562 PREPONA. By H. Prithstorfer. 



which may be put on only in the basal region, but also in the distal half of the forewings, is absent in the 

 $9 being extremely rare and immediately distinguishable from the $ of P. laertes by a conspicuously light- 



oinphalc b u3 band and the almost quite white under surface of the hindwings. — otnphale Hbn., the name-t_>'pe, is 

 found on the Amazon near Obidos. The blue magnificent area of the forewings onlj' proximally defined by 

 violet. Under surface of the forewings with an intensely ochre-yellow subanal area. Under surface of all the 

 wings light grey except the yellowish anal angle of the forewings. Blue median band of the forewings with 

 a proximal and distal reflection. Specimens with such double-rowed reflection have been mentioned by Godart 

 from Surinam and Brazil, by Staudinger from Pebas and the Ucayali. They are lying before me from Surinam 

 amp.iia. and Bahia, and seem to be forms of particularly hot and dry periods. — amesia Fruh.ft. denotes the Andine 

 race; specimens from there are .somewhat larger than those of the plains of the Amazon and Surinam: the blue 

 median band grows narrower, because the black ground-colom- increases in extent. The under surface reminds 

 us of Boi.sditval's figure (t. 7. Spec. Gen. Lep. 1836) by the sharply defined silvery white basal half and the 

 brownish-grey distal region of all the wings, which is powdered only with few white scales, but the intermedian. 

 small ocelli of the hindwings are absent, whereas the apical and. anal ocelli are more strongly developed. Speci- 

 mens with only a proximal violet reflection are predominant. There occur, however, also such that correspond 

 to demodice and louisa in which we notice also on the jiindwings the magnificent violet hue. This aberration 

 divest, is called fa. dives Fruhst. {112 h). Blue median bands of the wings with two-sided blue reflection. Corresponds 

 to the forma demodice Godt. and differs from demodice by the light blue median band on the upper surface of 

 the hindwings, being also decorated with a double-rowed violet reflection. The figured specimen originates 

 from Peru, but I possess similar (J(J also from Colombia and from Panama. Certainly the Peru-(J(J on their 

 under surface do not attain the brilliant beauty of the blue eye-spots which decorate the Colombian (J^J of 

 dives. Mr. Fassl has taken magnificent $$ in the Rio Aquaca Valley in the Colombian West Cordilleras, from 

 an altitude of 2000 m. Under surface throughout silvery grey without the yellow anal area of the forewings 

 Hindwings likewise with proximal blue-pupilled ocelli and between them small, fine, oblong submarginal lunular- 

 or/nvia. spots. — octavla Fruhst., a relatively small geographical race with narrow blue bands and dark violet proximal 

 hue of the forewings. $ immediately separable from the $ of laertes prdlanfirts by the magnificent silvery white 

 loiiha. under surface of the hindwings and its more imposing blue eye-spots. Honduras. — louisa Btlr. exhibits the 

 most extensive violet decoration of the upper surface, whereby it even outshines dives in beauty. Cuba, rare. 

 rhrnen. — rhcnca subsp. nov. we meet in Bolivia and further inland in Mato Grosso. The specimens are already excelled 

 by those of Colombia in size and richness of colours. The blue median area is narrowed, the proximal reflection 

 is more extensive, but no more so magnificently blue as in amesia. Also the under surface grows darker, espe- 

 cially the intensely grey distal part of both the wings. Whereas three Colombian nmesin exhibit blue bands 

 running through as far as the costal border, only one o among 9 Bolivian specimens has this luxuriant decora- 

 tion. If I remember rightly, Mi-. Fassl has sent me for inspection, together with fa. dives, al.'o analogous speci- 



ahiihin'ia. niens. — abulotlia subsp. nov. resembles above the figured dives, except the band being piolonged as far as the 

 costal of the under surface of the forewing analogous to f/e/«ofZ«'re from Surinam, though with a light grey distal 

 part of both the wings and extremely reduced ochre-yellow subanal spot, abulonia may be considered the 

 local race with the lightest under surface of the whole species. Bahia. Similar specimens may occin- in Minas 

 Geraes, while Rio de Janeiro may be the home of a presumably darker geographical form. Specimens from 

 the latter province have become known to me only from the statements in literature. 



(jniiniiia. P. gHOrima closely approximates above P. omphale, and the violet hue seems always to be confined 



to the basal zone. The most characteristic under surface (112 b) which approaches rather P. eiigenes, differs 

 from P. laertes and P. omphale by the silver-glossy trimming of the black median band. The species is very 

 rare and within 25 years I have not succeeded in obtaining more than 3 specimens among the 450 Prepona 

 of my collection. Only three geographical deviations are to be mentioned: gnorimn Bates (= demophilei^/rfr.) 

 (112 b). cj: above as a rule with a very broad blue median area of the hindwings, although there are also t^^ 

 with a narrower band. As for instance, also the types of Felder that lay before me, are somewhat different : 

 one (J has a light chocolate under surface of the wings, which, in the second specimen, are of a more yellowish- 

 brown tinge. The chocolate ^ has above very narrow blue bands, and I believe that this specimen is the real 

 type. The second specimen is congruent with a ^^ from Colombia in my collection and has broader blue discal 

 bands of the upper surface. It is not impossible that these specimens come from another locality, maybe another 



iihilrtiifi. river-valley or range of mountains. — philetas Fruhst. differs from gnorima by the paler under surface of the 

 wings, being still lighter than in jordani Fruhst The region outside the submarginal band is set with broad 

 white diffuse spots. The black discal band of the under surface of the forewings similar to jordani, only bordered 

 with quite narrow white. The hindwings are extremely light, and the black discal band appears distally broader 

 and more coherently decorated in white than in gnorima. the ocelli grow also much larger. Honduras, very rare: 



jfirdani. besides observed in Guatemala and on the volcano Chu-iqui. — jordani Fruhst. (J 43 mm, against 50 mm of 

 gnorima from Colombia. Blue median band of the forewings shorter, broader and darker. Under sirrface: all 

 the wings lighter, especially the greyish-yellow region between the submarginal and median bands. The sil- 

 very white trimming of the median band being so characteristic of gnorima, especiallj- also beneath, consi- 



