107 



through Jaiisen's glasses. Rembrandt had died in 1G74, and per- 

 haps liad exercised an influence to be seen even in tlie Frontispiece 

 to Madam ]\Ierian's work. Meanwhile this woman pursued lier 

 life-task with high resolve and courage. She visited Dutch Guiana 

 at a time when such a voyage implied much more sacrifice of com- 

 fort and time than it does to-day, and on a mission then neither so 

 popular nor so honorably considered. But in her Preface — Maria 

 Sibylla Merian ad Lectorem— she gives the reason for the faith that 

 is in her. "Insectis jam ab ipsa juventute mea examinandis occu- 

 pata" is her confession, and her quaint and simple remark preludes 

 a number of observations on the transformations of Insects, that no 

 one has since equalled in the same number of days or months, even 

 in a climate much more propitious for such labor than that of 

 Surinam, or with book knowledge and appliances much more per- 

 fect than those of the 17th century. From the historical back- 

 ground of the Natural Sciences, it is a woman's face looking to us 

 for well earned remembrance. 



Mr. Charles Linden found Helicopis Cupido, both in March and 

 August, in the vicinity of Para. The butterfly frequented the 

 tide-water ditches, not far from the river shore, and was usually 

 found in repose on the under side of the leaves of bush-like caladium 

 plants which commonly fringe these ditches. Of all the butterflies 

 observed by Mr. Linden, the species of Helicopis seemed most 

 sluggish. They were, however, readily roused by striking the 

 bushes sheltering them, when they took to lazy flight, seeking 

 quickly a fresh place for repose. Mr. Linden tells me that the 

 natives have a distinct name for the species of Helicopis, signifying 

 " love butterfly." This name may, however, not be derived from 

 the lingoa geral, although the Indians are better naturalists than 

 the negroes. 



In August Mr. Linden found specimens of Helicopis Acis, as 

 well as the more usual Helicopis Cupido, and at the same time 

 specimens of both sexes of a hitherto unnamed species, which I 

 call Helicopis Liudeni, in honor of its discoverer, whose scientific 

 explorations on the Amazonas have been attended with the success 

 Avhich waits upon endurance and enthusiasm. This fourth species 

 of the genus is as large as Helicopis Endymion, or Acis, and con- 

 sequently larger than Helicopis Cupido, Avhich latter it more nearly 



