1866.] MR. A. G. BUTLER ON THE GENUS HYPNA. 20/ 



of South America. Donovan and Hiibner have figured a variety- 

 having the apex of the fore wings produced into an acute hook ; and 

 our pi. 49. f. 1 represents another variety, distinguished by its small 

 size aud the dark red colour with which the inner half of the hind 

 wings is suffused. These varieties, which appear constant, are 

 doubtless to be considered as geographical varieties or subspecies." 



The term "subspecies" appears to me to be merely a poor sub- 

 stitute for the true title of "species ;*' it certainly conveys no more 

 idea of the position which the insect holds with reference to its allies 

 than does the term " subvariety." I think therefore, to prevent 

 confusion, it would be as well to regard distinct and constant forms 

 from different localities as species. 



The genus Hypna is characterized at full length in ' The Genera ;' 

 but the typical figure (Cramer, Pap. Exot. pi. 137. f. 1, 2), if cor- 

 rectly delineated, must be at once rejected as not belonging to the 

 genus : it somewhat resembles a Cyllo, and is deficient in the follow- 

 ing characters : — " Fore wings more or less hooked at tip ; hind 

 wings — third branch of median vein extending into an elongated and 

 spatulated tail, the first branch terminating in a very short obtuse 

 tail ; discoidal cell imperfectly closed by a very delicate outer disco- 

 cellular vein, uniting with the median vein exactly at the origin of 

 the third branch." 



This figure may have been taken from a broken specimen, but the 

 description exactly agrees with the representation. Cramer subse- 

 quently figures a second insect (pi. 364. f. A, B), which he states 

 to be the female of the former one (of course an utter impossibility, 

 supposing the first drawing to be correct). Fabricius, however, 

 quotes both figures. 



I think, under these circumstances, that the species last figured 

 by Cramer should bear the name clytemnestra ; it is, however, pro- 

 bably quite distinct from the insects figured by Hiibner, Lucas, and 

 Donovan. 



In separating the species of this genus, the following facts must 

 be observed, viz. : — 1. That the acuteness or non-acuteness of the 

 apex of the fore wings is no proof of the non-identity of the species, 

 as this part of the wing (as in the genus Paphia) is subject to great 

 variation. 2. That pattern and coloration, with regard to the known 

 species, can only be used as general characters, as they vary consi- 

 derably in different specimens of the same insect. The pattern of 

 the underside, however, is very similar in all the known species. 



Hypna, Hiibner, Westwood. 



Hecalene, E. Doubleday. 

 Nymphalis, Godart. 



Section 1. 



Alee costis valde convexis, antic.ee apice ohtuse producto ; iwsticce 

 margine apicali ad caudam convexo, cauda anali parva. 



