MORPHO. 121 
varied and became J. octavia, the rest remaining fairly true to their Colombian 
ancestors. When UM. peleides came into contact with MW. marinita a partial amalga- 
mation took place, giving rise to the intermediate forms we now see. The peculiarities 
of the Calobre and Panama specimens may be explained on the supposition that some 
small islands had each a race of Morpho allied to lV. peleides, but that these were swept 
away by the irruption of M/. peleides and were absorbed, but not so completely as to 
obliterate all traces of their existence. 
In Guatemala MW. peleides was a very familiar species to us, as we were in the habit 
of seeing it almost daily at different places in the department of Vera Paz. Unlike its 
congeners MV. cypris and M. justitie &c., it flies low amongst the scrubby forest, yet is 
not so easy to catch as would appear at first sight, its undulating buoyant flight 
making it easily missed with net. Particular specimens seem to have tracts of forest 
to themselves, round which they fly in nearly the same track every ten minutes or so. 
Having missed an insect, then, one has only to wait and another chance shortly occurs. 
We have described Mexican specimens answering to the true I. montezuma. 
8. Morpho octavia. (Tab. XI. figg. 4, 5.) 
Morpho octavia, Bates, Ent. Monthl. Mag. i. p. 163°; Boisd. Lép. Guat. p. 60°. 
M., peleide similis, sed alis rosaceo lete indutis, alarum marginibus pallide fuscis nec fusco-nigris, et alis 
omnibus magis pellucidis, ocellis pagine inferioris supra apparentibus distinguenda. 
Hab. GuatEMa.a, Pacific coast, San Diego, Retalhuleu (fF. D. G. & O. S.1), San Isidro, 
El Reposo, Paraiso (Champion); Sauvapor (fide Boisduval °). 
As already stated, this race entirely takes the place of M. peleides in the low-lying 
lands of Guatemala which border the Pacific Ocean. Here it is very numerous, being 
found at various elevations up to between 2000 and 3000 feet above the sea. In its 
habits it resembles WU. peleides. According to Boisduval it is also found in the adjoining 
country of Salvador ?. 
This race does not seem subject to much variation; and the slight difference of the 
tint of the delicate rosy blue of the wings is due to the age of the specimen rather than 
to any other cause. 
9. Morpho marinita. 
Morpho marinita, Butl. Cist. Ent. i. p. 75*; Lep. Ex. p. 113, t. 41. f. 2°; Butl. & Druce, P. Z. 8S. 
1874, p. 339°. 
Morpho limpida, Butl. Cist. Ent. i. p. 75 *. 
Morpho hydorina, Butl. Cist. Ent. i. p. 76°; Lep. Ex. p. 113 (bis), t. 42. f. 2°; Butl. & Druce, 
P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 8397. 
Alis fusco-brunneis, marginibus externis maculis sagittiformibus serie duplici ornatis; fascia lata interdum ad 
BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Rhopal., Vol. I., August 1881. R 
