342 ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [part in. 



TliG buttevliies of tliis sub-region, according to the l)est esti- 

 mate that can be formed, amount to about 650 described species, 

 a number that will yet, no douljt, be very considerably increased. 

 The genera which appear to be peculiar to it are Eritcs (Saty- 

 ridaj) ; Zeuxidia {Morpliidie) ; Amnosia, Xcmthotccnia, and 

 Tancvcia (Nymphalidie). The groups which are most charac- 

 teristic of the region, either from their abundance in individuals 

 or species, or from their size and beauty, are — the rich dark- 

 coloured ii'»;/?/a;« ; the large semi-transparent Hestia; the plain- 

 coloured Mycalesis, which replace our meadow-brown butterflies 

 {Hijypar cilia) ; the curious Elymnias, which often closely resemble 

 Euph^as ; the large and handsome Thamantls and Zeuxidia, 

 which take the place of the giant Morphos of South America ; 

 the Ccthosia, of the brightest red, and marked with a curious 

 zigzag pattern ; the velvety and blue-glossed Terinos ; the pale 

 and delicately-streaked Cyrcstis ; the thick-bodied and boldly 

 coloured Adolias ; the small wine-coloured Taxila ; the fine blue 

 Amhhji^odia ; the beautiful Thyca, elegantly marked under- 

 neath with red and yellow, which represent our common white 

 butterflies and are almost equally abundant; the pale blue 

 Eronia, and the large red-ti})ped Ipliias. The genus rapilio 

 is represented by a variety of fine groups ; the large Oniifhop- 

 tera, with satiny yellow under wings ; the superb green-marked 

 " broolxana ; " the " paradoxa" group, often closely resembling 

 the Eupheas that abound in the same district ; the " par in " 

 group richly dusted with golden-green s})ecks ; the " helcnns" 

 group witli wide-spreading black and white wings ; the black 

 and crimson " polydorns" group; the " mcm.non" group, of the 

 largest size and richly-varied colours ; and the " curypilus " 

 group, elegantly banded or spotted with blue or greim : all these 

 are so abundant that some of them are met with in every walk, 

 and are a constant deliglit to the naturalist who has the privilege 

 of observing them in their native haunts. 



The Coleoptera are far less prominent and require to be care- 

 fully sought after ; but they then well repay the collector. As 

 affording some measure of the productiveness of the tropics in 

 insect life it will not be out of place to give a few notes of the 



