96 RHOPALOCERA. 
Geographically these differences are generally distributed as follows :— 
In Guiana the primary wings are least produced and the secondaries most rounded. 
This form is represented on Cramer's plate 96*, and must be considered the typical 
T. mermeria. This form also spreads into the Upper Amazons valley and to Ecuador. 
Here it meets and blends with an insect with the primaries produced to a point, a 
character to be found in this Taygetis from Mexico to Brazil, and which is represented 
in d’Orbigny’s ‘ Voyage’ as Fawnus tenebrosus®; Cramer’s plate 289 also represents this 
form from Surinam2. In Central America the secondaries are somewhat produced and 
have the anal angle rather more conspicuously notched. This form is Mr. Butler's 
T. excavata’. But to show how slight this character is, we find that this entomologist 
has assigned to Central America the true 7. mermeria®, a local form of it4, and also 
his 7. excavata’, a statement the evidence of our specimens does not support. 
The coloration of the underside of the wings resembles that of dead leaves ; and as too 
close an adherence to one pattern and tint would to some extent render the likeness 
less complete, we find great diversity in this respect and only a general pattern retained 
by all the members of the species. 
T. mermeria in Guatemala frequents the shades of the forest, flies close to the ground, 
and is very difficult to distinguish from the surrounding decayed leaves when settled on 
dead vegetation. It is only found in the low-lying country, and probably not much 
above an elevation of 1000 feet. 
We have described a Nicaraguan specimen, where, however, the greatest diversity of 
colour of the underside exists in different individuals. 
2. Taygetis armillata. 
Taygetis armillata, Butl. Cat. Sat. B. M. p. 8, t.1. £.3°. 
Taygetis jimna, Butl. Lep. Ex. p. 17, t. 7. f. 5°. 
T. mermerdoe similis, sed subtus serie ocellorum anticarum linea rectiore posita, fascia posticarum transversa 
magis curvata et margine externo in medio valde dentato distinguenda. 
Hab. Panama, Lion Hill (1/‘Leannan?).—Cotompia!; Ecuapor; Borrvial. 
The only specimen we possess of this species from Central America is that sent us by 
M‘Leannan, which formed the type of Mr. Butler’s 7. jimnat. This is in very poor 
condition and much faded and worn, accounting for some of the differences Mr. Butler 
describes as separating it from the Colombian 7. armillata. Of the latter insect we 
have specimens from the last-named country and from Ecuador ; and on comparing these 
with the Panama butterfly and making allowance for the inevitable differences of colour 
found in species of this genus, we do not see how their distinction can be maintained ; 
nor do we see any difference in the form of the wings of specific importance. | 
