METAMORPHA. 47 



The type is 



METAMORPHA DIDO. 



(Plate IX.) 



rapilio dido, Johanssen, Amcen. Acad, vi., p. 408, no. 74 



(1764), Linn., Syst. Nat. (ed. xii.), i. (2), p. 7S2, no. 192 



(1767); Clerck, Icones, pi. 30, fig 2 (1764); Cram. Pap. 



Exot., iii., pi. 196, figs. E. F. (1779). 

 CetJwsia dido, Godart, Enc. Meth., ix., p. 246, no. 9 (181 9). 

 Metamorpha dido, Godman & Salvin, Biol. Centrali-Amer., Lep. 



Rhop., i., p. 166 (1SS1). 

 CoLcnis dido, Staud., Exot. Schmett., i., p. S6, pi. 34 (18S5.) 



Metamorpha dido resembles a Heliconius in its very long 

 fore-wings, which are slightly dentated ; the hind-wings are 

 much more so. It expands about four inches, and is a very 

 common Tropical American insect, frequenting cultivated 

 ground. It is velvety-black above, with green markings. The 

 fore-wings have a green band in the cell, beyond which is a 

 broad green band interrupted about the middle of the wing, 

 but continued by oblique bands below the lower end of the 

 extremity of the cell ; and there are also several other green 

 spots. The hind-wings are green at the base, and are marked with 

 a row of rather large sub-marginal spots. The under surface is 

 green and black, varied with reddish ochreous and silvery- 

 white. The larva has several rows of short spines, radiating 

 from tubercles, and two very long caudal appendages. It is 

 green, with a red and white stripe on each side, and feeds on 

 Passifloi'ce. 



The allied Tropical American genera Colcznis and Dione, 

 Hiibner, likewise much resemble the Heliconiimc in their habits, 

 long wings and larvae; and Fritz Miiller proposed to include 

 them in the same group, notwithstanding their open wing-cells. 

 The species of Colcenis and Dione are mostly fulvous Butterflies, 

 bordered and varied with brown or blackish ; but one or two are 

 reddish. The spee'es of Colcenis are of nearly the same shape as 



