189 



CALLIMORPHA HELCITA. 



PLATE XXIII. Fig. 2. 



Pap. Helcita, Linn Phalsena macularia, Fair. ; Drury, Eax>t. 



Ent, vol. iii. pi. 29, fig. 4. 



We had occasion in a former volume to notice some 

 of the British species of this beautiful group, and 

 we now describe two examples of exotic forms. The 

 genus is very closely allied to the Arctiidae, through 

 Hypercompa, and may be briefly defined as having 

 the antennae, in the male, subciliated ; palpi three- 

 jointed, the second and third joints nearly equal ; 

 the fore wings subtrigonate, and not showing any 

 tendency to become truncate. 



The species here figured was at first placed among 

 the Papiliones by Linnaeus in his Syst. Nat. (2. 763. 

 94), and it must be admitted to bear a great resem- 

 blance to some of the diurnal tribes, particularly 

 certain kinds of Danais, in the nature and brilliancy 

 of its colours. The expansion of the wings is about 

 three inches and a half: head, thorax, and abdomen 

 deep black, the two last marked with three rows of 

 white spots, one on the back and another on each 

 side. The upper wings are of a beautiful deep red, 

 the whole of the exterior part from a little beyond 

 the middle black, with a curved row of pretty large 



