504 MR. H. W. BATES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA 



the normal facies of the genus or family to which they severally belong*. The re- 

 semblance is so close, that it is only after long practice that the true can be distinguished 

 from, the counterfeit, when on the wing in their native forests. I was never able to 

 distinguish the Leptalides from the 'species they imitated, although they belong to a 

 family totally different in structure and metamorphosis from the SeliconidcB, without 

 examining them closely after capture. They fly in the same parts of the forest, and 

 generally in company with the species they mimic. 



I have already given an account of the local modifications to which the Heliconidce are 

 subject. It is a most curious circumstance, that corresponding races or species of counter- 

 feiting groups accompany these local forms. In some cases I found proof that such species 

 are modified from place to place to suit the peculiar forms of Heliconidce there stationed. 

 As this is an important point, and one which throws light on the origin of mimetic species, 

 I must ask the reader's careful attention to the details, referring to the plates. 



Plate LV. fig. 1 a {Itliomia Flora) and fig. 1 {Leptalis Theonoe) represent a HeHconide 

 and its imitator, both of which inhabit the banks of the Cupari, a river belonging to the 

 Amazon system, in 55° "W. long. Neither of these is found on the Upper Amazons 

 (60° to 70° W. long.), where I made the remaining part of my observations on these 

 insects. At Ega, on this upper river, in 65° W. long., two species of Ithomia occurred, 

 which I consider to be local varieties or races of /. Flora, namely, I. Onega (PI. LV. 

 fig. 2«) and I. Illinissa (PL LV. fig. 6 a). It is immaterial to the question in hand 

 whether these be considered absolutely distinct species or races ; the Zep tails wliich 

 was found in their company was the form caUed JO. Lijsinoe (PI. LV. fig. 3), with its ad- 

 mitted varieties (figs. 4, 5, 6, and 8). Only one of these varieties of Leptalis mimics 

 an Ithomia; this is our fig. 6, which evidently counterfeits Ithomia Illinissa (fig. 6a). 

 The prevailing form of Leptalis, the L. Lysinoe (fig. 3), has no resemblance to any 

 Ithomia of Ega, but is, when flying, a wonderful imitation of the Stalachtis Diwalii 

 (PL LV. fig. 3 a), a common insect belonging to a genus (family Erycinidce) equally 

 flourishing and abundant in individuals with the members of the family Heliconidce. I 

 tlunk there will be no doubt in the mind of any one that the Ega Leptalides are local 

 varieties of the Cupari L. Theonoe (fig. 1), when aU the connecting links between them are 

 studied in the figures given on our two plates. It is highly probable, therefore, that 

 this species has been by some means modified with especial reference to the changed 

 Ithomice, or other insects, of the locaHty. The varieties, figs. 4, 5, and 8, were excessively 

 rare : they have the appearance of sports, and show how variable the species lias been in 

 this district. 



The same takes place at St. Paulo, in 69° W. long. Here we find the Ithomice again 

 changed. Neither the I. Flora of the Cupari and Lower Amazons nor the I. Illinissa of 

 Ega occurs ; but the second Ega species, I. Onega, inhabits the district, and several other 

 species not found in other places, amongst them I. Ilerdina (PL LVI. fig. 4 a), I. Chnjso- 

 donia (PL LVI. fig. 3 a), and J. Virginia (PL LVI. fig. 6 a). The prevailing species of 



* This may be seen from the figures given of Leptalis, — fig. 5, PI. LVI. being L. Neliemia, a species exhibiting the 

 usual form of the family Pieridce, to which the genus Leptalis belongs ; whilst all the other Leptalides figured are 

 mimetic species, totally unlike, as far as facies is concerned, this normal form. 



