PHYCIODES. By J. Ruber. 435 



To Ph yciofles in our sense, there belong about 1 60 species, of which those thtit resemble MelUaea frequent, 

 LUie these, flowery, open meadows, whereas the mimetic forms prefer the woods. Our figures show the enormous 

 diversity of species, a large number of which represent the best known exanrples of Mimicry. The Melitam- 

 like species are, however, connected witii the socalled mimetic ones by all kinds of intermediate forms, which, 

 although differing quite considerably from typical MeUtaea, cannot be considered as mimics either; for which 

 reason it is not possible to separate the species into regular groups, whereas they furnish an excellent means for 

 gaining an insight into the phenomei^on of mimicry by showing the maimer in which ordinary, ])lain forms 

 liave been changed into mimetic ones. Thus we are justified in considering Phijciodes as one of the most interest- 

 ing lepidopterous genera. The respective similarity of the mimetic forms to species of some other family 

 will ap2)ear in the descrijitions of the different species. The caterpillars, as far as known, were found on (jom- 

 prjsitae, f. i. Diclippa and Actinomeris. 



Ph. liriope. Of this species we know quite a number of local forms, some of which cannot be sharply 

 separated. — liriope Cr. (= morpheus F.) (89 a), fiom the Amazon, is the most gaudily marked form. Ground- liriope. 

 colour deep brownish-yellow, on the upper surface of the forewings the subapical band well developed, on the 

 hindwings, outside of the broadly blackish-fuscous border, a narrow submarginal band and, in addition a series 

 of spots which in 3' i*^ partly obliterated. — lirina St(jr. i. 1., from Bolivia, is a dwarf form distinguished by liriua. 

 the dark terminal markings both above and beneath. — claudina E.-^ch. (89 a), from southern Brazil and Argen- daudina. 

 tina has fewer, but more sharply defined markings, in q the sLU)apical band on the forewings often quite 

 rudimentary ; both sexes lack on the hindw ing the tliirfl dark macular band, and in the ,^ the submarginal band 

 is freciuently only just indicated. — flavia Godf. (89 a), from Chiriqni, is even less marked than claudina, fluvia. 

 having in particular the subapical band on the forewings reduced or only indicated by a few spots. — A 

 somewhat more strongly marked form, of paler ground-colour, is flavina Str/r. i. 1. (89 a) from Peru. — fragilis flavina. 

 Bates (89 a), from Cayenne, is characterized by the broad, dark boidcis of Ijoth wings, outside of which the mar- fragilis. 

 kings are greatly reduced, especially also on the underside. — guateniala Bates (89 b). from Guatemala and Hon- guatmmla. 

 duras, has the markings of the upper surface very much reduced and faded, those of the imder surface quite 

 insignificant. — pastazena Bates (89 b), from Ecuador. Ground-colour deep brownish-yellow; upper surface pnstajena. 

 almost devoid of all uuvrkings, with the exception of a narrow terminal border. Under surface pale, but sharply 

 marked. — anieta Heiv. (89 b), from Venezuela, has the marginal and subapical markings very distinct, but anieta. 

 aside from these the upperside quite unmarked. Underneath the ground-colour yellowish, with pale brownish 

 markings. — orobia Heii\ (89 b) from southern Brazil and Argentuia has the outer area of the forewings orobia. 

 heavily marked, otherwise ipiite nuinotonous. Proba]>ly anieta or orobia- is identical with the following thipne- 

 tus. — Larva bluish greenish-black, with a pale lateral stripe; venter greenish-yellow, head brown-yellow 

 striped with black. Lives gregariously on Cyrtanthera, when young on the underside of the leaves, of which 

 it only gnaws the epidermis. According to Dr. Seitz, the South-Brazilian form flies throughout the year, and 

 is exceedingly common; pupa very much like that of Arasclniia proysn, brownish-grey with violet lustre, very 

 prominent dorsal projections, and short, partly silvered points at the back. Lnago flics on forest-roads and 

 in gardens, is very common whereever it occurs, and has the jerking, swimmuig flight of our ArascJniia levana. 



Ph. cluvia Salv. a. Godin. closely approaches anieta, but the forewings are much more broadly black cluvia. 

 at the base; under surface nmcli darker, foroAvings with 2 ochreous spots, a larger one near the median 

 nervule, the other in the shape of a postdiscal band. A mountain form from Guatemala, oecurrmg at altitudes 

 of from 4—6000 ft. 



Ph. thymetus F. The original description of this species reads: "Wings complete (i. e. with smooth thymetus. 

 margins), yellow , with bro\\'n outer border. Habitat unknown' . Dr. A. G. Butler remarks m his "Catalogue 

 of Diurnal Lepidoptera described by Fabriciits in 1869" that this species is well figured in Jones' unpublished 

 ■'Icones", without, however, giving any further descri])tion. From the author's entirely insufficient descrip- 

 tion it appears to be some feebly marked form of liriope. Kirby's Catalogue mentions Brazil as its home. 



Ph. aniazonica Bates (89 b) from the Amazon has the wings much more rounded, both wmgs broadly amazonica. 

 bordered Avitli blackish-fuscous above, with 5, partly incomplete rows of black spots on pale brown ground. 

 Under surface greyish-yellow, with deep black, pale marguied rows of spots. 



Ph. Ursula Stgr. (89 c). from Bolivia, is a small-sized, brown-yellow species, marked with a delicate ursula. 

 network of black lines on the forewings above, from which the black subapical band stands forth very clearly. 

 The $ has the black markings much broader. On the yellowish, spaiingly brown-maiked under surface of 

 the hindwings a very distinct brown median longitudinal stiipe. 



Ph. nycteis Dbl. a. Hew. (89 c) is found in the United States of North America, from Maine to North nycleis. 

 Carolina, and westwards to the foot of the Rockies; it is the largest among its near allies. — Egg liaK as 

 high as broad, with 16 or 17 vertical stripes above, forming at the middle hexagonal figures; its colour is 

 green. The caterpillars undergoes i moults. Full-grown it is velvety black, with a dark orange streak along 



