58 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



floras. Subsequent visits to this and other valleys (similar valleys 

 extend for upAvards of 20 miles across the north side of the island) 

 produced numbers of interesting insects. The Hcsperiidae were espe- 

 cially interesting. As many as 50 species have already been recognised 

 from Trinidad, the " skippers " ranging from 2iin. in expanse, in the 

 genus Naseiift, down to diminutive Fmnphilinae, of |in. expanse. Of the 

 Lycaenidac it was remarkable how few were to be seen in these situa- 

 tions. By far the best ground for this group I found to be the Koyal 

 Botanical Gardens, where I secured some lovely species, foremost > 

 amongst which was certainly Timnlm deninnasm, a gorgeous species . 

 with black velvety forewings and lustrous sky-blue hind wings. They ■ 

 flew very little, and only flitted or skipped, as is the manner of the ' 

 Hrspcnidae, from flower to flower, and I had no idea of the beauty of ' 

 the insect till I set it. Before leaving the valleys I should just like to i 

 mention the wonderful sharpness of the vision of a negro. I not, 

 unfrequently came up with men going my way, and when they knew 

 I was after butterflies, they used to point out things at rest which I^ 

 should have passed by, so perfect were some of the resemblances to 

 rotten wood, &c. This, without a special entomological training, 

 struck me as being remarkable. But I learned afterwards that the 

 negro knows the "every-day plants, insects, birds, &c., much better r 

 than the average Britisher. I say this of the West Indian negro 

 solely; I have n"o evidence of the black man on his own soil. Of course 

 the names used by them are only popular names, often understood only 

 among the dark population. But such names as " Biscuit " {An- 

 artia jatrojihac), " Under Leaf " {Lywnas iarhus, settles on the under- 

 side of the leaves), "Green Page" {Urania Iciliis), " Queen's< 

 Park " {Helironins mdpnmene, red and black — colours of the cricketl 

 club of that name), and the " Evader " for ricrdla (Jmcantis, showf 

 that the negro is alive to the existence of the Lepidoptera. On other i 

 occasions, in these valleys, Caligos were to be seen sitting on the treet 

 trunks, the large eye-like marking being then very conspicuous. Thet 

 time of flight of these insects is at dusk, and moreover these, as well ass 

 the ^lorphos, are attracted by a fire,which tends to showstrong testimony) 

 of the artificiality of the demarcation between butterflies and moths.. 

 Morphos, it might be mentioned, only fly naturally when the sun iss 

 shining. The}' arc easily attracted to carrion or rotten fruit, when theiri 

 capture is easily effected. Speaking about the crepuscular flight, I may) 

 note that Kryphanh avtomcdon, an insect closely allied to the Caligos,. 

 was taken at dusk. A very numerous genus in Trinidad is Kuptuchiai 

 These insects have much the same habits and general appearance of ouii 

 Knodia hijjieranthus. They are generally to be found in companies,^ 

 though iii the case of the "^ccmmoner species they appear to be every- 

 where in wooded situations. Such are J:. hetiione (= occirrhnc), thei' 

 whitish hind-wings (barred with brown), of which appear semi-trans-' 

 parent on the wing, J\. Iiniiics and 7>'. miata. K. arma I noticed tc 

 be ■ very common at A'crdant Yale, but nowhere else. This lattci 

 species is very weak in flight, and flies very low down. The semi- 

 transparent metallic patches on the anal portion of the hind-Aving art 

 not conspicuous in flight, and the insect might readily be passed as 

 one of the more sombre species. In the closely allied genus Tai/yrtes. 

 T. pi'uelca, I noted to be common in the Morrison Valley, and il 

 seemed to delight in very dark and damp places. In this same valle;; 



