LYCAENIDAE 
71 
The shape of the hindwing is very variable, and usually sliglitly broader in the female: it is some¬ 
times uniformly rounded: sometimes dentate: sometimes produced at tornus to a blunt tooth, or to a 
well developed or imperfectly developed anal lobe: it often lias a single filamentous tail to vein 2, and 
sometimes a second tail to vein la. 
The markings of the undersurface appear at first sight very intricate and complicated: but a 
closer study shows that each spot or bar, though variable in form and size itself, has its own definite 
relation to and position in the pattern-scheme of markings ])eculiar to the family. Sometimes the 
markings are obsciii*c, even in a butterfly in the best condition, and then it is more dillicult to under¬ 
stand them. To make them easily intelligible to the student, and in order to avoid endless reiietition 
in the specific descriptions, we have drawn figures of typical butterflies of several of the subfamilies; 
these appear later, but the following general description applies to the whole family. 
0 ^ $. Beneath. Forewiug with a bar across middle of cell, and sometimes extending below the cell in 
area la (in the Theclinae thei*e are usually two bars across cell) : a bar upon the discocellulars at 
the end of cell, with often a spot below it in area 2; a discal band of spots from vein 7 to vein la 
(Lycneninae) , or from vein 10 to vein la {Theclinae) ; this band is often moved abruiitly nearer 
base at vein 1 or vein 5: a subterminal series of faint spots or margins. Hindwing with a bar 
across cell with one above it in area 7 and one below it in area la {Lycaeninae) or two bars 
across cell, with two above them in area 7, and two below them in area la {Theclinae) : a bar upon 
the discocellulars at end of cell, with sometimes a spot below iti in ai*ea 2: a cuiwed series of discal 
spots from vein S to vein la: a subterminal series of faint spots or margins, often developed at 
tornus into two dark spots. 
The s 2 )ots of these markings are rarely absent, but sometimes only indicated by small obscure dots 
in the centres of the areas. They are often edged by a darker or a paler shade of colour, and some¬ 
times also bordered with metallic scales. They are sometimes indicated hy the paler or darker margins 
only, the spots themselves being nearly or quite the same shade as the colour of the wing. Ihe 
margins are sometimes broad and sometimes narrowly linear, sometimes indefinite and sometimes dis¬ 
tinctly outlined. The discal band of forewing is often broadest near costa and diminishing in width 
to vein la. The discal band of the hindwing is often very irregular: sometimes contiguous spots 
enlarge and coalesce. The subterminal series of spots is often only indicated by an indefinite double 
pale waved line (the inner and the outer edges of the spots), except in the tornal region of the 
liiudwing where the spots are usually developed. 
Subfamily LYCAENINAE. 
Ovuii. Much flattened at base and apex: in all known Australian species, densely pitted. 
Larva. Flattened and sluglike in shape, with characters and habits as described under the family. 
Pupa. The pupae of many of the Australian species are still unknown, but those we have seen of 
MiletuSj PseudodipsaSj Lainpides, Syniarucus^ Caiochrysops^ Zizina, heoludUy Lycaenesthes and ihec- 
linesthesj are all smooth, and in transverse section ovoid; those of Candalides are much flattened tuid 
with abdomen produced to lateral ridges: those of Fhiliris are ovoid in section, but have long hairs. 
Pupae of the remaining genera we do not yet know. 
Imago. Usually of small size. Forewing with eleven veins: vein 11 and vein 12 sometimes anas¬ 
tomosed; sometimes touching, but not fused: sometimes connected by a short bar: sometimes bent 
towards each other but not touching: sometimes running parallel: vein S absent: vein (i (except in 
aberrant examples of Miletus hecalius) arising from cell. Hindwing with termen usually rounded: 
sometimes slightly dentate: anal lobe absent: often with a filamentous tail to vein 2. Males laiely 
with a sexmark: sexes often strikingly dimorphic. 
Range. Worldwide. All the Australian genera are found in Queensland, and a few of them are 
confined to the northern portion of that State: several others only reach as far south as the northern 
scrub districts of N. S. Wales, still fewer genera occur in Victoria and Tasmania. The only genera 
peculiar to Australia are Nesolycaena and Neolucia : the latter is represented by a greater number oi 
species in southern N. S. Wales than in northern Queensland. 
