Mr. P. H. Gosse on the Insects of Jamaica. 269 



87. Heterochroa Iphicla (var. ?). In elevated situations this 

 buttei'fly is rather common, and it extends down to the level of 

 the lower hills. At the brow of Bluefields Mountain it may be 

 met with at all seasons, playing around the summits of tall blos- 

 soming shrubs. Its motions are sudden and rapid ; it frequently 

 alights and sits on a flower or leaf, with its wings spread to the 

 sun, or alternately opens and closes them quickly in the manner 

 of the Vanessce : shy and vigilant, an approach puts it instantly 

 on the wing, when it darts swiftly out of reach among the bushes, 

 but soon returning to the same spot again. In this butterfly, as 

 well as several others which seem to be specifically identical with 

 Brazilian specimens, there is a peculiarity of form in West Indian 

 individuals by which they may be at once distinguished. It con- 

 sists in a tendency to increased development of the tailed pro- 

 cesses of the posterior wings. Though this may not be observable 

 in a comparison of a single specimen from each locality, it be- 

 comes conspicuous when a large collection comes under the eye. 



38. Chlorippe Laura. A male and a female of this species 

 occurred, both on the Hampstead Road, in June. Their man- 

 ners were much the same as those of the preceding. 



39. Timetes Chiron (P. Marius, Cram.). In the lowlands, 

 especially at Sabito, this species is not uncommon during sum- 

 mer, appearing about the end of April : in mountain localities it 

 is rather rare. It affects road-sides, and open grassy glades in 

 woods ; in the former dancing along the road at a small eleva- 

 tion with a zigzag flight, in the latter occasionally alighting on 

 the turf. When one is seen, others are usually not far ofi^; but 

 the species is not gregarious. It is rather difficult of capture, 

 being swift when alarmed. 



40. Gyncecia Dirce. Contrary to the habits of most butterflies, 

 this species avoids the sun. Dark and sombre woods, where 

 there is little underwood, but where the meeting and interlacing 

 branches overhead admit only a subdued light, are its favourite 

 haunts. A grove of rose-apple trees {Eugenia jamhos) by the 

 side of the Hampstead Road, and a gloomy corner of the 

 zigzag Bamboo Walk on Grand-Yale Mountain, are situations 

 where it may be seen in some numbers on any day in summer. 

 I have also seen it rarely in the high woods of Auld Ayr, behind 

 Bluefields. When alarmed it flies rather swiftly, with an irre- 

 gular motion, for a few yards only, suddenly and unexpectedly 

 alighting on the trunk of a tree, erecting its closed wings in the 

 same moment. The action is exceedingly like that of the Cato- 

 calcB, and as in the case of those moths, the sudden cessation of 

 flight often causes the unpractised eye to lose sight of the object : 

 in flight the contrast of the broad pale yellow bands on the black 

 wings renders it conspicuous, but the variegated under surface. 



