506 MR. H. W. BATES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA 
the connecting links have not all been found, they may be called species : the word 
is of little importance. The habits of all are the same. "When I had collected only two 
or three of the most distinct, I considered them separate species ; but intermediate forms 
successively occurred, every capture tending to link the whole more closely together. 
The explanation that the whole are the result of hybridization from a few originally 
distinct species cannot at all apply in this case, because the distinct forms whose inter- 
crossing would be required to produce the hybrids are confined to districts situated many 
hundred miles apart. 
Kone of these Lepta tides have been found in any other district or country than those 
inhabited by the Ithomice which they counterfeit. A species very closely allied to L. 
Lysinoe\ var. Argochloe (PI. LVI. fig. 6), has been received from Mexico (i. Antherize) ; 
but an Ithomia, of nearly the same colours (J. Nero) also inhabits Mexico. Many other 
species oiLeptatis, of much larger size than the one here discussed, also mimic Heliconidce, 
the objects of imitation not being Ithomice, but other genera of the family. Two of these 
are figured on PI. LVI. L. Orise (PL LVI. fig. 8) is a remarkably exact counterfeit of 
Methona Psidii (fig. 8«), the resemblance being carried to minutiae, such as the colour 
of the antennae and the spotting of the abdomen. L. Amphione, var. Egaena (PL LVI. 
fig. 7), is very curious, as being a satellite of Mechanitis Polymnia, var. Egaensis (fig. 7 a), 
both peculiar to the district of Ega, — the typical L. Amphione being found at Surinam, in 
company with the typical M. Potymnia, which it resembles — local varieties or sister 
species of Leptalis Amphione accompanying local varieties of Mechanitis Polymnia in 
other parts of tropical America. 
Several species of Dioptis, a genus of Moths, and Ithomeis, a genus of Ery cinidce ', also 
accompany these species or distinct local forms of Ithomia. A few of the Moths are 
figured on PL LV. figs. 10, 11, 12, 13. The imitations may not appear very exact from 
the figures ; but when the insects are seen on the wing in their native woods, they de- 
ceive the most experienced eye. 
A similar series of mimetic analogies occurs in the Old World, between the Asiatic 
and African Danaidce, or representatives of the Heliconidce , and species of other families 
of Butterflies and Moths. No instance is known in these families of a tropical species of 
one hemisphere counterfeiting a form belonging to the other. A most remarkable case 
of mimicry has been recorded by Mr. Trimen* in a Papilio of Southern Africa, P. Cenea, 
whose male wears to deception the livery of one species of Danais, namely, D. Echeria, 
whilst the female resembles a quite different one, D. Chrysippus, — both African. Mimetic 
analogies, however, are not confined to the Lepidoptera ; most orders of insects supply 
them; but they are displayed only by certain families. Many instances are known 
where parasitic Bees and two-winged Plies mimic in dress various industrious or nest- 
building Bees, at whose expense they live in the manner of the Cuckoo. I found on the 
banks of the Amazons many of these Cuckoo Bees and Plies, which all wore the livery of 
working Bees peculiar to the country. 
The instances of this kind of analogy most familiar to European entomologists are those 
of the European species of Trochilium (a genus of Moths), which strangely mimic various 
1 Rhopalocera Africse Australia/ p. 21. Cape Town. 
