124 HELICONlDiE. 



the second joint very short, though not transverse ; the third transverse ; the fourth extremely short, obliquely 

 truncate at the apex ; the fifth very small, about as long as the fourth, with the apex slightly truncate, furnished 

 with a small membranaceous appendage. The apex of the first joint has a pair of very slender spines ; the second 

 and third joints having the usual stout spines. 



In Ithomia Indola, rather an aberrant species, the first joint is long, nearly cylindric, armed at the apex, as is also 

 the second, with a pair of stout spines ; the second, third, and fourth joints have a tuft of strong hairs near the base, 

 largest on the fourth joint. These hairs arise, each from a proportionally large circular depression, which give the part 

 of the joint where they have their origin a somewhat honeycombed appearance. The fifth joint is very small, 

 narrowest at the apex, where it is truncate. This species offers a slight difference in the claws of the middle and 

 posterior feet, which have the inner lacinia of the paronychia longer than in most of the other species. Other variations 

 may possibly be found to occur. 



The posterior wings offer some variations in structure, which are worthy of notice here, though they will be discussed 

 more fully elsewhere. In the section to which I have applied Hiibner's name Ilymenitis, the median nervure traverses 

 the wing much nearer to the anterior margin than usual ; consequently, as the cell is tolerably wide, the whole of the 

 nervures of the upper half of the wing are thrust together close to the anterior margin, the result of which is, that, when 

 the wings are expanded naturally, the posterior margin of the anterior wings covers the costal and subcostal nervures 

 entirely, and almost or quite hides the discoidal nervure. Sometimes the discoidal nervure and lower disco-cellular 

 nervule are atrophied previously to reaching the point where otherwise they would anastomose. In one section, the course 

 of the median nervure being rather lower, the discoidal nervure is considerably removed from the anterior margin and 

 becomes very conspicuous, the cell being closed by the two disco-cellular nervules, which form a straight line. 



In another section this character is found in the females : but the males have the cell much longer ; closed by the upper 

 disco-cellular nervule, which runs very obliquely inwards to the discoidal nervure : by the lower disco-cellular nervule, 

 which has nearly the same position as in the females ; and by that portion of the discoidal nervule which intervenes 

 between the point where the upper disco-cellular anastomoses with it above, and that where the lower disco-cellular 

 anastomoses with it below. 



Lastly, many species have a structure similar to that just described, not in the males only, but in both sexes. 



A large proportion of the species of this genus have the wings more or less diaphanous, the nervures and margin 

 being black or fuscous. This transparency is not owing to the absence of scales, nor to their being deciduous as in the 

 Sesia?, but to their extreme slendemess, and rather wide dispersion. Their form in the diaphanous parts of the wings 

 varies much, but commonly they are so deeply cleft and so slender as to resemble two hairs united at the base. Of 

 the other species, by far the greatest number have the wings fulvous, varied with black and yellow markings, as in the 

 genus Meehanitis, and amongst the last species of Heliconia;. The males have on the anterior margin of the posterior 

 wings a tuft of long silky hairs, generally lying closely appressed, but which often in dried specimens are elevated. It 

 is difficult to conceive that the insect can have the power of elevating and depressing them at pleasure. These tufts 

 of hair have their origin between the costal and subcostal nervures, and the portions of the wing whence they arise, 

 and which they cover, are generally of a different texture from the rest. In some species there is a thick, oval, 

 corneous plate placed about the middle of the costa, depressed below the level of the wing, so as to form a cavity above, 

 lined with very minute scales, and receiving the tuft of hairs. This plate is sometimes quite devoid of scales below. 



The Geographical Range of this genus extends over the whole intertropical part of America, and one species 

 is reported to have been found in Virginia, but this undoubtedly is an error. I believe the southern part of East 

 Florida to be its northernmost limit, though even of that there is no very clear evidence. 



Insects of rather delicate structure, the greater portion of the species prefer the shade of thick woods, frequenting 

 the spots where a gleam of sunshine has penetrated the foliage, and cast an uncertain light over the brushwood. In 

 these spots some of the species assemble in little groups on the ends of the branches, in the same manner as Heliconia 

 Charitonia. Mr. Dyson informs me that this is particularly the case with Ithomia Iphianassa. This species, as well as 

 Ithomia Chloris, Ith. Coeno, Ith. Agnosia, Ith. Ocalea, and Ith. Phemonoe, is common in Venezuela in the warmer 

 country, up to about two thousand feet of elevation. Ithomia Dercetis, which is an insect of rather faster flight, is 

 found at an elevation of eight thousand feet, and even in this cool region prefers the shade of the forests. 



The following List of Species is very unsatisfactory, as not one half of the species existing in collections have been 

 described. Some few species have obtained manuscript names, chiefly from dealers ; but no authority can be attached 

 to them, the more so as I have seen different names applied by tin- same person to the same species. 



