248 THE LOWER AMAZOXS. Chap. VI. 



Heliconii, a group of butterflies peculiar to tropical 

 America, having long narrow wings, were very abundant. 

 The prevailing ground colour of the wings of these 

 insects is a deep black, and on this are depicted spots 

 and streaks of crimson, white, and bright yellow, in 

 ditferent patterns according to the species. Their 

 elegant shape, showy colours, and slow, saiHng mode 

 of flight make them very attractive objects, and their 

 numbers are so great that they form quite a feature 

 in the physiognomy of the forest, compensating for the 

 scarcity of flowers. Next to the HeUconii the Cata- 

 grammas (C. astarte and C. peristera) were the most 

 conspicuous. These have a very rapid and short, flight, 

 settUng frequently and remaining stationary for a long 

 time on the trunks of trees. The colours of their wings 

 are vermilion and black, the surface having a rich 

 velvety appearance. The genus owes it-s Greek name 

 CatagTamma (signifying " a letter beneath") to the curious 

 markings of the underside of the wings, resembhng 

 Arabic numerals. The species and varieties are of 

 almost endless diversity, but the majority inhabit the 

 hot valleys of the eastern parts of the Andes. Another 

 butterfly nearly allied to these, Callithea Leprieurii, was 

 also very abundant here at the marshy head of the pool 

 before mentioned. The wings are of a rich dark-blue 

 colour, with a broad border of silvery gTeen. These two 

 groups of Callithea and CatagTamma are found only 

 in tropical America, chiefly near the equator, and are 

 certainly amongst the most beautiful productions of a 

 region where the animals and plants seem to have been 

 fashioned in nature's choicest moulds. A great variety 



