BRASSOLID^. By H. Frtthstorfer. 285 



5. Family: Brassolidae. 



The genera of this subdivision of the Nymphalids sens. lat. belong exclusively to the Neotropical faunistic 

 region. Representatives of the family are entirely absent in the Ethiopian Region, on the other hand they 

 stand in surprismgly close relationship to the Indo-Australian Amathusiids, which were formerly called "Mor- 

 phids of the Old World", but would be more correctly regarded as "Brassolids of the Old World". Indeed Ama- 

 thusiids and Brassolids have so much m common that it will probably be only a question of time to see them 

 united, and like then* Indian allies their extremes m one direction approach the Satyrids (Opoptera), while others 

 form a transition to the Nymphalids (N'arojie). — In the anatomy of the clasping-organs they are much more 

 closely allied to the SatjTids than to the Neotropical Morphids, with which they were formerly united. Especially 

 suggestive of the Satyrids are the slender, dentate valve and the pointed uncus (Opsiphanes) with its delicate 

 lateral clasps, though the uncus of one genus (Dynastor). rather recalls the Morphids. But whatever we 

 adduce by way of comparison we find the characters fluctuatmg; thus also the strongly developed precostal, 

 to which Dr. Schatz attached so much importance, the beginning of which we find again in the Morphids 

 and which on the other hand in the Brassolid genus Caligo begms to disappear. At the same time the Brasso- 

 lids can be definitely separated from the Morphids by having the cell of the hindwing closed, in which they 

 also differ fi'om the Amathusiids, where the discocellular is only exceptionally present or is only rudimentary. 



The relations of the Brassolids to the neighbouring families are of different kinds. From the Nympha- 

 lids in the restricted sense, which the antennae and the neuration of the forewing suggest, they are separated 

 by the ocellated markings on the under surface, by the palpi, and before all by the quite different larvae, 

 which bring them nearer to the Satyrids. From Morpho, with which they were formerly united, they differ 

 especially in the elongate, naked larva, which lives on Monocotyledons, and bears no resemblance to the short, 

 woolly, Dicotyledon-feeding larvae of Morpho. From the Satyrids, which they approach in the shape of the 

 larvae, the Brassolids are separated chiefly by the gigantic size {Caligo), the thickness of the body (Brassolis) and 

 the structure of Reuter's "basalfleck"; m addition the veins of the forewing are not inflated at the base. 



All the Brassolids agree in the brilliant eye-spots on the finely striated under surface, which are most 

 strongly developed in Caligo. Only in the genus Narope is this character indistinct, the eye-spots being entirely 

 absent or reduced to dots. 



With the exception of one genus (Narope) the Brassolids embrace almost exclusively species which are 

 either above medium size or even furnish us with the giants among the South American butterflies. 



The colouring is as a rule dull, uniform and blurred, not rarely with blue and blue-green iridescent 

 gloss; only a few species are brightly and sharply marked, while none have a very elaborate pattern. Never- 

 theless some species of the genus Caligo are among the most sought-after show specimens in collections, and 

 the sight of a wonderful blue-tinged Caligo heltrao or of the amethyst-coloured Caligo atreus with its yellow 

 ornamental bands is one of the most beautiful memories of a tropical traveller. They form a characteristic 

 of the landscape when the sun-loving Morpho have long ceased their flight and as harbingers of the night they 

 leave their hiding-places and take up their posts like isolated sentries at the edge of the evergreen forest. Even 

 more than the Amathusiids the Brassolids prefer the dusk of the moist, hot primeval forest; only a few 

 Opsiphanes occasionally even in the middle of the day are attracted by the so-called "Waldschenken" in the 

 dry underwood (Capoeira) where they enjoy themselves at the sap flowing out of the bushes. 



One genus {Dasyophthalma) can best be compared with Indian Elymnias or Zeuxidia, as its members 

 make their appearance in the early hours of the day, fly up and down unsteadily several times, turning their 

 iridescent blue or greenish upper surface for a moment to the spectator, but then agam disappear slowly 

 and mysteriously in the forest-gloom. They have also in common with the Zeuxidia a preference for over- 

 ripe bananas, with which they can be baited in large numbers. They then sit in a living mass in company with 

 Caligo beltrao or Eryphanis reevesi round the suspended fruit, mostly underneath it, with the wmgs closed, 

 turning the ocelli to the spectator. When anyone approaches they begin to flap their wings restlessly, before 

 taking to flight. Even the Caligo species, in spite of their great size, are difficult to detect m their day 

 hiding-places when, accidentally startled up, they settle quite near the ground, concealing themselves either 

 on it or on tree-trunks, as the peculiarly irrorated and reticulated under surface, readily fitting in and 

 harmonizing with the aspect of the trunk, affords them complete protection in spite of their large "owlet-eyes". 



Like all true forest species the Brassolids scarcely ascend above the actual zone of the densest vegetation. 

 The species of Caligo and their nearest allies never exceed elevations of 1000 m. In their geographical range 

 they agree entirely with the Morphids, not extending northwards beyond Mexico nor southwards beyond 

 Rio Grande do Sul and Paraguay. Their headquaiiiers are the eastern slopes of the Andes, especially the 



