590 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



All the species belonging to tlie genus Helicouius are of u 

 very peculiar shape. Their wings are long and narrow, so that 

 when they are spread the insect is very much wider than it is 

 long. There is a peculiarity in the colouring as well as in the 

 shape of the wings, the clothing of scales being so slight and 

 thin as to make them partially translncent. There are many 

 species of Heliconius, and they are all inhabitants of tropical 

 America and the West India islands. 



V-As N^ 



Firj. 337. — Helicouius Hermathena. 

 (Black,-} ellow, and orange.) 



Two species will be given as representatives of the genus ; 

 the first of which inhabits Brazil, and is called Helicon ivs 

 llermaihena. The ground colour of the wings is deep black- 

 brown, and near the middle of the upper pair runs a broad belt 

 of bright orange with a dash of brown in it. A long narrow 

 streak of bright yellow runs nearly parallel with the inner edge 

 of the wing, its width being greatest in the middle, and diminish 

 ing almost to a point at either end. The lower wings are of 

 the same blackish brown as the upper pair, and upon each of 

 tliem there is a yellow streak running diagonally from near the 



