eC suT) 
XXV. Description of the female sex of Morpho adonis, 
Cram. By W. L. Distant. 
[Read August 3rd, 1881.] 
PLATE XX. 
3. Papilio adonis, Cram., Pap. Ex., i. t. 61, A. B. 
(L779): 
Morpho adonis, Godt., Ene. Méth., ix. p. 489, n. 8 
(1823). 
?. Papilio marcus, Schall., Naturf., xxi. p. 174, n. 4, 
tA, t.. 1, 2 (785). 
Zeuaidia marcus, Kirby, Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lep., p. 116, 
8 (1871). 
Under the name of P. marcus, Schaller undoubtedly 
described and figured the female sex of this butterfly. 
The figure itself, however, is so indifferent, the colour 
being actually misleading,-—no locality being cited 
as a habitat,—that lepidopterists have apparently been 
unable either to identify the insect or place it in its 
proper genus; Mr. Kirby in his most useful Catalogue 
not omitting to record the species, and placing it with 
probability—from the figure—in the genus Zeuzidia. 
Having acquired a specimen from British Guiana, and 
examined the unrivalled collection of the genus Morpho 
in the possession of Messrs. Godman and Salvin, I have 
come to the conclusion that this butterfly is certainly 
the female sex of M. adonis, Cram. Although very 
dissimilar in coloration above to the male sex, a like 
contrast is exhibited in the sexes of some allied species, 
and whereas in Morpho cypris the females are dimorphic, 
it is possible that the form here described may prove 
also to be but one dimorphic phase of the female of 
M. adonis. 
Morpho adonis, Cram., female. (Pl. XX., figs. 1, 2). 
Wings above brown, with the following pale’ stra- 
mineous markings: primaries with a costal streak 
TRANS. ENT. Soc. 1881.—PaRT III. (SEPT.) 
