342 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part hi. 



The butterflies of this sub-region, according to the best esti- 

 mate that can be formed, amount to about 650 described species, 

 a number that will yet, no doubt, be very considerably increased. 

 The genera which appear to be peculiar to it are Erites (Saty- 

 ridse) ; Zeuxidia (Morphida?) ; Amnosia, Xanthotcenia, and 

 Tancccia (Nymphalidre). The groups which are most charac- 

 teristic of the region, either from their abundance in individuals 

 or species, or from their size and beauty, are — the rich dark- 

 coloured Euplcea ; the large semi-transparent Hcstia; the plain- 

 coloured Mycalesis, which replace our meadow-brown butterflies 

 {Hipparchia) ; the curious Elymnias, which often closely resemble 

 Eupla?as ; the large and handsome Thamantis and Zeuxidia, 

 which take the place of the giant Morphos of South America ; 

 the Cethosia, of the brightest red, and marked with a curious 

 zigzag pattern ; the velvety and blue-glossed Terinos ; the pale 

 and delicately-streaked Cyrcstis; the thick-bodied and boldly 

 coloured Adolias ; the small wine-coloured Taxila ; the fine blue 

 Amblypodia ; the beautiful Thyca, elegantly marked under- 

 neath with red and yellow, which represent our common white 

 butterflies and are almost equally abundant ; the pale blue 

 Eronia, and the large red-tipped Iphias. The genus Papilio 

 is represented by a variety of fine groups ; the large Ornithop- 

 tera, with satiny yellow under -wings ; the superb green-marked 

 " brookeana ; " the " paradoxa" group, often closely resembling 

 the Euplfleas that abound in the same district ; the " paris " 

 group richly dusted with golden-green specks ; the " helenus " 

 group with wide-spreading black and white wings ; the black 

 and crimson " polydorus " group ; the " memnon " group, of the 

 largest size and richly-varied colours ; and the " eurypilus " 

 group, elegantly banded or spotted with blue or green : all these 

 are so abundant that some of them are met with in every walk, 

 and are a constant delight to the naturalist who has the privilege 

 of observing them in their native haunts. 



The Coleoptera are far less prominent and require to be care- 

 fully sought after ; but they then well repay the collector. As 

 affording some measure of the productiveness of the tropics in 

 insect life it will not be out of place to give a few notes of the 



