556 



PREPONA. By H. Frithstokfek. 



resembles /'. antimnche, but tlie blue subapical spots of the forevviiigs aie tiliHost vertically placed below each 

 other and the median band is likewise set more steeply. — The valve is somewhat more slender than in antimac/ie 

 tijrias Fruhst. from Rio Grande do Siil. From Cuba where it is rare. 



P. Camilla, an extremely localized species of which only few specimens have become known. Its 

 relationshijj to P. nntiniache is about like that of P. ■phaedrn to P. deniophon. Camilla may be considered as the 

 species being the most conspicuously decorated in blue we know, and in no other species we find such a luxuriant, 

 magnificent area of a greenish lustre, as in cnmilla. The blue zone as well as the preapical blue vary accord- 



cainUla. ing to the locality of the two territorial forms. — Camilla Godm. and Sa-lv., described from Nicaragua and 

 Panama, bears two elongate, narrow blue preapical stripes and a magnificent band excelling but slightly the 

 extension of that of P. demopho)!. Under surface preponderantly light ochre-yellow with a brown longitudinal 



mclabus. band of the forewings, being divided at the posterior radial. — metabus subsp. nov. *) s1ioa\s three light-blue, 

 broad streaks and a more extensive magnificent band of the forewings than Camilla. The under surface is con- 

 spicuously differentiated by brownish-yellow colouring with extensive yellowish areas of a silvery gloss. Colom- 

 bia, originating from a so-called ,, Bogota-consignment", but surely taken near Muzo, from wlieie it lay likewise 

 before me, out of on altitude of 7 to S()() m from more modern collec^tions. 



P, meander. One of the most noted species and beneath easily discernible by the sharply delimited 

 dark-brown distal half contrasting strongly with the lighter, whitish or grey basal zone of a silvery gloss. There 

 is a conspicuous whitish, roundish or crescentic spot at the subcostal of the hindwings. The upper surface 

 differ.s but slightly from that of P. deinophon, but light greenish or bronze-glossy bands, as in P. demup/ion 

 and P. antini'iche, do not occur. The $ beats the cJ(J in size and exhibits more imposing transcellular stripes 

 of the upper surface of the forewings, and beneath, the outer wing-half presents itself somewhat more 

 faded brown. According to the locality, the size of the specimens varies, reaching the maximum of deve- 

 kipment in the Andine region, the minimum in the South Brazilian races. The geographical range coincides 

 with that of P. demophon. In the north, Mexico is yet inhabited by the species, in the south, Rio Grande do 



pliijcbii.'i. Sul. — phoebus Bsd., the northernmost branch, described from Guatemala, is lying before me from the Vol- 

 cano Chiriciui and the Cauca Valley from Colombia. The preapical blue spots of the forewings somewhat more 

 exten-sive and of a brighter lustre, and the under surface of the forewings in their outermost part some- 



iiK'iniiln: what more fallow than in the Surinam-form. — meander Cr. (Ill c) of which we figure a $ from Surinam, the 



habitat of the nomenclatural typt', occurs in the same form also on the Lower Amazon. A similar race is found 



iiic(jabalcs. on the Isle of Trinidad. — megabates subsp. nov. is in the male sex as large as the figured Surinam- $, the 



blue spots di.stal from the forewing-cell appear somewhat smaller, and the basal zone of the under surface of 



megacles. the hindwings is somewhat darkened. Peru, Bolivia. — megacles fonn. nov. inhabits Central Brazil. Both the 

 sexe-; are beaten in the habitus by the vicarious types mentioned so far, being coincided by a reduction of 

 the blue magnificent bands. The basal zone of the under surface of the forewings mostly appears covered 

 by dark-grey or violet, the antiterminal margin of the forewings more sharply defined than in meander coin- 

 ciding thereby with pkoebn.s and megabates. Tj'pe from Esprritu Santo, at hand also from Minas-Geraes. Near 

 soron. Rio de Janeiro not very common. — soron subsp. nov. (Ill c) is based upon specimens from Therescpolis 

 in Santa Catharina. The shape of the w ings grows more pointed and narrower than in megacles, the blue spots 

 and bands of the upjier surface are still more reduced than in the Central Brazilian areal forin. On the ruder 

 surface of the forewings, the antiterminal margin is confluent with the dark ground-colour as in meander. Hind- 

 wing generally lighter brown with fading distal zone. — amphimachus is here deprived of its rights as species, 

 which Bates, Kikby and Staudinger have assigned to it, whereas I took it to be a side-form of P. meander, 

 following the example of Godman and Salvin. The form antimachtis is generally more common, especially 

 in the Andine region, not at 'all rare in Mexico, very common in Central America, whereas the proper meander 

 are of a rare occurrence there. The wing-contour is deviating, more roundish, the blue band is more extensive 

 in the northern races, the under surface nearly always ochre-yellow, the median band always pregnant, the 

 distal zone sometimes darkened, but even in the most melanotic races never extensively brown and sharply 

 defined as in meander. Basal region of the hindwings especially in the $ always faded yellow instead of whitfsh. 

 amphimachus has always the subcostal white spot of the hindwings in common with meander, amphimachus 

 occurs at the same time with P. meander. Vertically it rises up to 2000 m, whereas meander seems to be homed 

 (■inclia. more in the lower regions. — cinctus Fruhst. was already in 1904, considered by myself to be a form of 

 the dry period of P. meander. It is indeed the northernmost branch. Habitus smaller than the Central American 

 sister-race, the subapical blue spots being also reduced. Under surface preponderantly greyish violet, as well 

 aiiipliil.tioii. as the distal half of the hindwings. Mexico. — amphiktion subsp. nov., an excellent geographical form, beating 

 in size the Amazon- and Surinam races. The magnificent band of the upper surface of a lighter and more glossy 

 blue, the transcellular spots very large. Under surface of the (^^ extensively clouded with brown, whereby 

 a deceptive likeness with meander is produced; $, however, immediately distinguishable from amphimachus 



MetabiLS, tlio father ol' Cainill.i. 



