30 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



Habits. These Butterflies are weak flyers, chiefly frequent- 

 ing woods, and are abundant where they occur. Many of the 

 species, however, have a very restricted range. 



Characteristics. The Ithomiina are a protected group, and are 

 very closely mimicked by various Pierincz belonging to the 

 genus Dismorphia, and by certain Moths of the families 

 Castniidce, Dioptida, &c. The larger species, with opaque wings, 

 belonging to the genera Melanitis^ Fabricius, MeliKza^ Hiib- 

 ner, &c., have frequently a close resemblance to tawny 

 Heliconiiiuz* 



No species of this Sub-family has tailed, or even dentated, 

 wings, and a great number are among the most transparent 

 Butterflies known. They differ considerably in arrangement 

 of markings and pattern ; but their range of coloration 

 hardly extends beyond various shades of black, white, tawny 

 and yellow. 



We have figured two representatives of the typical genus 

 Ithomia^ both with transparent wings, to illustrate this rather 

 numerous group ; but there is so much sameness throughout 

 this Sub-family that we have not thought it necessary to deal 

 with the principal genera in detail. 



GENUS ITIIOMIA. 



Ithomia^ Hiibner,Verz. bek. Schmett, p. 9(1816); Doubl., Gen. 

 Diurn. Lepid., p. 26 (1847); Bates, Journ. Linn. Soc. 

 Lond., xxiii., p. 537 (1862); Godman and Salvin, Biol. 

 Centrali-Americana, Lepid. Rhop., i., p. 48 (1879). 



As this is the typical genus of this Tropical American group, 

 it is better to employ it as a family or sub-family name than to 

 use Schatz's term, Neotropidce. The species were formerly 

 classed with the HeliconiincC) and of late years with the 

 Danaiiut. 



