AMPHIRENE. 281 
In the neuration of the wings Amphirene differs but little from Victorina. In 
A. epaphus the middle discocellular of the primaries passes into the lower radial in a 
simple curve, there being no trace of a lower discocellular. In A. superba these two 
nervures form an angle, where a short spur is emitted, as in Victorina stelenes. The 
tarsi of the front legs of the male in Amphirene are shorter in proportion than in 
Victorina, those of A. superba being shorter than in A. epaphus. In the secondary 
sexual organs of the male the tegumen and harpagones are much as in Victorina, there 
being no essential difference ; but the penis in Amphirene is much dilated for more than 
its distal half, and there is no rod between it and the hinges of the harpagones. There 
is, moreover, considerable difference between the penis of A. superba and that of 
A. epaphus: in the former the lower surface of the distal half is flattened, and in it are 
two parallel rows of strong papille; in the latter there are no papille, but in the 
interior of the organ are two strong chitonous pieces, which bifurcate in the middle, 
one branch going straight forwards, the other upwards. 
Of the three known species of Amphirene, A. superda is restricted to Central America 
from Mexico to Costa Rica; A. epaphus is a very common butterfly, ranging throughout 
our region, and southwards through the western parts of South America. It is absent 
from Guiana and the valley of the Lower Amazons; but occurs in numbers in South- 
eastern Brazil. A. trayja, the third and last of the genus, is found in Brazil alone. 
1. Amphirene epaphus. 
Vanessa epaphus, Latr. in Humb. & Bonpl. Obs. Zool. ii. p. 74, t. 35%. 
Amphirene epaphus, Doubl. & Hew. Gen. Diurn. Lep. t. 33. f. 27; Butl. & Druce, P. Z. S. 1874, 
p. 345 *. 
Alis nigricanti-brunneis, anticis linea alba bipartitis dimidio apicali rufescente venis nigris diviso, posticis 
fascia submarginali, dimidio costali albo, dimidio anali tenui cierulescente, ciliis albis; subtus rufescenti- 
brunneis, anticis ad cellule finem maculis albis nigro circumcinctis, fascia submarginali alba intus nigro 
limbata, fascia quoque extra eam rufescente ; macula ad coste mediam et fascia altera brevi ab angulo 
anali, albis. 
@ mari similis, sed plerumque paulo major. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Riimeli); Guatemata, San Gerdnimo, Polochic valley, 
Chuacus, Duefias, Central Valleys (FD. G. & O. S.), San Isidro (Champion); Hon- 
DuRAS, San Pedro (@. M. Whitely); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Costa Rica (Van 
Patten®); Panama, Chiriqui (Champion), Calobre (Arcé).—Cotomsta ! to Bouivia. 
This common species was first described by Latreille from specimens obtained in 
Colombia, where it isabundant, and also throughout the Andes, as far south as Bolivia, 
North of the isthmus it ranges to Mexico. We trace no variation between individuals in 
any part of this wide area. The species is in no way represented, so far as we know, in 
Guiana; but in South Brazil an allied form (A. trayja) takes its place; this, however, 
may at once be distinguished by having the apex of the primaries the same colour as 
the base, instead of being tawny. In Guatemala the range in altitude of A. epaphus 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Rhopal., Vol. I., December 1883. 20 
