The insects of this genus are generally below the middle size, and of
a brownish-red colour, variously striped and spotted with black. With
the exception of a small division, which ought probably to be referred
to another genus, they are natives of the old world, principally of the
western coasts of Africa. The palpi are slender and nearly cylindrical,
the terminal joint minute, forming a kind of nipple on the apex of
the second which is very long; antennæ rather short and terminating
somewhat suddenly in a club; anterior tarsus spatulate, scarcely
toothed at the extremity; internal edge of the inferior wings not
embracing the abdomen. The caterpillars are either spiny, like those of
_Argynnis_, or covered with rigid hairs, but we are yet acquainted with
very few of them. The chrysalis is suspended by the tail.