MORPHO. By H. Fetjhstoefbr. 351 



— cacica Stgr., described from the Chanchamayo in South Peru, is connected with eusehes by transitions cadca. 

 ^vhich occiu- already on the Upper Amazon. The type is characterized by a median row of four or five whitish 

 yellow intramedian spots, sometimes also in addition some similar spots before the distal margin. The under 

 surface of the hind wing shows a very narrow brown transverse band, -s^hich encloses the dark brown ocelli 

 and is not broadened posteriori}^ as in eusehes and rhetenor. $ apparently still unknown. — helena Stgr., a very helena.. 

 distinct geographical race almost entitled to specific rank; upper surface much nearer to cypris Westw. -" . 

 than to rJiefenor, only differing essentiallj^ from the former in the absence of the yellow submarginal markings 

 on both wings and in havmg the produced apes of the forewing (so characteristic of rhetenor) even more strongly 

 developed than in eusebes. The median band of the under surface, which is dull grey in the other representatives 

 of rhetenor, is in helena pure -white, broad and traverses the forewing from the apex of the cell, the hindmng 

 for its entire length. Much, ho-v\-ever, as the ^^ differ from rhetenor type in the metallic iridescence of the me- 

 dian band, the $ of helena nevertheless remains constant and apparently scarcely differs more than rhetenor 

 $ from the of the Amazon form eusebes. It is larger than eusebes $, but has the yellow areas of the forewing 

 quit* as extended and the submarginal patches on the upperside of the hindwing more strongly marked, 

 but likewise arranged in three parallel rows. The under surface of the foremng somewhat duller than in eusebes, 

 the hind-^^-ing predominantly grey and in the median area nearly pure white instead of yellomsh. The cJc? came 

 from the Rio Huayabamba near its union with the Huallaga, in North Peru; the $ was discovered at Tara- 

 poto in October, 1901, by the well-known collector Michael, who sent a coloured drawing of it on which our 

 diagnosis is based. Only yellow $$ are known, but it is very probable that, as in all the species of the adonis- 

 rhetenor group, 2$ tinged ^\ith blue m^UI also be discovered. 



M. cypris replaces rhetenor- in Colombia and Central America and one might strictly spealdng unite it 

 with the latter as a geographical branch unless the anatomy shows essential differences, cyj^ris is here, however, 

 kept separate on account of the rounded shape of the fore^^dng and the somewhat more vertically placed white 

 median band of the upper surface, cypris and helena outshine even the other Morphids in their incomparable 

 gloss and cypris in particular is a true gem, unequalled in its brilliance throughout the whole of nature (Schatz). 

 According to the fall of the hght the blue of this incomparable insect shows a more violet or more greenish 

 gloss and the delicate white band a yellomsh tone or more of a tinge of rose-colour. The blue is of such etherial 

 purity and such intensive lustre that all the other colours appear faded or dull in comparison. Only the Malayo- 

 AustraUan Ornithoptera can outrival the Morphids, adding as they do to the brilliance of their golden green 

 colouring the further charm of a quite distinguished form and wing-contour. The scaling itself, as in rhe- 

 tenor, remains fixed, but the interference scales are wanting in the normal $$, so that these are of the primitive 

 yellowish ochreous (Brassohd) ground-colour common to all the species of the adonis group. Two local varieties : 

 cypris Westiv. (68 a cJ, b 2). The (JcJ are scarcely modified and the $ differs from that of rhetenor in the more cypris. 

 distinctly isolated yellow submarginal patches and a yellow diffuse spot in the cell of the forewing. On the 

 under surface both sexes bear in addition, especially on the hindwing, fully developed ocelli wdth deep j^ellow 

 rings and white pupils, instead of the blind brown patches of rhetenor. The ^$ otherwise resemble those of 

 rhetenor beneath, but the brown ba^ncls always remain pa,ler ; median area white in the <?<?, yellomsh in the $$, 

 on the forewing extending without interruption to the costal margin. Of the $ examples are also known 

 which are shot with brilliant blue like the (JcJ (cyanites form, nov.), but in these the blue reflection always cyanites. 

 leaves free a rather broad brown distal margin. Colombia, principal locality the vicinity of the emerald mines 

 of Muzo, from whence cypris is brought to Bogota for sale as "mariposa de Muzo". — bugaba Stgr., from the bicgaba. 

 Volcan de Chiriqui, is distinguished from Colombian examples by the more extended white median band, smaller 

 size and darker under surface. Accordmg to Godjian and Salvin specimens of cyjiris from Nicaragua are almost 

 identical with Colombian, but (JcJ from Panama are again much smaller with narrower bands. The butterfhes 

 fly at a great height in the clearings which have been made in the woods for the Panama railw^ay. 



M. anaxibia Esp. (69 c) may be regarded as one of the characteristic butterflies of southern Brazil, anaxibia. 

 The species stands quite alone in having the abdomen blue above, but forms a transition from the rhetenor to 

 the menelaus group, anaxibia, however, lacks the wonderful gloss of the rhetenor series, the blue is duller, al- 

 though it has its own particular beauty, and the dazzling iridescence is wanting. The (^ still suggests rhetenor 

 in the under surface, the $ reveals more connection with the menelaus group, but its marginal spots are yellow- 

 instead of white. The '^ bears a narrow black costal border, which is inappreciably widened at the apex and then 

 continued to the hinder angle of the forewing as a proximaUy more or less dentate distal border. Beyond the 

 cell there is a white patch at the costal margin, but in examples from Blumenau this is frequently absent. 

 The forewing is predominantly black beneath, the hindwing red-brown, respectively with two to three and four 

 . to five medium-sized eye-spots, sUghtly pupilled with white and mostly ringed with light grey-yellow. The 

 under surface of the 5 is more variegated, marked with shghtly glossy broad grey zigzag bands and patches. 

 The 2 varies above in the white, delicately blue-dusted transcellular patch of the forewing, which may be 



