HELICONIUS. 149 
the great Central-American isthmus, and is found from Nicaragua to the line of the 
Panama railway. Southwards of this, in the northern part of Colombia, H. hecalesia, 
Hew., takes its place; and on the west coast it is represented by a species allied to 
H. gynesia, Hew. All these species, and also H. longarena, Hew., have the submarginal 
row of yellow spots very well developed and placed in arow parallel to the margin. In 
H. formosus the black margin is almost restricted to the apical angle, where the yellow 
spots are comparatively small. This character also serves to distinguish it from H. octavia, 
from which it can be also known by the base of the primaries being nearly black. In 
this last character some variation is visible in different individuals. One specimen from 
the Volcan de Chiriqui is somewhat remarkable in having the black border of the apex 
of the secondaries more extensive, and the yellow spots larger and more elongate. It 
thus, to a slight extent, approaches ZZ. hecalesia. 
The Zthorea which resembles H. formosus in colour is 7. pinthias *. 
10. Heliconius telchinia. | 
Heliconia telchinia, Doubl. & Hew. Gen. Diurn. Lep. p. 104, t. 14. f. 47. 
Heliconius telchinia, Butl. & Druce, P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 351%. 
Alis anticis nigris, cellula (preter fasciam elongatam medianam) et regione vene median et rami ejus primi 
fulvis ; fascia maculosa transversa ultra cellulam a costa ad medium marginis externi alteraque extra eam 
flavis ; posticis fulvis, margine externo et fascia mediana transversa nigris ; subtus ut supra, margine externo 
et fascia nigra posticarum transversa et coste aliquot sericeis; anticarum apice et margine posticarum 
externo punctis albis ornatis, macula quoque alba ad angulum posticarum apicalem ; antennis pro majore 
parte flavis. 
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Deppe), Cordova (Riimeli), Potrero (Hedemann); Britisu 
Honpuras, river Sarstoon (Blancaneaux); Guatemaa, Yzabal, San Gerdénimo, Choctum, 
Polochic valley, Retalhuleu (Ff. D. G. & O. S.), El Zumbador, Panima, Sabo, and 
Teleman (Champion); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely) ; Nicaragua, Chontales 
(Janson) ; Costa Rica (Van Patten), Cache (Rogers).— VENEZUELA ! 2 
Though the type of this species is stated by Doubleday to have come from Venezuela, 
the figure of it undoubtedly represents a butterfly well known and common in Mexico 
and in Central America, the Venezuelan representative of which differs in several 
points, and has since been described by Mr. Butler as H. metalilist. We therefore 
believe that the Venezuelan habitat ascribed to H. telchinia is erroneous, and that the 
species is restricted in its range to Central America and Mexico. 
In Guatemala this Heliconius frequents the forests of the warmer parts of the 
country, and is found from the sea-level up to an elevation of about 3000 feet. 
Melinea imitata t closely resembles H. telchinia in coloration, the two species being 
found together, though the former, so far as we know at present, has not so great a 
range in altitude. Southwards of Costa Rica we have no evidence of the presence of 
* Anted, p. 10. + Cist. Ent. i. p. 167. + Anted, p. 13. 
