568 AGRTAS. By H. Fruhstorfer. 



Of the 7 species only two cross the real equatorial zone: first of all the oldest species, clavdia, which 

 has reached Southern Brazil on the Atlantic Ocean. Beside it, a second expansible species (amydon) advances 

 in the east as far as Bolivia, while in the west, it does not cross Central BrazU anymore. Curiously enough, 

 Venezuela is not inhabited by any Agrias, while we know 2 species from Cayenne and 2 species from Surinam. 



As to their exterior, the Agrias are to be divided into two groups: the species with a red upper surface, 

 and those with a variegated upjaer surface, being beneath spotted preponderantly with yellow or green. Both 

 the groups are united by ^4. amydon with partly reddisji-, partly already yellowish-coloured $$. 



A. Claudia. The oldest species, the red Agrias par excellence; ground-colour above black, sometimes 

 with a yellowish preapical brightening of the forewings. The latter always with a red basal area varying in 

 intensity of colour and in size according to the areal form. Hindwings with a large red disk diminishing 

 in size from north to south, thus attaining its natural maximum in Surinam, its minimum in Santa Catharina. 

 In the Andine -branches of the collective species and most of the forms of the Amazon, the red disk of the 

 hindwings is replaced by a small blue spot, and one might be attempted to consider such races as a 

 proper species, unless there occurred a vicarious type in Mato-Grosso uniting both the coloristic motives. — 



Claudia, claudia Schulz resembles above in the male sex a (^ of sahlkei (115 d), but the black subanal spot of the fore- 

 wings remains very small and does not extend beyond the submedian. The $ approximates the $ of croesus 

 (115 b), though the proximal margin of the forewings is also covered with red and the yellow subapical band 

 of the forewings is absent. The $ has been known already since 1776, the (J I first found in the Museum in 

 Stuttgart in 1895, and obtained myself the first specimens by J. Michaeli.s who b^^ my orders and at my 



sahlkei. cost went to Surinam chiefly on account of these Agrias. — sahlkei Hour. (115 d) is an areal form distinguishable 

 from claudia by the black spot of the forewings advancing as far as to the posterior median. In the $ the red 

 disk of the hindwings is sometimes stunted so that only a narrow red streak remains. Cayenne. Figure accor- 



croesu.t. ding to a rj in the Coll. Fruhstorfer. — On the Amazon there occurs a most similar subspecies, croesus Stgr. 

 (115 b) recognizable by the three relatively large yellow spots before the apex of the forewing. The $ was 

 figured according to a specimen discovered near Para, in the Coll. Riefarth; a (^ belonging to it was described 

 by Staudinger as a variety of A. sardanapalus, from the Itaituba on the Lower Amazon. Michael reports 

 about the capture of this butterfly (Iris 1894): 



,,One day I saw a magnificent Agrias sitting on tlie said liana which I visited day by day; judging from the under 

 surface 1 took it to be sardanapahis, but I was greatly surprised on discovering, when I took it out from the net. that it 

 was the long looked for, fabulous ,J of claudia. This claudia from the Amazon is indeed very easy to mistake for sardanapal us 

 on the under svirface; above, however, the difference is very great, since claudia exhibits on the hindwings a large red spot 

 being proxinially bordered by blue. Although I was now eagerly in search also for this butterfly, I only succeeded in 

 capturing a second specimen of this magnificent animal 3 years later, having returned to Itaituba; aixd it was most wonderful 

 how I came into possession of it. It was dviring my last stay at Itaitulia in spring 1893, when all of a sudden at noon, 

 just on the point of leaving the mentioned place, I saw an Agrias at a considerable height, though soon settling on a 

 leaf. My longest iiet-poles were unfortunately much too short; in my haste I could not find a suitable stick in tlie woods, 

 and only after having been searching for a long while I found a little slender tree of about 20 feet length which was fit 

 for a net-pole. But on fastening the net to it, the tliin pole moved to and fro, and it was leally a wonder that I 

 anyhow got the butterfly into the net. after having i-emained sitting on the leaf for almost 1.5 minutes, until I had found 

 the said pole." 



amazonica. amazotlica Stgr. is a 5 from the Lower, northern Amazon, which was discovered near Faro, in the Brazilian 

 part of Guiana. It has an almost entirely black upper surface of the hindwings, bearing scattered small red 

 scales only in the cellule; the veins are likewise covered with red towards the base. Michael writes about 

 this form : 



..When I was walking along a path on the beach, I suddenly noticed a red ray dashing through the air and soon 

 recognized a magnificent Ayrias which for some moments encircled the branch of a tree, about 8 m above me, in order to 

 settle finally down on it. At first 1 did not know what to do. But fortunately I noticed a small slender tree in some 

 distance, on which I hurriedly climbed up. But on arriving on top I was rather annoyed to discover that the net was still 

 too short. I nevertheless attempted, leaning forward as far as I could, a desperate blow and was happy to see the beautiful 

 being soon jerking about in the net. It was rather difficult to get down again. After having reached the ground, I began 

 to inspect my most interesting booty and discovered something cjuite new to me. As 1, however, knew only ■phalcidon and 

 sardanapalus, I took the animal to be the $ of the latter, and even Dr. Hahnel remained for some time in the dark 

 about it; but it soon proved to be the $ of claudia amazonica." 



vesla. vesta Fruhst. is a (J-form the forewings of which agree with those of A. claudia, but the red of the forewings 

 is more intense, and there are already the beginnings of a blue gloss beyond the cellule noticeable. The hind- 

 wings exhibit a smaller dark-violet disk at the cell-wall. The under suiface resembles that of claudia, only 

 the transcellular grey short band of the forewings is somewhat broader and the total colouring darker. Obidos 



nuLcentiu. on the Lower Amazon, discovered by Michablis in August, September 1899. Type in my collection. — maxen- 

 tia FruhM. from Marcapata (Peru) approximates croe.sus Stgr., the red of the forewings, however, is darker, 

 the discal macula of the hindwings somewhat blurred. Under surface of more intense colours than in vesta. 



infcrnalis. Type in the Coll. Staudinger. — infernalis Fruhst. shows on the forewings an increase of the red zone. The 



hindwings, however, are above quite black with slightly rouging veins near the cell-wall. British Guiana, 



gudinaiii. New Amsterdam. — godmani Fruhst. (115 b), a gigantic form and at the same time the most variable of all 



