AGRIAS. By H. Frunustorrer. 575 
spot extending somewhat beyond the cell and gradually narrowing towards the distal margin without reaching 
it and leaving a black space free at the anal angle. Before the apex there are 3 large oblong, straw-coloured, 
very distinct spots. Between these and the basal spot a delicate, dark blue reflection is noticeable, being seen 
in some specimens also on the hindwings, beyond the scent-organs. Hindwing at the costal margin bordered 
by pale yellow with fringes of the same colour. Under surface: On the forewings, the red commences only in 
the cell and leaves a broad black stripe free at the posterior margin. Before the apex a broad, whitish-yellow 
band beginning at the costal and extending in the shape of an arc towards the distal margin as far as close 
to the first median. Before the rise of the third subcostal vein a narrow, small, yellow spot and two yellow 
streaks in the middle of the upper and lower radials. The under surface of the hindwings resembles that of 
amydon Hew., from which it is, however, easily distinguishable by the much lighter and broader yellow bands. 
The blue-pupilled eye-spots are isolated — especially the upper ones — where they are flown together to a very 
broad band just in amydon; the eyespot-pupils of ferdinandi are also considerably larger than those of amydon. 
The Q is larger than the 3, with more roundish wings, larger yellow subapical spots and without a trace of blue 
reflection on the hindwings. But on the latter, at the base and in the cell, a slight red dusting is noticeable 
whereby a connection with A. claudia Schulz is established, with which species ferdinandi agrees also by the 
shape and the appearance of the row of eye-spots on the under surface. An especially fresh und faultless 3 
is distinguished from the others by a deep dark-brown band encircling decoratively the red basal spot beyond 
the cell, and resembles thereby the 3 of A. claudia (sardanapalus olim), of which specimens are before me in 
which the blue subapical band traverses almost the whole wing, while it is in some reduced to a small spot. 
Head black with 4 white hair-tufts between the eyes. The brown eyes stick in a white hairy ruffle. Palps outside 
yellow, inside black, body and abdomen black, in both sexes beneath white, 3 above black, 2, however, partly 
with red hair. Feet black, beneath with yellow hair. Antennae black with a reddish-brown tip. Expansion 
of the $3 59—69, of the 92 80 mm, judged by 6 specimens discovered by Mr. HamNscH in the Province of 
Bahia across which he travelled on my advice. A. ferdinandi flew there in woods of high trees where the 
butterflies rarely left their airy domicile under the leaves on top of the high trees, in order to bustle about in 
the ,.picades** as the Brazilians call their roads through the forests. They flew so vehemently past our observer 
that their presence was just for one moment disclosed like a flash, only by the red glimmer of their wings. And 
even when they were greedily drinking from an Aphrodisian bait, the least noise of a foot stepping foreward 
carefully scared away the nimble animals. Except from Bahia, ferdinandi has come also from Minas Geraes 
where Mr. Harnscu found one 9, and recently from Mato Grosso where ferdinand flies beside A. godmanz. 
In the British Museum there are specimens denoted ,,Colombia‘, presumably a wrong habitat. 
A. pericles forms a magnificent transition from A. amydon to the group of A. hewitsonius (114 c) and 
A. phalcidon (114d). The upper surface of pericles resembles yet certain races of amydon, but we already notice 
a further decorative mark, consisting of green festoons of the upper surface, while on the under surface the 
light yellow or greenish yellow filling or foundation of the hindwings disappears in order to be replaced 
by a lighter or darker green according to the geographical situation of the habitat. We know three territorial 
forms: pericles Hew. resembling above our figure of pericles xanthippus (114 ¢ as pericles), but the forewings 
are, distally from the orange basal area, at first decorated with a sardanapalus-blue band and then with an 
emerald-green band. On the hindwings the blue advances further into the cell and the subanal green orna- 
mentation is somewhat more pronounced. Very rare, discovered by Bates near Teffé (formerly called Ega), 
where Dr. Hanne did not find it anymore because the primeval forest had been in the meantime destroyed 
afar from the place. HanNEL, however, found some time later on, near Itaituba on the Rio Tapajos, a local 
race xanthippus Stgr. (114 as pericles) differing from the proper pericles by the lighter orange, magnificent 
area of the forewings which is distally hardly bordered by blue and green. The 2 of xanthippus is a little 
AA 
larger than the $3, with more rounded forewings, a more extensive yellow basal area and without any trace 
of a blue decoration on the forewing. The hindwings are towards the base powdered with brownish as far as 
to the apex of the cell. O. MicHarx writes about the discovery of A. xanthippus (Iris 1894 p. 202): 
One day I saw a butterfly unknown to me, apparently of a yellowish-brownish colour darting along in a swift, 
elegantly floating flight; but where the free space grew narrower, it suddenly returned and flew back again; after having 
flown to and fro 4 or 5 times it finally settled on a leaf far from me, in order to start flying once more after a longer rest. 
Now I struck out desperately at it with my large Morpho-net and, to my great joy, I saw it jerking about in it. But alas! 
The silk net was so firmly entangled in the acanaceous twigs of a finely pinnated acacia-tree that it was entirely impossible 
to get loose. Without hesitation I let go the net and climbed up the slendcr stem: the little tree shook perilously to and 
fro under my weight, but I recklessly climbed up to that part from where I could disentangle the net. But I first killed 
the butterfly which was darting furiously about in the net, in which, however, I succeeded only after great efforts, since 
J was forced to hold fast with one hand in order not to fall down. Finally, after having arrived at the bottom again 
with my lucky prey, I was somewhat disappointed on examining it, for I had in my hands a damaged, rather unicolorous 
butterfly: the finely marked under surface seemed to suggest an interesting capture, but I as yet did not attach so much 
importance to it as to the magnificent Morpho Menelaus of a light blue gloss, which I most eagerly tried to capture. But 
on delivering the butterfly at noon, I was surprised to see Dr. HAHNEL who was otherwise very quict, being wild with 
excitement. 
..Here you have, in my opinion, taken quite a new animai!*‘ he finally said after having examined the specimen from 
all sides. It indeed turned out later on to be a variety hitherto unknown of the magnificent Pericles xanthippus Slgr. 
pericles. 
vanthippus. 
