137 



ERYCINA MELIB^IUS. 



PLATE XXV. Figs. 1 and 2. 



Pap. E. A. Melibseus, Fabr.—Herbst Pap. PI. 59, fig. 4, 5— 

 Pap. Pyretus, Cramer, PI. 144, fig. A, B. 



This beautiful insect belongs to that division of 

 Erycina which has opaque wings, and a short 

 obtuse tail to the hinder pair. It is about two 

 inches in extent of wing. The surface is uniform 

 dark brown, with a bright red oblique band run- 

 ning across the middle of both wings, and a large 

 crescent of the same colour near the origin of the 

 tail. On the inner side of the upper wings there is 

 the appearance of another oblique red band, but it 

 is obsolete except at the hinder margin. The un- 

 der side forms a striking contrast with the surface, 

 the ground colour being black, with two brilliant 

 blue bands, the outer one very broad, the interior 

 somewhat macular, and terminating behind in a 

 red point. Body brown above and black beneath. 



Like most of the species constituting the genus 

 Erycina, it is a native of the new world, occurring 

 in greatest plenty in Surinam and Brazil. 



