6 IXTKODL'C'IIOX. By Dr. A. Si;itz. 



it is also rich in examples of mimicry, in which Erycinids copy members of the Nymphalids, Ithomiids and 

 even protected Heterocera. Thus Tliemone pais mimics a Mcvhanitis, T/iemoiie j)oeci/a a I'hi/ciodes, Ifliomeis and 

 Compsotheria copy Neotropids, Li/ropteri/x olinia resembles in flight a Calodesnia of ([uite the same colouring, 

 and the little Sijrmatia, with their (piick, buzzing flight, bear, as they dash past one, more resemblance to 

 tlies than to buttei'tlies. 



The Lycaenids show, in the northern Nearctic region, many forms belonging to the genus Li/caetia 

 or nearly related thereto ; but as one proceeds further south Theda-like forms increase, much as in the Old 

 World. These Neotropical forms greatly exceed in size and brilliance the Indian Arhopala. 



The most interesting American group is unquestionably the Hesperids, which in many South 

 American localities occur in such a wealth of forms and individuals as to surpass, in variety and abundance, 

 all the rest of the Lepidoptera. The long-tongued species appear to be the sole fertilising agents for some 

 plants, and the picture of the white-tlowered bushes thickly covered with black Eanth abides vividly in the 

 memory of everyone who has collected in South America. 



Among the Heterocera the Zygaenids are far less prevalent' than the Syntomids, which are 

 extremelj' well represented and often lavishly adorned with metallic colours. Here a wide field is opened 

 for mimicry. The moths which are still commonh- designated "Glaucopids" appear in the most wondeiful 

 garb, some copying the predacious Hemiptera, others beetles, but the largest number Hymenoptera. The 

 strongest Hymenoptera in the woi-ld, the species of Pepsis, which wound bird-spiders with their sting and 

 carry them off as food for their offspring, are copied by a very large number of Syntomid species. Under 

 the name of "Marimbondo" this wasp is dreaded in America both by men and animals, on account of its 

 terrible sting, so that in fact no better model could be found for protective resemblance. Entire genera of 

 Syntomids, such as Macrocncnic, almost exclusiveh' copy these giant wasps. 



The Castniids present, in some measure, a transition from the moths to the Hesperids. The true 

 Gastniids, such as the genera Castiua, Gazera, etc., are absolutely confined to America and indeed to its 

 tropical and subtrojiical parts. We see in them moths with entirely the habits of butterflies , which not 

 only feed, like many day-tliers, at tlowers which grow in the sun, but also station themselves on jioints of 

 vantage at the extremities of the foliage where they dri\'e off their enemies, play with their own kind, and 

 lay wait for the passing females. 



The Arctiids of North America present many similar forms to those of the Old World , several 

 genera and some species, such as Arctiu cnja, Parasemui plunUicjiiiis, Phrngmatohia fuJigbumi, being common 

 to both hemispheres, without belonging to the holarctic polar fauna. The specifically American forms do 

 hot make their appearance in numbers till further south, where they appear of an entirely different build 

 and colour; as Ecpantheria and Hulesldofd, which are specially developed in Central America, and the 

 curious Pdliisfrii, whose larva is a(iuatic. But although the most singular forms of "tiger-moths" live in the 

 tropics, the gayest and most beautifully marked are found in temperate North America, such as Apaiitegis, 

 ■Plati/pjrepia, Haploa, etc. 



The Lithosiids, which in America, as in the Old World, are represented mostly by small forms, 

 are often, esiieciallj- in tropical America, brightly coloured and of diurnal habits. In North America itself 

 scarcely 50 forms occur, the>- seem to reach the height of their development in the warm valleys of the 

 Andes, just as in the East the slopes of the Himalayas have been shown to be particularly favourable to 

 their production. No s])ecies are known which are connnon to both hemispheres; indeed hardly any genera, 

 it we follow Hampsox (as against Kirby and Dv.\r) in removing Utetlwka from the family Lithosiidde. 



The Liparids of America, in so far as we accept the present composition of this family, are 

 considerably less prevalent than those of the eastern world. Ocneria dispur, the "gypsy-moth", is an 

 introduced species, whereas Orgijj,( ,inthp(,(, which is widely distributed in the west of the Old World, and 

 reaches far north, is to be regarded as indigenous. We assume this to be so, although the species is 

 common at some of the European ports (particularly Handnirg) and the larva is fond of spinning up on 

 bales of merchandise, where the sluggish female als(j lays its eggs, so that every year large numbers are 

 probably dispersed to the four winds. In the genus Gi/iniepliDrn the Liparids of America possess the species 

 (/'. groenlandicK and ros.s//, which reach the farthest north of all the Heterocera — perhaps of all Lepidoptera. 



The Limacodids, a family of universal distribution, are very plentifidly lepresented in South and 

 Central America, and develop elegantly marked, though small forms, manj- of them with a silky or metallic 

 gloss on the wings. From temperate America about 50 forms are known, which is about '/m of the total 

 of known species. From the whole of America perhaps three times as many are known, or over ','3 of the 

 total of known forms. It is remarkable that the northern part of America produces a far larger nund^er 

 of forms than that of the Palaearctic Region, which in many districts is very poor in Limacodids; thus in 

 the whole of Europe only two species occur, i. e. less than 72 per cent, of the known species. 



The Psychids as still constituted at pi'esent, do not form a homogeneous family. The case-making 

 ot the larvae and the degeneracy of the female are due to convergence, though Ihev iuue repeatedly been 

 taken to indicate relationship. In America the Psvchids plav only a small role: oulv 15 per cent, of the 



