506 MR. H. W. BATES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA 



the connecting links have not all been found, they may be called species : the word 

 is of little importance. The habits of all are the same. When I had collected only two 

 or three of the most distinct, I considered them separate species ; but intermediate forms 

 successively occurred, every capture tending to link the whole more closely together. 

 The explanation that the whole are the result of hybridization from a few originally 

 distinct species cannot at all apply in this case, because the distinct forms whose inter- 

 crossing would be required to produce the hybrids are confined to districts situated many 

 hundred miles apart. 



None of these Leptalicles have been found in any other district or country than those 

 inhabited by the Ithomice which they counterfeit. A species very closely allied to L. 

 Lysmoe, var. Argochloe (PI. LVI. fig. 6), has been received from Mexico {L. Anther ize) ; 

 but an Ithomia, of nearly the same colours {I. Nero) also inhabits Mexico. Many other 

 species oi Leptalis, of much larger size than the one here discussed, also xnhmcIIeUeonidce, 

 the objects of imitation not being Itlwmice, but other genera of the family. Two of these 

 are figured on PI. LVI. L. Orise (PI. LVI. fig. 8) is a remarkably exact counterfeit of 

 Methona Psidii (fig. 8 a), the resemblance being carried to minutise, such as the colour 

 of the antennae and the spotting of the abdomen. L. AmpUone, var. Egaena (PL LVI. 

 fig. 7), is very curious, as being a satellite of Mechanitis Folijimiia, var. Egaemis (fig. 7 a), 

 both peculiar to the district of Ega, — the typical L. AmpUone being found at Surinam, in 

 company with the typical M. Polymnia, which it resembles — local varieties or sister 

 species of Leptalis Amphione accompanying local varieties of Meclicmitis Polymnia in 

 other parts of tropical America. 



Several species of Diopitis, a genus of Moths, and Itliomeis, a genus of Enjcinidce, also 

 accompany these species or distinct local forms of Ithomia. A few of the Moths are 

 figured on PI. LV. figs. 10, 11, 12, 13. The imitations may not appear very exact from 

 the figures ; but when the insects are seen on the wing in their native woods, they de- 

 ceive the most experienced eye. 



A similar series of mimetic analogies occurs in the Old World, between the Asiatic 

 and African Itaiiaidce, or representatives of the Heliconidce, and species of other families 

 of Butterflies and Moths. No instance is kno"v\Ti in these families of a tropical species of 

 one hemisphere counterfeiting a form belonging to the other. A most remarkable case 

 of mimicry has been recorded by Mr. Trimen* in a Papilio of Southern Africa, P. Cenea, 

 whose male wears to deception the livery of one species of Danais, namely, D. Echeria, 

 whilst the female resembles a quite difi'erent one, D. Chrysijipus, — both African. Mimetic 

 analogies, however, are not confined to the Lepidoptera ; most orders of insects supply 

 them; but they are displayed only by certain families. Many instances are known 

 where parasitic Bees and two-winged EHes mimic in dress various industrious or nest- 

 building Bees, at whose expense they live in the manner of the Cuckoo. I found on the 

 banks of the Amazons many of these Cuckoo Bees and Flies, which all wore the livery of 

 working Bees peculiar to the country. 



The instances of this kind of analogy most familiar to European entomologists are those 

 of the European species of Trochilimn (a genus of Moths), which strangely mimic various 



* ' Rhopalocera AfricEe Australis,' p. 21. Cape Town. 



