52 



ZOOLOGICAL 



Catopsilia (Map iv), a genus of large white or yellow Butterflies, contains 

 about 50 species, which have a wide range in both Old and New Worlds. 

 The New World forms are sometimes regarded as a distinct genus, under 

 the name of Callidryas. They are most abundant in the Tropics, where they 

 sometimes assemble in enormous numbers by the side of streams. 



Gonopteryx (Map iv) is a small group of handsome Butterflies, found 

 chiefly in the Palsearctic Region, but with one or two Neotropical forms. A 

 single species, the Brimstone Butterfly (G. rhamni), occurs in England and 

 Ireland. 



Colias (Map v) is an important genus, with an interesting distribution, 

 Over 50 species have been described, the great majority of which are natives 

 of the Palsearctic Region. They are able to withstand great degrees of cold, 

 and hence have been often found in high arctic latitudes. In the regions 

 which lie between the tropics they are confined to hilly country such as the 

 slopes of the Andes or the high peaks in Equatorial Africa. Two species 

 occur in Britain, in some years being particularly abundant and in others 

 scarce. 



DANAIDiE. Plate 29, Maps v and vi. 



This family is essentially a tropical one, although a few species range 

 into temperate regions. About 250 species have been described and 7 

 well-marked genera. Only four species range into the Palsearctic Region, 

 and these belong to the typical genus (Danais). Danais chrysippus 

 occurs in Greece and is the only European representative of the family. 

 North America is little better favoured, possessing only two species, which 

 are also forms of Danais. 



The Danaidse are mostly distasteful to Birds, and enjoy from this cause 

 considerable immunity from attack. They are largely copied in coloration 

 by Butterflies of other families, and both models and mimics furnish 

 interesting material for the study of that fascinating subject, "Protective 

 Mimicry." 



Euplcea (Map v) is an essentially Oriental genus, comprising over 150 

 species. Three are found, however, in Madagascar and the neighbouring 

 islands, and 16 in Australia. They are beautiful creatures, often of a dark 

 brown colour shot with brilliant purplish-blue. 



Amauris (Map vi) is a group of about a dozen handsome black and 

 white Butterflies, whose range is confined to the southern portion of Africa 

 and the Mascarene Islands. 



NEOTROPID^G. Plate 29, Map vi. 



The members of this family were at one time regarded as a sub-family 

 of the Danaidse, but they were separated under their present name about 

 20 years ago. Fully 500 species have been described, all of which, with the 

 exception of about half a dozen belonging to the genus Hamadryas, are 

 confined to the Neotropical Region and that part of North America 

 immediately adjoining. The species of Hamadryas inhabit the extreme 

 north of Australia, the Papuan Islands, the Solomon Islands and perhaps 

 New Zealand. The New Zealand records, however, are somewhat doubtful. 

 At least 20 genera may be recognised in the family, some of which are 

 divided into numerous sub-genera. 



ACR^ID^l. Plate 29, Map vi. 



This is essentially an Ethiopian group, for, of the 200 or more species, 

 the great majority are natives of Africa and Madagascar. A few are found 

 in South America, and these all belong to the genus Actinote. The Old- 

 World members of the family are sometimes included in a single genus 

 Acrsea, and, taking the genus in this broad sense, its distribution is shown 

 separately on the map. Only one or two species occur in the Oriental 

 Region, and a single one in Australia; all the rest are Ethiopian. The 

 Butterflies of this family are in general small, of a prevailing reddish- 

 brown tint, and with a series of irregularly arranged spots of black. They 

 are often mimicked in appearance by Butterflies of other families. 



HELICONIM. Plate 30, Map i. 



This family, containing about 200 species, mostly of very elegant appear- 

 ance, is practically confined to the Neotropical Region, only a single species 

 ranging into Elorida. Two genera are recognised, Heliconius and Eueides, 

 the latter containing only about 30 species. These Butterflies are protected 

 by the possession of nauseous fluids within the body, and their gay colours 

 are hence to be regarded as examples of the so-called "warning coloration." 



NYMPHALID^I (Fritillaries, Tortoise-Shells, &c). 

 Plate 30, Maps i-v. 



The Nymphalidse (Map i) form one of the most important families of 

 Butterflies, containing more than 150 genera and over 2000 species. They 

 are cosmopolitan in distribution, and include some of the most familiar' of 

 known Butterflies. Eighteen species are found in Britain, the best-known 

 of which are members of the genus Vanessa, which is considered below. 



The genus Argynnis (Map ii) is a group of about 75 species, which are 

 characteristic of the Northern Hemisphere. They are about equally divided 

 between the Palsearctic and Nearctic Regions, and six species occur in 

 Britain. Together with the members of the genus Melitsea, they are known 

 as Eritillaries, and have a prevailing reddish-tawny coloration, with black 

 spots on the upper and silvered ones on the under surface of the wings. 

 Certain species (few in number) occur in elevated regions in warmer parts 

 of the world, far removed from their allies. 



Phyciodes (Map ii) is a large assemblage of small Butterflies, somewhat 

 resembling Fritillaries in appearance. Fully 150 species are known, all 

 confined to America. 



Vanessa (Map ii) is one of the most important genera of Butterflies and 

 of cosmopolitan distribution. Vanessa (or Pyrameis) cardui, the so-called 

 Painted Lady, is the most ubiquitous Butterfly known. There is no country 



which cannot claim it as a native, and it has even been seen hundreds of 

 miles out at sea. As a British species it is of irregular appearance, in some 

 years being almost, if not quite, absent, while in others it may appear quite 

 suddenly in large numbers. Other well-known British members of this 

 genus are the Common Tortoise-shell ( V. urticee), the Peacock ( V. io) and 

 the Red Admiral ( V. atalanta). 



Precis and Junonia have here been considered (Map iii) as a sino-le 

 genus, including over 50 species, which are found in the tropical and 

 subtropical regions of the whole world. Only one species occurs in North 

 America, while in Europe there is no representative whatever. 



Kallima (Map iii) is one of the most interesting genera of Butterflies on 

 account of the remarkable resemblance which certain of the species bear to a 

 withered leaf, especially when the insect is at rest with its wings elevated 

 and placed together above its back, so as to hide the upper surface. About 

 half a dozen species are known, which are confined to the Oriental and 

 Ethiopian Regions. 



Hypolimnas (Map iii) is a genus of handsome Butterflies, whose sexes 

 often show an interesting diversity in coloration, the females sometimes 

 mimicking in an extraordinary fashion the distasteful (and consequently 

 protected) Butterflies of other families. Over 30 distinct species have been 

 described, with innumerable local forms or races. They are practically 

 confined to the warmer regions of the Old World, while one species has 

 occurred in New Zealand, and another occurs rarely in Florida, the Antilles 

 and a limited area in the north-eastern portion of South America. 



Neptis (Map iv), comprising over 100 species of small or medium- 

 sized Butterflies of a black and white or black and yellow coloration is a 

 genus entirely confined to the Old World. Two species occur in Central 

 and South-eastern Europe. 



Limenitis (Map iv) contains about 30 species, which range over the 

 Palsearctic, Nearctic and Oriental Regions. Three species occur in Europe 

 one of which is also found in the South of England, and ei^ht in North 

 America. 



Euphsedra (Map iv) is confined to Tropical Africa. Fully 50 species 

 have been described, which are mostly large, and of a peculiar style of 

 coloration, in which green figures largely. The western portion of the 

 continent appears to he par excellence the home of this genus. 



Euthalia (Map v) is, on the other hand, almost entirely Oriental 

 although represented in the Papuan Islands and in China. Over 60 species 

 are known, of diverse coloration. 



Apaiura (Map v) is widely distributed, and contains about 50 species. 

 Although occurring over a large area in both Old and New Worlds, they are 

 entirely absent from the Ethiopian and Australian Regions (with the ex- 

 ception of Celebes). Two species occur in Europe, one of which, the Purple 

 Emperor (A. iris), is found in the South of England. 



C/iaraxes (Map v) is an important Old- World genus, containing about 

 100 species, which are especially characteristic of Africa, fully two-thirds 

 of the described forms inhabiting that continent. One species is found in 

 the south of Europe, one in Eastern Australia, and about 20 in British 

 India. 



MORPHID^E. Plate 30, Map vi. 



This family consists of large and brilliantly-coloured Butterflies, which 

 are confined to tropical and subtropical regions in both Old and New 

 Worlds. They are, however, entirely absent from the Ethiopian Region. 

 The genus Morpho is confined to the New World, as shown by the Map. 

 It contains about half the known species of the family, most of which are 

 remarkable for their great size and the brilliant metallic blue coloration 

 of their wings. About a dozen genera are recognised for the reception of 

 the Old World members of the family. 



BRASS0LID.5:. Plate 30, Map vi. 



The Brassolidse are a purely Neotropical group, containing some eight 

 genera and about 80 species. They are not so brilliantly coloured as the 

 Morphidse, but they rival them in size, while the lines and shades of colour 

 on the under surface of the wings are of a wonderfully intricate and 

 harmonious character. 



SATYRID^E (Ringlet Group). Plate 31, Maps i-iv. 



This family is an extensive one, and of cosmopolitan distribution. Over 

 1000 species are known, for the reception of which at least 70 genera 

 have been differentiated. Nearly 100 species are found within the limits of 

 Europe (11 of whicli are British) and about 60 in North America. They 

 are for the most part soberly-coloured insects, and on this account not 

 generally attractive. 



Pararge (Map i) is a group of about 20 species, practically confined to 

 the Palsearctic Region, although represented also in Somaliland. Two 

 species occur in Britain, namely, the Speckled Wood {P. segeria) and the 

 Wall Butterfly (P. megeera). 



Melanitis (Map ii) includes about 20 species of large, dull-coloured 

 butterflies confined to the Old World and occurring chiefly within the Tropics. 

 Many of the species are remarkable for the variation in colour shown on 

 the under-surface of the wings, these variations being often associated with 

 the dry and wet seasons. 



Mycalesis (Map i) is a larger group, with much the same distribution. 

 Over 100 species have been described, about two-thirds of which are Oriental 

 and one-third Ethiopian. Half a dozen occur in North-eastern Australia. 



Etiptychia (Map ii) is a purely American genus, comprising over 200 

 species. Only seven of these, sometimes regarded as a distinct genus, occur 

 in North America, so that Ettptychia may be considered a typically 

 Neotropical group. 



Ccznonympha (Map ii) is confined to the Northern Hemisphere, with 

 about 24 Palsearctic and 7 or 8 Nearctic species. They are small Butter- 



