346 Mr. H. W. Bates's Contributions 



In Nicaragua and Mexico it recedes further from the type, as P. My tales* {'Gray 

 MSS.). The species of South and Central Brazil (P. Zacynthus and P. Orsillns) 

 appear rather further removed from the type, but still are probably only further 

 modificatioDS of the same common form. 



P. Zacynlhus . . $, Fab. E. S. iii. 1,15, 46. 



5, ib. IG, 47 (as Dnnas). 



Var. Poli/metus $, Godt. Encyc, ix. 35, 28. 



'I'here is an example of the variety Polymetus in the British Museum Collec- 

 tion, said to have been taken by me at Para. 1 have no recollection of having 

 taiien it and have seen no other Amazonian specimen. On this account, and from 

 the fact of the form being probably confined to South-Eastern Brazil, I think, it 

 likely some mistake has occurred regarding the derivation of the specimen. 



P. Orsillus, Gray, Swaiiison, Zool. lllustr. 1st ser. pi. 92, ,J and ? 



(as Polymetus, Godt.) 

 This is the North Brazilian form of Zacynlhus, and is the prevailing species at 

 Pernambuco. It extends also to the middle and lower parts of the course of ihe 

 river Tapajos, a southern affluent of the Amazons. It certainly does not occur 

 in the alluvial plains of the main river. 



Group 6. P. Thuas, and allies. 



The antennae in this group are moderately long and slender, wiih an elongate, 

 gradually-thickened club. The males sometimes differ from the females strongly 

 in colouration. They have generally spots or belts of an ochreous-yellovv colour 

 on an olivaceous or fuscous black ground colour of wings. Akhough they are 

 "swallow-tails," they differ greatly from ihe Machnoii and Foilalhius groups of 

 the genus; and they are more immediately connected through P. Torqualus with 

 the ^/(c/!(Sia(/f4- group of American Papilioues, Their habits aie in perfect con- 

 trast to those of the preceding group. They are never seen at home in the shades 

 of the forest, but prefer the open country, the gardens and plantations near the 

 towns and villages, and the bordeis of the forest. They fly boldly and sometimes 

 soar to great elevations. The females settle on flowers on the borders of the forest. 

 i he species, as might be inferred from their more locomotive habits, are of more 

 extensive range than the Mneas group, some one or more of them being found 

 from Chili to the southern parts of the United States ; they are abundant too in 

 the VVest India Islands, which appear to be the focus of the group. 



P. Pohjcaon $ , Cram. 203 A, B. 



$ , ib. 1 6 C. D. (Jiidrogetts), and var. ib. 204 A. B. 



(Piranthus). 



Common in open places throughout the Amazon region. Both varieties of the 

 $ occurred. The species is found from the south of Brazil to Cuba. 



• P. Mylotes, Gray, List Lep. B. M. No. 258. As the species has not been 

 described, I add a short diagnosis. $. Size, shape and ground colour of wings 

 as in P. Eurimedts $. Fore wing with a large triangular spot behind the 

 median nervule, connected at its apex with a smaller one lying across the cell 

 towards its apex, green, with two rather large cream-coloured spots terminating 

 it, one of iheni btlween the second and third median nervules, the other lying 

 across the cell. The base of the green spot lies between the first median nervule 

 and the post-median nervure. Hind wing with a carmine palmate spot as in 

 Eurimedes. J . Similar to J Eiirimedes, an oblong cream-coloured spot lying 

 across the middle of the wing, traversed by the median nervure and third median 

 nervule. Hind wing with a very broad belt, pale carmine, crossing the wing, 

 close behind the cell; it consists of five elongate spots, the intersecting nervures 

 very faintly indicated, and it does not eater the cell. Nicaragua, from M. De- 

 lattre's Collection, 



