MEGALURA. By Dr. A. Serra. 467 
C. amymone J/én. (115 e) differs from the preceding species in that the median band on the under- amymone. 
side of the hindwing, although broad at its commencement at the costa, is narrowed beyond the cell into a 
chain of small, round white spots. The forewing resembles that of hypermnestra above, but the hindwing has the 
distal part ochre-yellow. Found from Texas through Mexico and Central America. — In Florida occurs a form 
with unicolorous $¢ suffused with grey, = floridana Streck., which according to Mrncen resembles cana, but 
differs from it in the shape of the band on the underside of the hindwing; probably, however, it is nearly allied 
to a form from the island of Trinidad with the ¢ unicolorous dark brown-yellow corviana Bélr. (115 e er- 
roneously called apicalis which name belongs to the figure on its left). 
C. aurantia Weeks (115 e) has the upperside in the ¢ white, only at the distal margin of the forewing 
quite narrowly tinged with yellow; we figure the under surface. It is characterized by the discal band on the 
hindwing beneath which consists of a chain of rounded white spots placed in a brown-grey. Bolivia. 
C. dorecas F. (= hersilia F., mardiana Cr.) (97 a) cannot be confused with any other species. Both 
wings above are bright yellow-red in the distal part, the proximal part is white with dull gr eyusia markings. From 
Jamaica. 
C. teleboas WMén. (97a). This species differs structurally from all the other Cystinewra in having the 
palpus even more elongate, the distal margin of the hindwing more strongly dentate and that of the forewing 
undulate, the markings also quite unlike this genus, bearing a remarkable resemblance to those of the African 
Neptidopsis ophione (vol. XIII, pl. 49 d). Not only the elongate palpus, the inflated base of the costal and the 
black and white colouring unites the two, but also the markings of both surfaces,. particularly the peculiar 
double row of eyespots beyond the white median band, are common to both. teleboas only occurs on the An- 
tilles. 
D. Group: Marpesiidi. 
As we hesitated to separate Didonis, Bibliis, Purylela and Frgolis, in spite of their very different habitus and widely 
separated localities, in the same way the sole American genus belonging here — Megalura — approximates very closely to 
an Asiatic-African group, which consists of the genera Cyrestis and Chersonesia. The larvae of the genera in this group have 
no true spines, but in addition to two long horns on the head bear only isolated, not paired, rather soft appendages, one 
placed on the 5th and one on the 11th segment, sometimes also one on one or two of the intervening segments, in that 
case usually shoiter. — In addition Megalura is associated with Cyrestis by the common food-plant; as a rule the larvae 
are found on Ficus or allied plants. — Finally, the butterflies almost all show in the anal angle of the hindwing a small 
lobe, which hangs down when the insect is resting with the wings spread out. — Both in the Old and the New World the 
Marpesiidi are represented by 20—25 species and almost entirely confined to the tropics; they differ in that the tail in the 
American species is long, in those of the Old World short. 
20. Genus: Megalura Bich. 
This genus, which was formerly referred to Timetes and Marpesia, is as isolated and independent in 
the American fauna as its nearest relative, Cyrestis, in the Old World. These two genera exactly correspond 
in the spines of the larvae and the shape of the hindwing, which bears a peculiar, somewhat curved, small 
anallobe. The Megalura species have a rather broad head with broad front and protruding eyes. Palpus long, 
particularly the 2nd joint, the 3rd also long and pointed; the palpus with appressed scales, the antenna mode- 
rately long, with well developed, elongate club, into which it gradually swells. The subcostal of the forewing 
5-branched, the Ist branch arising almost at the middle of the cell, the 2nd at its end, the 3rd to 5th stalked; 
the lower discocellular wanting on both wings, so that the cells are open. Usually the forewing is produced 
or pointed at the apex, the distal margin undulated, the inner margin quite straight. The hindwing shows a 
pointed tail traversed in its entire length by the upper median vein and mostly in the anal anglea small, some- 
what distally curved, sometimes brightly coloured lobe. 
The larva shows a great reduction in theSpines. The Teer al spines are almost entirely suppressed and 
there are only unpaired s soft : spines on the back, thus showing an approach to the form of the Apaturidi larvae. 
On the whole they probably approximate most nearly to Ghlovipne. Most species are very common where they 
occur, feed both on the honey of flowers and also the moisture of wet places on the roads, and from, their 
head-quarters, northern South America, scarcely a consignment of butterflies reaches Europe which does not 
contain one or more representatives of this group. Their range extends from the south of the United States 
(Texas and Florida) to Paraguay and northern Argentina in the east and Peru and Bolivia in the west. Single 
species show analogy with butterflies of other groups, together with which they fly, but it does not amount to 
actual mimicry, while on the other hand the under surface is frequently adapted to their environment. About 
25 forms are known. 
floridana. 
corviana. 
aurantia. 
dorcas. 
teleboas. 
