Mimetic Relationships in the genus Heliconius. 129 



parations of genitalia, provide, at least in my own opinion, 

 conclusive evidence of the specific identity of all the 

 forms above considered, and divided in Stichel and 

 RifEarth's monograph into ten species. Considered alone, 

 the question of whether all these forms are representatives 

 of one or several species is of little real importance except 

 as a study in variation. The interest of the matter will, 

 however, become apparent when we come to investigate 

 the peculiar mimetic relationships occurring between the 

 two sections of the genus. 



H. besckei. 



This species I keep separate both on account of the 

 form of the claspei with its tuft of bristles and also because 

 of the pattern of the hind- wing underside. Kaye was at 

 one time of the opinion that it was a form of eralo phyllis, 

 though this cannot be maintained in view of the structure 

 of the male claspers. Also I think it is rightly placed 

 in Section I. It should be noted, however, that on the 

 hind- wing underside there are some small whitish spots 

 at the apex, and similar spots are occasionally found in 

 examples of melpomene, and the relationship, if not specific, 

 is extremely close. 



Section II. 

 H. crispus. 



I have not been able to examine the armature of this 

 species, and the pattern, being so profoundly modified in 

 mimicry of a Titlwrea, furnishes little evidence of its 

 identity. 



H. hecuba. 



The patterns of hecuba. choarinus, and cassandra support 

 the view that they are all one species, and whilst I have 

 had no example of longarenus to examine, its pattern 

 indicates that it is conspecific with cassandra. If another 

 example of longarenus is evei discovered I shall be sur- 

 prised it its locality is not found to be identical with that 

 of gynaesiu8. 



H. hecalesia. 



The armature of hecalesia is so characteristic that the 

 fact of the same organ in octavia being precisely similar 

 leaves no doubt in my mind that they are forms of the 



TRANS. EXT. SOC. LOND. 191G. — PARTI. (AUG.) B 



