OF THE AMAZON VALLEY. 
531) 
The species of Itliomia are very numerous; 107 have already been described, but many 
still exist unpublished in collections. They are most numerous in the equatorial pints of 
America, decreasing towards either tropic. One only is found in the West India Islands, 
and none, I believe, in extra-tropical North America. Two or thn e occur in 30° S. lat. ; 
but the genus is unknown in Chili and to the south of the Rio de la Plata. Most of 
the species have curiously limited ranges; many of those inhabiting the banks of the 
Upper Amazons do not extend more than 100 or 200 miles, although there are no a]»j larent 
physical barriers to their dissemination; and it is probable, from thn number of new ones 
received in collections made in newly explored localities, that most of the Andean valleys 
have their peculiar species. 
They are prolific insects, and gregarious in their habits, flocks of many different species 
associating together. Their flight is low and weak ; and they affect only certain parts of 
the forest, generally shady hollows, where many hundreds may often he seen sporting 
together, although not an individual is found in any other part of the neighbourhood. 
1. Ithomia Etjrimedia, Cramer. 
Papilio Eurimedia, Cram. Pap. Exot. t. 126. f. C, D. 
— - Mgle, Hiibner, Samml. Ex. Schm. 
A common species at Para and throughout the Lower Amazon region. It is often found 
in company with Leptalis Eumelia, to which it has so great a resemblance that the two 
seem to be of the same species when on the wing. It is found also at Surinam (in com- 
pany with the Leptalis) ; and I have examples from Bahia, in S. E. Brazil, where a variety 
of it also occurs which is widely disseminated over South and extra- tropical Brazil. 
2. Ithomia Nise, Cramer. 
Papilio Nise, Cram. Pap. Exot. t. 231. f. E. 
Selene, Cram. Pap. Exot. t. 315. f. F, G. 
Neso, Hiibn. Samml. Ex. Schm. 
Cramer's figures of this species are very bad ; but I think they are recognizable with 
the assistance^ the descriptions in the text, and that they represent the same species as 
that figured by Hiibner under the name of Neso. It is an abundant species at Par.., but 
is not found anywhere else in the Amazon region. I have specimens of both sexes from 
Demerara and find that they do not differ from Para, examples; at Cayenne, however, a 
local variety prevails in which both wings have above a submarginal row of pale spots, 
and the general colour is much paler. It is the only Ithomia known to me in which the 
sexes are strikingly different in appearance. The wings of the 6 are more transparent, 
and much paler in colour that those of the ?, especially the diseal area of the hind Ming. 
The peculiar texture of the surface of the wings is owing to the extreme fineness of the 
scales with which they are covered. I consider L Azara (Hewits. Exot. Butt. Iikoma, 
f. 23), which occurs on the banks of the Napo, a local modification of this species, several 
connecting forms being known. The very beautiM Iolaia (Hewits. I e. t 9<) of *ew 
Granada is probably also another local variety 
* 
erroneously. It is a native of Venezuela. 
(a species allied to J. Nise), is given as an Am 
