128 HELICONID,E. 



Genus XII. MECHANITIS. 



Mechanitis Fab., Hilbn. 

 Heliconia Latr., God*. 



EUKIDES, MELINiEA, Hlibll. 



Head of moderate size, scaly ; the scales on the forehead long, erect. 



Eyes prominent, slightly oval. 



Maxillae double the length of the thorax. 



Labial Palpi slender, rising above the forehead, scaly, with an elongate dorsal tuft. First joint 

 subcylindric, much curved, two fifths the length of the second, which is slenderer, especially at 

 the apex, subcylindric, slightly compressed ; third joint elongate, slender, cylindric, acuminate 

 at the apex, one half the length of the first joint. 



Antennae more than two thirds the length of the body, very gradually clavate ; the joints of the 

 club much shorter than those of the basal parts, mostly marked with two grooves below ; the 

 apical joint pointed. 

 Thorax oval, rather small. 



Anterior Wings subtriangular, very elongate, more so in the males than in the females ; anterior 

 margin slightly rounded, generally twice as long as the outer margin, which in the males is 

 nearly straight except at the apex, in the females rather more rounded ; inner margin in the 

 males scarcely longer than the outer, in the females about one fourth longer. Costal nervure 

 extending beyond the cell. Subcostal throwing off its first nervule a short distance before the 

 end of the cell; its second a little beyond, or at the end of the cell; the third midway between 

 the second and the fourth, this midway between the third and the apex ; the fifth reaching the 

 outer margin a little below the apex. Upper disco-cellular nervule wanting. First discoidal 

 nervule sometimes only just touching the subcostal nervure, sometimes united to it for a short 

 space. Middle disco-cellular directed very obliquely inwards and downwards, shorter than the 

 lower, which is directed obliquely outwards to the angular bend of the third median nervule. 

 First and second median nervules widely separated. Internal nervule very slender, running 

 into the submcdian nervure. 



Posterior Wings elongate, obovate. Precostal nervule simple. Costal and subcostal nervules 

 running parallel and close to one another, nearly to the outer angle in the males, more divergent 

 in the females, or united in one nervure as far as the middle of the wing, then diverging : the 

 costal being very short. Discoidal nervure appearing to be a fourth submcdian nervule. 



