The Butterflies of Chile. 271 



cepcion, whence I had to hurry back to Santiago, and after 

 packing and drying vaj botanical collection, part of which 

 had been left at the museum in charge of Dr. Philippi, 

 I re-crossed the Andes by the Mendoza Pass, and reached 

 Buenos Ayres in time to catch the mail steamer on March 1st. 



Before giving a list of the butterflies I collected, which 

 include almost all the species hitherto described from Chile, 

 I must say a few words as to the climate of different parts 

 of the country. From a naturalist's point of view Chile 

 may be divided into three regions. 



First, Northern Chile, which consists of the long strip 

 of country comprising the provinces of Tacna, Tarapaca, 

 Autofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo, from 18" to 32' S., 

 between the sea and the Andes, about which I know nothing 

 personally. It includes the nitrate districts which are 

 absolutely arid, and most of the best mining districts ; 

 and from a zoologist's point of view is poor, on account of 

 the very slight rainfall and absence'of vegetation, except in 

 the valleys of the few perennial streams and tracts which 

 are cultivated solely by means of irrigation. It includes a 

 great tract of high mountains in the district of Autofagasta 

 and Tarapaca, which are, as far as I can learn, almost if 

 not entirely destitute of trees, and which have therefore 

 afforded no route by which tropical forms could extend 

 from the north, as they might have been expected to do if 

 the country had not been too dry. 



Secondly, the coast region and valleys of Central Chile 

 from about lat. 32° down tt) about the latitude of Con- 

 cepcion and the river Biobio. This part of Chile has a 

 climate much like that of Southern Spain, damper on the 

 coast and drier in the great central valley between the 

 coast range and the Andes, and is the most populous and 

 richest part of Chile from an agricultural point of view, 

 being fertilized by the deposit from numerous mountain 

 streams which are made to irrigate large tracts of highly 

 fertile country. Forest is now found in Central Chile only 

 at and above elevations of 3000 to 6000 feet, and in the 

 upper parts of tlie Andean valleys ; and I doubt whether 

 there was ever much true forest in the neighbourhood of 

 Santiago, where the hills are covered with shrubs and 

 thorny bushes, and where rain usually falls only during 

 twenty to thirty days in winter. 



In the latitude of Chilian heavy forest is found, or rather 

 was found until it was destroyed by fire, along the foot and on 



TKANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1903. — PART III. (OCT.) 19 



