886 



PYTHONIDES. By Dr. M. Drauiit. 



asirigera. 



cynapes. 



vidiua. 



scopas. 



C. astrigera Btlr. is not tmlike monartrus, larger, the hyaline spots increased: in and above the cell 

 there are 3, the antemarginal row contains 9 spots, and below the cell there is one more. Beneath the submarginal 

 row of spots on the hindwing is brick-coloured reddish. Tapajoz. 



C. cynapes Hew. Above dark brown, hindwing more reddish. Forewing in front before the middle 

 of the costal margin to the proximal angle traversed by an equally broad, lustrous transparent white band 

 parted by the veins, before the apex with 7 minute hyaline spots in a bent row. Hindwing in the middle angularly 

 projecting. Beneath as above, but the brown area is strewn with an ochre-yellowish tint, particularly at the 

 base and proximal margin of the hindwing ; behind the band of the forewing there is a yellow spot, at the cell- 

 end of the hindwing a light streak. Expanse of wings: 2.1 inches. Ecuador. 



C. vidius Mah. is like the following placed by Mabille into his genus Narga which, according to 

 GoDMAif is synonj'mous with Celaenorrhinus. It is described, as follows: blackish, at the margin somewhat 

 lighter, at the costal margin and in the cell 1 or 2 darker spots. Hindwing in the disk blacker. Under surface 

 black, forewing watered with lilac-grey, two more distinct patches at the costal margin and apex. Hindwing 

 watered with a deep lilac-grey, bordered by a black band from the costal angle to the proximal margin. A spot 

 at the base and a shade at the posterior margin blackish, in an oblique light appearing as 2 greyish-lilac bands, 

 the broad basal band enclosing a square black spot at the costal margin. Expanse of wings: 19 to 21 mm. 

 Sao Paulo. 



C. scopas Mab. Blackish-browTi, fringes more reddish, speckled darker, forewing with 2 dust-grey 

 spots between the lower radial veins. Forewing beneath blackish with a lilac-grey spot at the apex and 4 silvery 

 streaks at the rise of the upper branches. Hindwing whitish-grey, at the base and distal margin reddish-brown, 

 traversed by a rust-brown band of spots very broad at the costal angle. The middle of the distal margin almost 

 white; before the fringes a lustrous yellow line bordered with black. Expanse of wings: 23 mm. Venezuela 

 (Merida). 



cerialis. 



7)iajortmis. 



contuberna- 

 lis. 



parallehts. 



cordus- 



hoyti. 



6. Genus: Pythonides Hhn. 



The moderately strong antennal club is somewhat bent, but not angularly; the short, obtuse palpi turned 

 in front. Tlie forewing is much longer than the distal margin, the costal margin in some species very convex, 

 the distal margin above the proximal angle somewhat concave. Costal fold absent. Neuration as in Celaenor- 

 rhinus. Many species show a brilliant blue on the hindwings, particularly beneath, exhibiting a bright gleam 

 when the insect is on the wing. 



P. cerialis Cr. (= orcus F., cerberus Hbn.) (173 c) is above brown, in the somewhat more prominently 

 dark median band of the forewing there are several small hyaline spots, behind it in the shape of a band bluish 

 dusting, on the hindmng also in the disc. Beneath the hindwing is silvery sky-blue with a black marginal band. 

 According to Cramer, the larva is dark green with a lighter dorsal line and 2 similar lateral lines and a red- 

 bro'svn head. From Mexico widely distributed in South America. • — majorinus form. nov. (173 c) from Bolivia 

 (Songo) is verj' much larger and more variegated, more profusely strewn with blue. 



P. contubernalis Mob. (= praxis Plotz) (173 c) is somewhat smaller, of a purer black, on the fore- 

 wing in the disc and subapically with much smaller hyaline dots, on the hindwing with 2 light blue transverse 

 bands. Beneath the hindwuag is light blue ■«ith a black marginal band partly broken up into small spots, and 

 2 or 3 costal-marginal stripe-shaped spots. From Mexico to Colombia, Brazil. 



P. anicius G. cfc S. (173 c) extremely approximates contubernalis and differs by almost or entirely 

 extinct hj^aline spots on the f ore'wings and more intensely blue bands on the hindwmgs. The somewhat different 

 genitals prove the insect to be a good species. Founded on two cJ(J from Guatemala. 



P. parallelus Mab. looks somewhat like a large cerialis (173 c), m the cell-end two oblong, not -united 

 spots, 4 small subapical spots two of which are closer together. On the hindwing the distal one of the blue bands 

 is not bent, but almost parallel to the proximal band, at the costal margin almost united. Fringes black. Hind- 

 wing beneath as in cerialis. Bolivia. 



P. cordus JIab. (173 c) is very closety allied to contubernalis; on the forewing there are only 3 sub- 

 apical dots; the hyalme spot before the cell-end consists of 3 small separate spots situate in one line below each 

 other. Tlie apical dots are surrounded by a band of blue scales continued in front of the border to the proximal 

 margin. On the blue hindwing beneath the black marginal band is broadlj^ interrupted between the lower radial 

 veins; at the costal margm there are yet 2 large black spots, the distal one of which is continued towards the 

 proximal margin as a more or less complete macular band. Brazil (Sa. Catharina). 



P. hoyti Weeks has remained unkno-nm to me. Body above brown with golden brown hair, beneath 

 lighter; on the brown forewing there is in the disc a 5" -shaped hyaline spot with a streak behind it, below it 

 a similar spot and above the apex of the latter a quadi'angiilar spot; 3 small, oblong subapical spots, 

 before and below which there is a brown, dark area; near the base and below the middle of the cell one dark- 

 brown, not distmctly defined band each. Hindwing above with 2 similar dark brown bands. Under surface 



