.173 
HESPERIDAE 
Of the Australian Butterflies, the Hesperidae is certainly the most difficult family Not only are 
(he points of structural difference minute, and many of the species of closely similar appearance but 
in the past irresponsible entomologists seem to have amused themselves publishino- incomplete’ in¬ 
accurate, and entirely worthless descriptions of supposed Australian s]ieeies. Even some modern authors 
seem to think that mth this family any liberties may be taken: as late as 1004, we find 'ilabille describ- 
iii? an Australian? Hesperid from a single example, which he tells us had lost both its palpi and its 
antennae. Mabille’s account of the Hesperidae in the “ Genera Insectoruin” not only omits many 
Australia.a species described by the author himself, but almost the whole of the species described b'v 
Pioetz and Jliskin; while the synonymy of the Australian species is often hopelessly inaccurate 
Dating fioin the ciitical pa]ier on the Hesperidae by M^at.son in .1802, with sujiplement in ISOo 
and the work of Elwes & Edwards in 1807, great ad^■nnces have been made in the determination and 
classification of the Oriental Hesperidae. Mneh of this work is applicable to Australia, and we have 
also taken advantage of a good many manuscript notes of the late L. de Niceville, to whom we submitted 
e.\amples of a number of Australian species. Our collection of Indo-Malavan Hesperids lias also proved 
very useful for structural comparisons with allied Australian species. 
Oiir written descriptions, had more space been available, might ]ierhaps have supplied more detail. 
But. taken in conjunction with our figures and localities, we feel confident they will enable students, for 
the first time, to easily and accurately determine every known Australian Hesperid. Superficially similar 
species can he readily separated upon examination of the antennae, palpi or sexmark. AVe have fionred 
a number of antennae drawn for ns by Mr. R. J. Till^^ard, i\r.A. 
This first attempt at the division of the Australian Hesperidae into subfamilies has been attended 
with no little difficulty. Eight species belong to the Hesperinae. and six others to the Ismeninae 
(llatson’s Section C of the Pamphilinae, with the very distinctive palpi). There remain no less than 
li species, all of which, according to Watson, would belong either to Section A or to Section B of 
\m Pamphilinae. The subfainilv Pamphilhiae we propose to restrict to those defined under his Section 
A, first omitting all the included Australian genera: he admits these are somewhat aberrant, and thev 
form a natural groun almost confined to Australia; the few species from New Guinea and the adjacent 
islands are undoubtedly of Australian origin. 
For these Australian genera of M^atson's Section A fwith vein .5 of forewin^ almost 
straight) we propose the name TBAPEZITINAE: and for ‘Watson’s Pamphilinae Section B, the 
Australian genera of which are almost if not entirely of Tndo-]\ralayan oridn. we propose the name 
EBYNNINAE. This leaves ns with no species of true PamphUincc in Australia. 
T\ith the above modifications, and with the inclusion of Euschemon within the Pliopalocera, we have 
followed somewhat closely the structural characters used by Watson. But we have in every instance first 
verified them by careful examination, and for this purpose have bleached the wings of a great number 
of both Australian and Tndo-Malayan Hesperids. 
The grouping of genera in subfamilies is to a large extent a matter of convenience; it makes the 
study of any particular section less difficult. And though our five subfamilies are separated upon small 
smietural points, each of them is not only distinctive in general appearance, but also in habits of 
night. 
Key to the Subfamilies of HESPEBJEAE. 
A. Forewings held erect when resting: often Avith a discal sexmark above in male. 
n. Hindwing with vein 5 absent. 
rth Forewing with vein 5 straight at base. TRAPEZITINAE. 
hh Forewing Avith vein 5 curved toAvards A^ein 4 at base . ERYRRIlsfAE. 
h. Hindwing Avith A’eiii 5 present . ISMENINAE. 
■ Forewings held flat AAdien resting: Avithoiit a discal sexmark above in male. 
Costa of foreAA'ing less than half again as long as termen: liindAAdng Avithout 
sexmark beneath in male . HESPERINAE. 
k Costa of foreAving half again as long as termen; liindAving A\nth sexmark beneatli 
in male. " . EUSCHEMONINAE. 
