J. J. Joiccy and W. J. Kaye on Heliconine forms. 413 



In order to arrive at some scheme for classifying this 

 large amount of material, we have primarily divided up the 

 forms into those with a black hind-wing, or the true 

 melpomene type (125 specimens) ; those with a red basal 

 streak to the hind- wing, or the cybele type (420 specimens) ; 

 and those with the basal streak and cross streaks, or the 

 thelxiope type (186 specimens). 



As there are already so many named forms of Heliconius 

 melpomene, it may be questioned by some as to the value 

 of naming still more forms. But this can be decided 

 satisfactorily if one applies the question : Are the forms 

 recurrent, well marked, and perhaps of subspecific rank? 

 If so, we maintain they should be named. Of the forms 

 which we figure on Plate CVII, numbers 1,4,5,6 are certainly 

 terminal developments and well worthy of names. If one 

 accepts the three principal divisions or subspecies based 

 on the colouring of the hind-wing, viz. black hind-wing, 

 melpomeme melpomene; black basal streak, melpomene 

 cybele; and black basal streak with flame streaks, mel- 

 pomene thelxiope, it follows that for each named form (by 

 fore-wing) of one, there are probably parallel forms in the 

 other two hind-wing divisions. Thus melpomenides , with 

 a black hind-wing, has its parallel in dianides, with the 

 hind-wing red basal streak, and in liippolyte with the fully 

 streaked hind-wing. Although, perhaps, every parallel 

 form to other aberrations has not yet been described or 

 detected, it is more or less certain to occur, and should, 

 therefore, be described when found. The form eltringhami, 

 which we have described later, is treated as a new sub- 

 species, and while of extraordinary interest as having 

 occurred in the Guiana region, it is no doubt extremely 

 rare in that country and little more than a rare chance 

 aberration. But in some locality further south it is likely 

 that the type is more fixed, as in East Bolivia and South 

 Brazil a yellow-banded hind-wing form of melpomene is 

 the usual type. 



Appended are descriptions of three new forms in the 

 section, with black hind- wing. 



Heliconius melpomene melpomene ab. collis, nov. 

 (Plate CVII, fig. 3.) 



Fore-wing black with a red band of half the width of typical 

 melpomene and similar to melpomenides. It is edged on its inner 



