512 



HELICONIA. 



In the upper left-hand corner of the engraving on page 505 is another example of 

 this genus. The upper wings of the LYSIMNIA are chestnut at the base, and thence 

 black to the tip, with the exception of two bold patches of nearly transparent mem- 

 brane. The under wings are chestnut, edged with black, and having a jagged black 

 streak across them, above which is a transparent stripe. The under surface is colored 

 in nearly the same manner, except that a row of white spots runs round the edge. 



PHONO. Ithoaia Phono. 



MARS^EUS. Mechanltis Marsteus. 



ERATO. Helicon la Erato. 



SPlO.Leptalis Splo. 



To the same elegant family belong the butterflies of the genus Euplcea, a good 

 example of which is the MIDAMUS. This insect strongly reminds the British entomol- 

 ogist of the purple emperor, the sober brown of the wings changing to rich shining 

 purple when the light falls at a particular angle. At first sight, the butterfly appears to 

 be quite a dull and inconspicuous insect, its colors being hardly more attractive than 

 the simple black and white of the engraving. But if it^ be moved so that the light 

 falls diagonally on its wings, the dull brown suddenly changes as if by magic into 

 imperial purple of a bright yellow traversed by black nervures, and which are adorned 



