XCVll 



a flowering bush, as I found at Caracas, are very difficult to 

 determine at a short distance away. In flight the tails of the 

 Protogonius are only noticeable when it is sailing along with 

 outstretched wings above one's head. When fluttering near 

 the ground the resemblance to Lycorea is remarkable. 



" It is difficult to know where to say the group as a whole 

 ends and what species to include. Objection might be taken 

 to including Hypoleria ocalea, but it can easily be mistaken for 

 Epithomia alpho on the wing. While in the other direction it 

 links up the more transparent smaller Ithomiine species such as 

 Pteronymia agalla, of which four were taken, Heterosais giulia, 

 one only of which was taken, and Episcada sylpha, which as 

 usual was quite common. These three last species are really 

 properly speaking mountain butterflies, occurring much more 

 commonly at 3000 ft. At 500 ft., the elevation at which the 

 specimens exhibited were caught, many really mountain 

 species occasionally put in an appearance. It is possible, 

 for instance, to take Olyras crathis where I was collecting, as 

 I saw a pinned specimen in the hut of an old man who years 

 ago collected for Staudinger. Most probably also Eutresis 

 kypereia can also be taken occasionally. 



" The total absence of any Melinaea was noteworthy as it 

 left Heliconius aulicus without any very close mimetic con- 

 nection. Melinaea lilis is found at Caracas at 3000 ft., and 

 it was specially noted at San Esteban that there were no 

 Melinaea species to be obtained. Heliconius aulicus never 

 flew before 11 a.m., and only if there was strong sunshine. Its 

 flight was usually in long sweeps, and occasionally it would 

 ascend quite fifty feet in height. The actual numbers taken 

 must be looked upon as rather out of proportion to all the other 

 species of the group, as a special effort was made to secure a 

 series of this exceedingly local and usually rare insect. A 

 second Heliconitis species that occurs on the same ground and 

 which also belongs to the large association is Heliconius 

 anderida estebana. The species was apparently only just 

 beginning to appear, as two fine specimens were seen but not 

 taken. A very old and worji specimen was, however, secured, 

 making the identification certain. The race estebana varies 

 to the race clara, and a most varied series was obtained by 



PROC. ENT. SOC. LOND.j V, 1922. G 



