Collection of yfadame Gaston Fournier. G9 



knowledge by describing several new species and subspecies, 

 and also by correcting a certain number of errors that were 

 bound to bo found in a work of such magnitude as that of 

 M. Iloulbert. 



As Madame Fournier's collection of Castniime now ranks 

 among one of the finest of this family, it has occurred to me 

 that an account of the species it contains may be of interest 

 to Lej)idopterists, especially as in it I have discovered a new 

 species and several new subspecies, and also am able to 

 point out variation that exists in some species, that have 

 hitherto been exceedingly rare in collections, of which 

 Madame Fournier has long series. 



I have given a complete list of the specimens contained in 

 the collection, so that any Lepidopterist desiring to visit it 

 in order to study this family may know at once what material 

 he will have to work upon, and at the same time it will 

 serve to show the numerous gaps that still remain to be 

 filled. 



A curious feature that I have noticed among some species 

 of the Castniinte is the resemblance of males to females, and 

 vice versd — I allude, of course, to the non-dimorphic species, 

 such as Ypanema decussata, XantJiocastnia evaltlie, etc. 

 Usually the females in these species have the apex of fore 

 wing slightly more rounded than in the males ; but it often 

 happens that this character is not constant, and one has only 

 to arrange a series according to it, and after to carefully 

 examine the frenulum, and it will then be found that in most 

 cases the sexes have been mixed. 



The variation in size of individual specimens of the same 

 species is also very remarkable, and I give measurements 

 of fore wing of a few of the most striking cases that I have 

 before me : — 



6. 2- 



mm. mm. 



Xanthocnstnia evalthe 30-39 30-48 



Erythrocastiiia syphax 37-52 37-53 



Ceretes marcel-serresi 20-36 



Sympalamides mimon 25-35 30-42 



Ypanema decussata , . . 26-40 31-44 



Aciloa palatinui 30-41 29-43 



Haemonides cronida 32-44 41-52 



I have arranged the collection before me after Houlbert, 

 and have followed his classification throughout this paper ; 

 but I think that a further study of this family will lead to 

 the sinking of many new generic names used by him. 



