172 JOURNAL OF THE TRINIDAD 



A comparison of the above with Lyccrea is interesting ; 

 the eggs are deposited in the same manner on the plant -which 

 is a species of Oleander, and the larva? very much alike, 

 merely the mat kings being different, it is striped with broad 

 white and black belts, (with the exception of the first four 

 segments which aie black and pale yellow), the white belts aie, 

 however, curved up and pointed just above the feet, resembling 

 hooks. The horns are longer and vibrate most rapidly whenever 

 the insect is disturbed, the pupa is however quite different, being 

 yellow almost transparent and with no maiked dorsal depression, 

 there are black spots on the thorax and a stigmatal and dorsal 

 row, otherwise it is simply smooth, without the striking 

 appearance of T. Jiavescens. 



The imago is again so different, resembling more the style of 

 Meckanitis, which however, differs from it in every other ret-pect, 

 as the following account shows : — The eggs of Meclianitis eyansis 

 are. laid in clusters on the upperside of the leaves of the 

 cockroach plant — (Solanvm sp.) they are white conical ribbed 

 longitudinally, the larva: are giegarious — in these respects 

 differing quite from Tilliorea, Lycorea and Sais, although so 

 similar to the last mentioned in its perfect state. 



The pupa is very much like T. Jlavescens and S. eurymedia 

 and has the same beautiful appearance, but the dorsal depression 

 is not so pronounced. In the imago the likeness to Lycorea 

 appears and this is the only stage in which there is any 

 resemblance, this is striking enough to lead one to suppose theie 

 would be some characteristics in the two previous stages, both 

 in the habits of the larva and form of pupa which would give 

 one some clue to the relationship to Lycorea sp. 



These insects may all be procured near the same spot and 

 are usually seen together. They are protected in the same 

 manner as Lleliconius by a peculiarly offensive odor very much 

 like the smell of the oil in the cashew-nut. Mechanilis eyeeiisis 

 is one of the most easily captured butterflies, from its fondness 

 for a certain weed, (I am hoping to find out its name) which 

 grows to about five feet in height, with clusters of small white 

 lowers, somewhat like a thistle in shape, and very common in 

 some localities. As many as thirty or forty of them may be 

 captured with the fingers, when these plants are in flower. 

 From a good sized plant I have picked them ofl' in this manner, 

 one by one for my amusement. When liberated they will fly 

 round and return again ; so great is their fondness for the 

 flowers. Apparently there is no external difl'eience between 

 the male and female, but the sex may be at once discovered 

 by lifting the fore wing a little, and if there is any hair on the 

 costal nervure or vein of the hind wing we know at once that it 

 is a male specimen. The same distinction of sex is noticeable in 



