omphale. 
amesia. 
dives. 
octavia. 
lowisa. 
rhenea. 
abulonia. 
gnorima. 
philetas. 
jordani. 
562 PREPONA. By H. FrunsTorrer. 
which may be put on only in the basal region, but also in the distal half of the forewings, is absent in the 
29 being extremely rare and immediately distinguishable from the 2 of P. laértes by a conspicuously light- 
tue band and the almost quite white under surface of the hindwings. — omphale Hbn., the name-type, is 
found on the Amazon near Obidos. The blue magnificent area of the forewings only proximally defined by 
violet. Under surface of the forewings with an intensely ochre-yellow subanal area. Under surface of all the 
wings light grey except the yellowish anal angle of the forewings. Blue median band of the forewings with 
a proximal and distal reflection. Specimens with such double-rowed reflection have been mentioned by Goparr 
from Surinam and Brazil, by StauDINGER from Pebas and the Ucayali. They are lying before me from Surinam 
and Bahia, and seem to be forms of particularly hot and dry periods. — amesia Fruhst. denotes the Andine 
race; specimens from there are somewhat larger than those of the plains of the Amazon and Surinam; the blue 
median band grows narrower, because the black ground-colour increases in extent. The under surface reminds 
us of Borspuvat’s figure (t. 7. Spéc. Gén. Lép. 1836) by the sharply defined silvery white basal half and the 
brownish-grey distal region of all the wings, which is powdered only with few white scales, but the intermedian, 
small ocelli of the hindwings are absent, whereas the apical and anal ocelli are more strongly developed. Speci- 
mens with only a proximal violet reflection are predominant. There occur, however, also such that correspond 
to demodice and lowisa in which we notice also on the hindwings the magnificent violet hue. This aberration 
is called fa. dives Fruhst. (112 b). Blue median bands of the wings with two-sided blue reflection. Corresponds 
to the forma demodice Godt. and differs from demodice by the light blue median band on the upper surface of 
the hindwings, being also decorated with a double-rowed violet reflection. The figured specimen originates 
from Peru, but I possess similar gj also from Colombia and from Panama. Certainly the Peru-g¢ on their 
under surface do not attain the brilliant beauty of the blue eye-spots which decorate the Colombian ¢¢ of 
dives. Mr. Fassu has taken magnificent 29 in the Rio Aquaca Valley in the Colombian West Cordilleras, from 
an altitude of 2000 m. Under surface throughout silvery grey without the yellow anal area of the forewings 
Hindwings likewise with proximal blue-pupilled ocelli and between them small, fine, oblong submarginal lunular- 
spots. — octavia Fruhst., a relatively small geographical race with narrow blue bands and dark violet proximal 
hue of the forewings. 9 immediately separable from the @ of laértes pallantias by the magnificent silvery white 
under surface of the hindwings and its more imposing blue eye-spots. Honduras. — louisa Bélr. exhibits the 
most extensive violet decoration of the upper surface, whereby it even outshines dives in beauty. Cuba, rare. 
—rhenea subsp. nov. we meet in Bolivia and further inland in Mato Grosso. The specimens are already excelled 
by those of Colombia in size and richness of colours. The blue median area is narrowed, the proximal reflection 
is more extensive, but no more so magnificently blue as in amesia. Also the under surface grows darker, espe- 
cially the intensely grey distal part of both the wings. Whereas three Colombian amesia exhibit blue bands 
running through as far as the costal border, only one 3 among 9 Bolivian specimens has this luxuriant decora- 
tion. If I remember rightly, Mr. Fassn has sent me for inspection, together with fa. dives, also analogous speci- 
mens. — abulonia subsp. nov. resembles above the figured dives, except the band being prolonged as far as the 
costal of the under surface of the forewing analogous to demodice from Surinam, though with a light grey distal 
part of both the wings and extremely reduced ochre-yellow subanal spot. abulonia may be considered the 
local race with the lightest under surface of the whole species. Bahia. Similar specimens may occur in Minas 
Geraes, while Rio de Janeiro may be the home of a presumably darker geographical form. Specimens from 
the latter province have become known to me only from the statements in literature. 
P. gnorima closely approximates above P. omphale, and the violet hue seems always to be confined 
to the basal zone. The most characteristic under surface (112 b) which approaches rather P. eugenes, differs 
from P. laértes and P. omphale by the silver-glossy trimming of the black median band. The species is very 
rare and within 25 years I have not succeeded in obtaining more than 3 specimens among the 450 Prepona 
of my collection. Only three geographical deviations are to be mentioned: gnorima Bates (= demophile Fldr.) 
(112 b). $: above as a rule with a very broad blue median area of the hindwings, although there are also gg 
with a narrower band. As for instance, also the types of FELDER that lay before me, are somewhat different: 
one ¢ has a light chocolate under surface of the wings, which, in the second specimen, are of a more yellowish- 
brown tinge. The chocolate 3 has above very narrow blue bands, and I believe that this specimen is the real 
type. The second specimen is congruent with a ¢ from Colombia in my collection and has broader blue discal 
bands of the upper surface. It is not impossible that these specimens come from another locality, maybe another 
river-valley or range of mountains. — philetas Fruhst. differs from gnorima by the paler under surface of the 
wings, being still lighter than in jordani Fruhst The region outside the submarginal band is set with broad 
white diffuse spots. The black discal band of the under surface of the forewings similar to jordani, only bordered 
with quite narrow white. The hindwings are extremely light, and the black discal band appears distally broader 
and more coherently decorated in white than in gnorima, the ocelli grow also much larger. Honduras, very rare: 
besides observed in Guatemala and on the voleano Chiriqui. — jordani Fruhst. g 43 mm, against 50 mm of 
gnorima from Colombia. Blue median band of the forewings shorter, broader and darker. Under surface: all 
the wings lighter, especially the greyish-yellow region between the submarginal and median bands. The sil- 
very white trimming of the median band being so characteristic of gnorima, especially also beneath, consi- 
