group of Butterflies, Potaro District, British Guiana. 423 



HeliconidcV. 



Having reviewed the whole of the Ithomiinm of the 

 group one turns to the Heliconidie. The members of 

 this family form much the closest mimics, and the varied 

 series of Heliconius numata makes a remarkable "pair" 

 in all its forms to the equally variable Melinma mneme. 



The association of all the Heliconius species within the 

 group must be very ancient as there is never any great 

 divergence from some one or other of the Melinaeas. It 

 is a remarkable fact that while there are many other 

 differently coloured Heliconius species in the neighbour- 

 hood they are never (? absolute) found on the white 

 blossoms of the Eupatorium. 



Four species of Heliconius have occurred that belong 

 to the group. It is possible that one of these, H. eucoma, 

 is not distinct from H numata. But it is just probable, 

 if unlikely, that several of the supposed aberrations are 

 really distinct. Thirty-three of what have been all 

 called H. numata have occurred. These are tabulated 

 as follows : — 



Heliconin^ — Genus Heliconius. 



Heliconius numata. — Thirty-three specimens received 

 in all. 



It will be seen that by far the largest percentage have 

 the hind-wing very broadly {but very variably) black 

 banded and that the extreme darkening is quite of rare 

 occurrence, only 6 % having been seen from the Potaro 

 District. It is interesting to note that not a single 



* One of these may prove to be a distinct species, having a much 

 narrower wing and a much broader yellow post-median band. 



