560 PREPONA. By H. Fruhstorfer. 



.surface of the forewings are extremely widened, decorata approaches simois Fldr., though it has above narrower 

 blue bands and smaller blue subcostal spots, the 5 blue dots on the upper surface of the hindwings being r.lso 

 absent. Under surface: all tlie black bands and maculae thinner and more delicate, the silvery s^^ots somewhat 

 broader and standing more closely beneath each other. Hindwings of a more greyish than yellowish-brown 

 anji/rhi. around-colour. The ocelli considerably smaller. Minas Geraes. — argyria subsp. nov.. the production of a pro- 

 vince with a jjreiJonderantly dry climate, having above still more considerable and lighter blue magnificent 

 bands than decorata. The ocelli of the hindwings extensively bordered by ochreous, as it is not noticed in any 

 other race of eugenes. Under surface without the yellowish admixture in the basal region of an almost pure 

 white and silvery gloss. The median spotted side of the forewings narrower than in decorata, but united more 

 to the shape of a band, the black submarginal band extraordinarily strong, resembling P. pylene bahiana with 



transient, which I even formerly united it. Bahia. — transiens Fruhst. This peculiar Prepona forms an intermediary 

 Ijet^veen eugenes and P. pylene. With eugenes it has in common: the wing-contour, the apex being but some- 

 what proniinent and the insignificantly developed anterior blue median spots of the forewings, as well as the 

 distally ochreous-yelloSv ringleted anal ocellus on the hindwing shining distinctly through to the upper surface, 

 and especially the yellow scent-tuft of the hindwings. The median band, however, is darker blue than in the 

 ew^e?ie.s-forms and harmonizes in the colouring with the P. pylene-races. Under surface: excepting the absent 

 black dot between the little subcostal veins (just like in engenes), the dark colour, especially of the distal 

 half of the wings, coincides with the vicarious types of P. pylene. Envii'ons of Theresopolis, Varge grande, 

 at an elevation of about 2000 m in Santa Catharina. Hitherto only one specimen discovered and known. — 

 (Vthiid. diluta Fruhst. The blue bands on all the wings apjDcar somewhat narroM^er than in laertides Stgr. and are 

 on the hindwings, towards the anal angle, somewhat taperhig. The under surface of diluta is lighter and provided 

 with more diffuse markings, especially with respect to the black zigzag-discal-bands. The base of the hind- 

 wings more yellowish, instead of purely silvery-white as in laertides. The marginal zone of the hindwings with 

 obsolete grey, instead of black scales. The ocelli with more indistinctly black pupils, bordered by a lighter 

 and broader yellow. Paraguay. Valve (judging from a specimen of the laertides Stgr.-mce) distinctly rounded off. 

 P. laertes. One of the best known species being still the most difficult to discuss, since it inclines to 

 the most extravagant variations of all the representatives of the genus. Hardly any specimen is like the other, 

 and even the characters of marking on the under surface are variable. The under surface resembles somewhat 

 that of P. eugenes, P. pylene and P. gnorima (112 b), though it is immediately separable from all these species 

 by the absence of series of white or silver-glossy spots at the median band of the forewings. The under sur- 

 face, in general, equals our figure of P. autolycus (112 c) and varies in such a way that according to the 

 localitv there are specimens predominant either with extensive ochreous parts or with preponderantly grey 

 parts. Most conspicuous is the variation of the yellowish median zone between the submai-ginal and the trans- 

 cellular black zigzag-band. Sometimes these lines approach each other near the cell like in autolycus (112 c) 

 on our figure, so that a narrow yellow or grey-tinged canal results, or the small zigzag-stripes are separated 

 from each other so that there is a wide, broad opening somewhat similar to that in neoterpe (112d). Inter- 

 esting combinations of figures are also formed by the hepatic or cordiform sjiot between the middle or posterior 

 median standing isolated or, as in 112 c in autolijcus, touching the submarginal band or being entirely absorbed 

 by it, so that peculiar broad serrated contours are being formed. On the upper surface we notice the constel- 

 lations being also usually found in the black-tufted Prepona of the meander-antimache-group. The three trans- 

 cellular spots depicted on our figures of penelope (111 a) and pallidior (111 a) may be existing in ^ and $, or 

 be missing altogether (fa. antikleia Fruhst.). Besides there are also intermediate forms with but one broadly- 

 emanated costal .spot, especially in the $$, and small blue subapical splashes. The range of P. laertes is about 

 the same as that of P. antinvtche. The offshoots of the collective species are found from Costa Rica to Bolivia 

 pallaiiiiii-:. and from Guiana to the southernmost parts of Brazil and Paraguay. — pallantias suhsp. nov. The blue band 

 of the forewings of the $$ more uniformly broad, anteriorly more compact, more roundish. Under surface 

 uncommonly extensively faded, ochreous. Shape entirely larger than in the more .southern races from the 

 v\ciri.r. .Amazon and Guiana, Costa Rica, parts of Colombia, — victrix form. nov. forms the maximum of the luxuriant 

 development of the blue magnificent area exhibiting besides, by means of two imposing transcellular spots 

 and a very broad costal spot, a band-shaped prolongation as far as to the costal margin of the forewings. From 

 iknrios:. the Upper Rio Negro from 800 m (East Colombia), sent to me for inspection by Mr. Pas,sl. — ikarios Fruhst. 

 is a form occupying the whole Amazon basin up to the foot of tlu' .Andes and Guiana. Upper surface like in 



aiitolyraf:. penelope (HI a), but the blue bands shorter and broader. As autolycus Fruhst. a form is described without 



blue costal spots of the forewings. By the profusely dark-yellow under surface of the wings, ikarios is coloured 



ncinthii-!. according to the same scheme as P. nntimache demophoon Hbn. — agathus subsp. nov. is based upon a large 



form found predominantly in Peru, but also appearing already in some parts of Ecuador. The magnificent areas 



pcnriopr. of the upper surface surpass those of penelope (Ilia) in extent. — penelope Fruhst. (Ilia) is beaten in the 

 habitus by agathus. The discal band of all the wings is of a darker blue and narrower than in the nor- 



anlikkid. thern forms; the under surface exhibits fewer ochre-yellow places. — As antikleia Fruh.st. a (J-form was 

 introduced without a blue preapical spot on the forewing. Bolivia. ,,The copulation-apparatus is (according 

 to Stiohel) distinguished by two long lateral, somewhat curved, strongly chitinized prolongations below the 



