BUTTERFLY COLLECTING IN COSTA RICA. 189 



points of resemblance to the fore wing of Libellula fidva, Mull., 

 of which photographs were reproduced in the March number of 

 this magazine (Plate vii.). Thus, the wing is considerably 

 shorter than it should be, and the homology of some of the 

 longitudinal veins in the apical half is very obscure. The 

 pterostigma is also greatly exaggerated, although it does not 

 occupy more than one cell, and the subcosta affords another 

 instance of prolongation beyond the nodus in the same sub- 

 family (Libellulinae). 



To facilitate comparison with a normal hind wing of Porno- 

 theinis, the under side of the left hind wing of the same 

 individual is shown below the teratologicai wing, and it will be 

 seen that in the last-named the triangle is modified in form and 

 position, and that the anal loop takes on a distinctly Corduliine 

 shape. Furthermore, M4, until it ceases to be recognisable, 

 runs nearly parallel with the radius, and the branches of the 

 cubitus curve downwards less abruptly than usual. 



The specimen in question was taken at Matang lioad, Sara- 

 wak, in 1909, by Mr. J. C. Moulton, and was forwarded to me, 

 for examination, by Dr. F. F. Laidlaw. 

 58, Ranelagh Road, Ealing: April 28th, 1913. 



FIVE MONTHS' BUTTERFLY COLLECTING IN COSTA 

 RICA IN THE SUMMER OF 1911. 



By Margaret E. Fountaine, F.E.S. 



There were two reasons why I went to Costa Rica, first, 

 because the political situation in Mexico seemed leading on to 

 conditions bordering on civil war, and secondly, owing to the 

 fact that the cases of plague at La Guaira (the entrance port to 

 Venezuela) seemed to be somewhat above the average ; and so I 

 went to Costa Rica. There I found a country abounding with 

 butterflies, but most difficult to work, at least on the Atlantic 

 side (which was practically as far as my experience extended), 

 chiefly owing to the climate and the undeveloped conditions of 

 the country. We had left a rather serious drought behind us at 

 Kingston, Jamaica, here in Costa Rica to find a very persistent 

 and perpetual rainfall. What wonder that the low, flat country 

 round Limon was nothing but immense swamps, for the most 

 part densely wooded, but quite impenetrable, through which 

 indeed it was only possible to pass at all by following the railway 

 tracks, as there are no roads whatever on the Atlantic side of 

 this extraordinary country ! Therefore the public thoroughfares 

 are entirely along these railway lines, a system which naturally 

 results in a good many deaths from misadventure, especially to 

 animals, which are also allowed to feed freely on the rich, grassy 



