2 RHOPALOCERA. 
Alis supra fulvis, marginibus late et venis distincte nigris; illis nisi coste dimidio basali maculis serie 
duplici albo punctatis, anticarum apicibus rufo-nigris, maculis fulvis notatis: subtus ut supra, primariis 
pallidioribus, secundariis lete ochraceis, primariarum apicibus macula tripartita ochracea notatis. 
Hab. N. Amurica??*,—MeExico, Oaxaca (Fenochio), Yucatan (Hedemann, Mus. Vindob.); 
Gvaremata, Rio Polochic, Central valleys, Chuacus, Duefias (Ff. D. G. & O. 8.); 
Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson); Costa Rica (Van Patten®, Carmiol); PANAMA, 
Chiriqui (Arcé), Lion Hill (M*Leannan).—AnTILLES and WESTERN S. AmERiIcA to PERU. 
Great confusion exists as to the correct identification of this name of Linneus. In 
the tenth edition of his ‘Systema Nature’ (i. p. 471), in addition to the brief diagnosis, 
reference is made to Sloane’s ‘ Natural History of Jamaica’ (ii. p. 214, t. 239. f. 5, 6) 
and to Catesby’s ‘ Natural History of Carolina’ (ii. p. 88, t. 88); but the locality given 
is North America. Linneus, in his ‘Museum Ulrice’ (p. 262), seems to have doubted 
the accuracy of his reference to Catesby; but in the twelfth edition of the ‘ Systema’ 
he recurs to his former opinion. Now, concerning Catesby’s figure there can be 
no doubt; and, coupled with the North-American habitat, it indicates precisely to which 
species the name D. plewippus should be referred. Sloane’s insect 1s undoubtedly 
another species, and is the same as that described by Mr. Bates (Ent. Month. Mag. i. 
p. 33) as D. jamaicensis, from specimens obtained by us in Jamaica. Fabricius, who 
seems to have been the originator of all the confusion, misapplies Linneus’s name and 
renames the true D. plexippus D. archippus*, and gives it a wrong habitat. Mr. Kirby 
(Cat. p. 5) applies Linnzus’s name in a different sense altogether, for which we can see 
no justification. The synonymy of the species seems correctly given in Mr. Herman 
Strecker’s work ’. 
Central-American specimens, as a rule, agree closely with North-American ones in 
having the spots towards the apex of the anterior wings tawny instead of pure white. 
In Nicaragua, however, and further to the southward specimens approach more nearly 
to the race prevalent in the north-western portions of the southern continent, and have 
these spots whiter and the veins of both wings more strongly margined with black. 
These characters are very slight, and show a tendency to a certain type rather than a 
present existing definable feature; and therefore we are unwilling to separate them. 
Still the divergence seems to commence in Nicaragua, all specimens found to the north- 
ward belonging to the northern form, whilst those to the southward generally, but 
not universally, belong to the southern. D. erippus, Cr., from Brazil, is a fairly defined 
race, in which we trace a constant character in the inner margin of the anterior wings. 
This portion is never deep black, as in D. plexippus, but (especially in female examples) 
tawny red. 
Danais plexippus is extremely plentiful throughout Central America in all open 
sunny spots up to an elevation of 5000 or 6000 feet. Its flight is slow and somewhat 
laboured. 
