INSECT IMITATION. 



597 



base to the tip, together with two rows of spots near the edge, 

 the outer row nearly circular, and the inner rather oblong. 



The second species, Heliconius Hecalesia, is a native of Bogota, 

 and is one of the many rare insects that Mr. Bates brought 

 from South America. There is only one specimen in the 

 British Museum. Its ground colour is velvet black, and near 

 the outer edge of both pairs of wings are some large spots of 



Fig. 33S. — Ilelicouius Hecalesia. 

 (Velvet black and greenish yellow.) 



greenish yellow. At the base of the lower wings is a large patch 

 of bright chestnut. Below, the colours are the same, but rather 

 duller than on the upper surface. 



This insect almost exactly imitates another Butterfly of the 

 same district, called Tithorea Hecalesina. The two insects fly 

 together in company— perhaps for the purpose of protection. 

 Mimicry is very common among the species of this large genus, 

 and, as is remarked by Dr. Horsfield, the South American genus 

 Heliconius is represented in Asia by the genera Euplcea and 

 Idea. The. larvae of Heliconius feed on the Passiflorae. 



