OF THE AMAZON VALLEY. 543 



8. Ithomia Ilerdina, Hewitson. (PI. LVI. fig. 4 a.) 

 Ithomia Ilerdina, Hewits. Exot. Butt. Ithomia, f. 129, 145. 



This is closely allied to /. Illinissa. It entirely takes the place of that species at St. 

 Paulo, differing from it only in the white disk of the hind wing and orange submarginal 

 band of the fore wing. It is clearly only a local modification of the same, whose segre- 

 gation from the original stock is complete. A variety of Leptalis Lysinoe {L. Leucono'e, 

 PI. LVI. fig. 4) exists at St. Paulo in company with it, and presents precisely the same 

 modifications of colour ; also the Erycinide Ithomeis JSeliconina, and a species of Bomby- 

 cide Moth {DiopUs, PI. LV. fig. 11). The three mimicking species were very rare, whilst 

 I. Ilerdina was extremely abundant. 1. Ilerdina varies a little in the white nervures of 

 the disk of the wings being partly black, showing the process of transition to the peculiar 

 white hue which distinguishes it from the allied species. 



9. Ithomia Oi^ega, Hewitson. (PL LV. fig. 2 a.) 



Ithomia Onega, Hewits. Exot. Butt. Ithomia, f. 1. 



This handsome species is found in abundance throughout the Upper Amazon region, 

 where it seems to take the place of Ilhomia Flora, which is peculiar to the region nearer 

 the Atlantic. I believe it to be a local modification of I. Flora. A leptalis of similar 

 colours (i. Melanoe, PL LV. fig. 2) and a Bombycide Moth {Bioptis Onega) accompany 

 it. The Leptalis is undoubtedly a variety or descendant from the stock of L. Theonoe, 

 which, we have seen, inhabits only those places where Ithomia Flora occurs. Leptalis 

 Melanoe has been found nowhere but in company with Ithomia Onega. 



10. Ithomia Plora, Cramer. (PL LV. fig. 1 a.) 



Papilio Flora, Cramer, Pap. Exot. t. 257. f- B, C (poor figure). 

 Ithomia Flora, Hewitson, Exot. Butt. Ithomia, f. 68, 69. 

 Egra, ibid., f. 4 (a slight aberration). 



This species aboixnds in the forests of the Amazon Delta, and as far up the river as the 

 banks of the Cupari (a branch of the Tapajos), 120 miles above the mouth of that river. 

 Unlike the Ithomice of the Upper Amazons, its wings have a very large portion of their 

 surface clear of scales and transparent. Leptalis Theonoe (PL LV. fig. 1), Napeogenes 

 Ithra, and the Bombycide Moth Dloptis Cyma, have a great resemblance to it, and are 

 found only in the regions which it inhabits. Dioptis Cyma, however, is an exception ; 

 it has acquired a wider range, being found at Ega, where no clear-winged Ithomics are 

 met with. The Ithomics increase in transparency in receding from the equator. They 

 are numerous in Venezuela, South Brazil, and Mexico, The tendency to transparency 

 reaches its acme in Ithomia {Hymenitis) diaphana of Jamaica. Nearly aU the species of 

 the Upper Amazon region have opake wings, 



11. Ithomia Doto, Hlibner. 



Ithomia Doto, Hiibner, Samml. Exot. Schmett. 

 Sisera, Hewits. Exot. Butt. Ithomia, f. 6. 



Abundant on the banks of the Tocantins, at Baiao. Found also at Pard. 



VOL. XXIII. 4 D 



