SPH.T.NOGONA. 23' 



AbcBis 7)iexicana^ Geyer; Hiibner, Zutr. Exot. Schmett. v. p. 2g, 

 figs. 917, 918 (1837). 



This species, which inhabits Mexico, as its name denotes, 

 measures about i^ inches across the wings, which are white, 

 with a broad black border ; the latter is very irregular, and is 

 deeply indented by the ground-colour in the middle on the 

 fore-wings. In the male the hind-wings are broadly yellow 

 along the costal area. This species is closely allied to S. bogo- 

 tafid, Felder, the type of the genus ; but in S. bogotana the 

 deep white indentation on the middle of the band of the fore- 

 wings is much narrower, and the costa of the hind-wings is not 

 yellow in the male. 



As the male of his S. mcxicaU'i^ Boisduval described a yel- 

 low species, which has since been named S. hoisdiivoliaiia 

 by Reakirt. 



American genera allied to Sphce?iogona, 



In Pyrisitia^ Butler, the fore-wings are slightly pointed, and 

 the hind-wings are sub-quadrate, the hind-wings showing a 

 slight tendency to form a rectangle on the hind-margin, but 

 with no projecting tooth. The type is P. proferpia (Cramer), 

 a South American species, remarkable for its bright orange 

 colour and for the broad black costal area of the fore-wings. 



Another genus, XantJiidia^ Boisduval, differs from all the 

 other American genera by the male possessing a patch of felted 

 scales on the under side of the hind-wings between the median 

 and sub-median nervures. It includes several rather large yel- 

 low and orange species, with broad black borders and broad 

 rounded wings. The type is X nicippe (Cramer), which is com- 

 mon in many parts of North America. It measures about two 

 inches across the wings, which are of a bright orange colour, 

 with broad black regular borders, and a black streak at the end 

 of the cell of the fore-wings. The female is of a much paler 



