp pointed . AMATflUi^lINAE. 
b. Palpi large, broad, rounded . NYMPHaLIYAE. 
Subfamily DANAINAE. 
Ovuii. Much higher than wide: reticulate at apex, and thence radiating in numerous broad battened 
ribs, Avhich are crossed by distinct lines. 
Laua'A. Smooth, cylindrical, Avith fAA'o or more pairs of long fleshy appendages. (Fig. LI, L19). 
Pupa. Short, stout and smooth: often with metallic colours: sus])ended by the tail. (Fig. PI). 
Imago. Usually of large size: Avings broad and rounded, never tailed. ForeAving with tAvelve veins: 
A'ein 11 sometimes anastomosed Avith A’ein 12: vein 11 from subcostal before end of cell: cell closed: 
vein la forked at base. HindAving AAntli cell closed. Male often with consj)icuous patches of raised 
scales. Antennae long and slender: eyes smooth: abdomen slender. 
Range. With the exception of a few species, this subfamily is confined to the tropics and subtroiiies: 
it has reached its highest develoiiment in the Indo-Australiaii Region, and in America is rei^resented by 
only a feAv species. 
Foodplaxt. Ascle 2 )iaSj Aristoloclilaj and other allied plants that exude a milklike juice Avheii broken. 
The habit of the larvae of this subfamily, of feeding uiaou various species of Ari.':ttoIochia and 
allies, seems to luiA'e resulted in the transference to the butterflies of some of the distasteful jiroperties 
of the foodplant. Close observation and experiment liaA'e shoAVn the butterflies to be almost if not 
quite immune from the attacks of birds, to aa’Iioih they are eA*idently most distasteful. Tncliuling e\'en 
the migratory D. archippus, the butterflies are Avithout excejAtion of sIoav and laboured flight: the 
colours are distinct and striking, yet the insect upon flie AA'ing seems quite unconscious of danger. 
Three genera belonging to this subfamily are found in Australia: two of these, Danaida and 
Euploea are, by some entomologists, di\'ided into many subgenera. 
