( 335 ) 



XXIV. Contributions to an Insect Fauna of the Amazon 

 Valley. {Continued from page 228.) By H. W. 

 Bates, Esq., Cor. Memb. Ent. Soc. 



[Read November 24th, I860.] 



Group 2. P. Choridamas, and allies. 



The preceding group is connected, through P. Madyes and Victi'rinus, Dbld., 

 with the series of fine species of which P. iScaimiuder, Bdv., may be considered 

 the type, but which has no representative in the equatorial low lands of America. 

 IVext to this might naturally be ranged the group to which P. Poliicaon and Tlinas 

 belong ; but I prefer to fo'Jow the very evident line of affinity which connects 

 Protodamas of the preceding, to Choridamas of the present, group. Of the five 

 species, viz.: P. Chnridamas, Bdv.; P. Hyperion, Hiibn. ; P. Phaon, Bdv.; 

 P. Ulnpos, Gray, and P. Paiisanias, Hewits., which belong hereto, the last men- 

 tioned is the only one found on the banks of the Amazon. 'I'he group is remark- 

 able for the tendency lo elongation in the wings, which reaches an extreme point 

 in P. Pausavias ; where I he (acies of a Papilio gives place to that of a Heliconia. 

 It differs greatly in the antennae from the species of the preceding group ; those 

 organs bemg sliort, with a strong abrupt clul) bent outwards, as in the species of 

 the typical Podalirhis group. The abdominal fold of the hind wings is very slight 

 and turned downwards. 



P. Paumnlas, Hewits. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1852, pi. 6, f. 2. 



On the Amizon I have seen this species only at Villa Nova and at Ega. The 

 species of ffe/Jcn?H'(t which it most closely mimics is the //. C/(/(J« ; it has also 

 something of the sailing, circling flight of the Heliconia, but in other respects 

 shows very different habits. It is never seen in the shades of the woods, to which 

 the Heliconi<E are confined ; but is observed either about the summits of high 

 trees, or settled on the muddy margins of the rivers and lakes in company with 

 Sj)ecies of the preceding group. 



Group 3. P. Ilus, and allies. 



P. Enryleon, Hewits., of New Granada, connects the preceding naturally 

 with the present group. Here commences the style of colouration, viz.: black 

 ground colour, with crimson and white or green belts and spots, which charac- 

 terizes the main body of Neo-Tropical Paj)ilws. The species of the present 

 group, however, differ from those of the chief group of these insects in their an- 

 lenniB and habits. The antennae are here generally short, and rather abruptly 

 clavate, whilst always long and slender in the group mentioned. Their flight is 

 much more powerful, and, instead of being confined to the shades of the foiest, 

 they frequent the sunny skirts of the woods, and are frequently found with other 

 strong-flving Papitiniies at the moist margins of the rivers. The abdominal fold 

 to the hind wing of the males, also, is very different from that of the group alluded 

 to, beintr scarcely perceptible, whilst always very largely developed in the insects 

 composing the other gioup. The chief species are, Ilus, F. ; Ariaraihes, Esper ; 

 J3r(;j!c/ius, Doubleday ; Harmodius, 13bld. ; Enryleon, Hewits., and Hippason, 

 Cram.* The two last-mentioned differ greatly from the others in the antennae, 

 whilst agreeing with them well in all other respects. 



• Mr. Hewiison has lately acquired from Mexico an inexpressibly beautiful 

 new species of this group, which I hope he will shortly figure anu describe. 



