558 MR. H. W. BATES ON THE HELICONIDE LEPIDOPTERA 
An allied species, H. Thelxiope of Hiibner, exists there in its stead, having very similar 
habits, and filling, as it were, the same sphere in the economy of nature. These two 
forms (H. Melpomene and H. Thelxiope) have all the appearance of two thoroughly 
distinct species; but they are connected together by an unbroken series of varieties, 
the principal of which occur, not in the places where the two species come in contact, 
but in two isolated limited areas — at Serpa (west of Obydos) and on the banks of the 
Tapajos (near Aveyros). These connecting links cannot be the hybrid progeny of two 
originally distinct species, on account of their geographical position; many of them 
(and others not met with on the Amazons) occur also in Surinam and Cayenne, where 
H. Thelxiope has not been found. I believe there can be no doubt that II. Thelxiope 
is descended from R. Melpomene, and that the intermediate varieties are remnants 01 
the steps of modification. The following are the principal intermediate varieties ; they 
are all very scarce, whilst the species they connect exist in great profusion : — 
« 
Var. 1. H. Callycopis, Cramer, Pap. Exot. t. 190. f. E, F. 
Same as H. Melpomene, except that the red belt of the fore wing is either very broa 
and irregular, or is broken into a number of various-sized spots. 
Surinam and Obydos, Lower Amazons, in company with H. Melpomene. 
Var. 2. H. Elimcea, Erichson, in Schomburgk, Reise in Brit. Guiana, p. 595. 
The same as Callycopis, except that, in addition to the irregularity of the red belt, the 
basal part of the fore wing has a large red patch. 
Obydos, in company with H. Melpomene. 
Var. 3. II. Lucia, Cramer, Pap. Exot. t. 350. f. E, F. 
Same as H. Melpomene, except that the red crossbelt of the fore wing is narrow and 
curved outwards, and that there is a large quadrate yellow spot within the end of the 
cell. This is the commencement of the chain of variations which leads to H. Thelxiope. 
The H. Lucia of Cramer was found at Surinam. I have Amazonian examples, taken at 
Serpa and on the Tapajos, which differ in the yellow spot of the cell being scarcely 
perceptible. 
Var. 4. The same as H. Lucia, except that the base of the fore wings has a large red spot 
and that the base of the hind wing is also red. 
Serpa, Lower Amazons ; banks of the Tapajos, near Aveyros ; Cayenne. 
Var. 5. H. LJrythraa, Cramer, Pap. Exot. t. 189. f. A. 
Santarem, in company with H . Melpomene ; Surinam 
Var. 6. R. Andremona, Cramer, 1. c. t. 297. f. A 
Surinam. 
