The Butterflies of Chile. 273 



several species described by Mabille, Felder, and Reed, 

 and have added some specimens from the late Mr. Crowley's 

 collection now in the British Museum, where the whole 

 of this material is now placed. 



There are, no doubt, in the collections of Mr. Paulsen 

 and Dr. Isquierdo many specimens which would have 

 been invaluable in studying the variation of Chilean 

 butterflies, and perhaps some new species, but as they have 

 had no means of identifying their specimens with the 

 types, which are all in Europe, and I was too ignorant of 

 the Chilean species to make notes of them when I saw 

 them, this list must not be taken as more than an 

 attempt to improve the foundation of what is still very 

 fragmentary and incomplete knowledge. 



What is wanted are resident collectors, especially in the 

 south, who will observe the seasonal and local variations, 

 and bring together much larger series than now exist ; 

 by which means alone my conclusions as to specific values 

 can be proved or disproved. 



It will be seen from this list : — 



First, that the number of species is extremely small, 

 being, if the diverse conditions of climate are considered, 

 the smallest found in any country in the world of equal 

 length from north to south. 



Secondly, that the immber of butterflies which are not 

 endemic in Chile, if the Argentine as well as the Chilean 

 slopes of the Andes are included, is very small. 



Thirdly, that the scarcity of Nymphalidse and Lycoenidse 

 is extreme ; only six species of the former and seven of 

 the latter occurring in this immense tract of country, a 

 smaller number than could be taken in a single day in 

 almost any part of North America, Europe, or the 

 temperate region of Asia. Not a single Lycoenid and 

 only one or two Nymphalid butterflies seem to have been 

 taken south of Valdivia; a case quite unparalleled in 

 other parts of the world. 



The Chilean butterflies consist almost entirely of 

 Satyridse and Hesperiidae, many of which are confined to 

 the forest region of the centre and south, and there is 

 a marked absence of alpine species ; only 



2 Pierids 



2 Nymphalids 



1 Lycoenid, and 



2 or 3 Satyrids 



