OLYEAS; EUTEE8I8. Bi/ B. Haensch. 117 



The area of distribution of the Ithomiids embraces the whole of tropical and subtropical America. Single 

 species occur also in California and in Argentina. 'They also inhabit the mountains up to elevations of 3000 m. 

 Most species, however, are found below the Equator in the valleys of the Andes. Species of the genera Mecha- 

 nitis, Ceratmia and the small transparent Ithomiinae especially occur in great abundance. Among them are 

 found singly examples of similar, rare species of the genus Napeogenes. Many species have a wide range of 

 distribution and occur, though with slight variations, almost everywhere; others again favour exclusively 

 certain mountain-valleys. One can even sometimes take a few specimens of certain rare species daily in parti- 

 cular localities, althoixgh the species is not found elsewhere within a considerable distance. 



4. Genus; Olyras DU. (& Hew. 



The few species of this genus are large, semitransparent, mostly rare butterflies. They may be distin- 

 guished from similar forms of other genera by the strongly sinuate inner margin of the forewing, especially in 

 the o, and the broad hindwing with the costal margin correspondingly curved. The ^^ have 2 hair-pencils at 

 the costal margin of the hindwing. ■ — They are mountain butterflies, and are fond of floating about in open 

 places mostly at a considerable height above the ground. 



0. montagui Btlr. (31 d). Forewing dark brown, with irregular, glassy spots in the distal half. Hind- monUigui. 

 wing reddish brown with dark distal margin and glassy spot at the apex, which on the under surface is prolonged 

 as a band towards the inner margin (in many examples also on the upper surface). This rather rare species 

 flies on the eastern slopes of the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador; it superficially resembles Ituna lamirus and 

 also Dircenna olyras and, Napeogenes excelsa, which occur in the same localities, but are distinctly smaller. — 

 sticheli Hsch., from Eastern Peru, is very similar to the preceding, but is distinguished by a large red-brown sUchcli. 

 triangle at the base of the forewing. The dark distal margin of the hindwing moreover is broader and the white 

 spots on the under surface are -larger. — staudingeri Godm. <& Salv. (= centralamericana Sig^r. i. I.), from Central staudingeri. 

 America, is similar to the preceding, but has only one yellow-brown streak at the median of the forewing and 

 smaller yellowish vitreous spots. The colour of the hindwing is j^ellow-brown. In its apex is placed on the 

 upper surface only a small, transparent spot. 



0. crathis Dbl. & Heic, from Venezuela, is similar to the preceding, and also to the following. The craihis. 

 oblong spot at the base of the forewing is broader, but light yellow-brown. The vitreous spots are smaller and 

 brownish. The hindwing is light brown with broad dark margin and 2 indistinct vitreous spots. — theon Bates theon. 

 (31d). From Central America; here the vitreous spots are larger, and also the yellow-brown spot at the base 

 of the forewing. Hindwing unicolorous yellow-brown with narrower dark distal margin and light discal spot 

 on the vmder surface. 



0. praestans Godm. & Salv. (31 e) recalls the somewhat larger Ituna phenarete. The forewing is vitreous praestans. 

 with dark margins and oblique bands. The hindwing transparent yellowish with dark costal and distal margins. 

 On the under surface white double spots are placed at the distal margin and 3 white dots at the costal margin 

 of the hindwing. It inhabits north-eastern Colombia. — insignis Salv., frora Central America, has red-brown insignis. 

 colour at the anal angle of the hindwing and on the underside only 1 white dot at the costal margin. 



0. translucens Hetv., from western Ecuador, is the smallest and rarest species. It is almost diaphanous, translacens. 

 only at the base slightly yellow, with dark margins and a transverse band on the discocellulars of the forewing 

 to the distal margin. On the under surface small white dots are placed at the distal margin. 



5. Genus: Elltresis Dbl. & Hew. 



Here also belong only a few forms, of similar size and colouring to Olyras, but without the strongly 

 sinuate margins. They likewise inhabit the mountains, from Peru to Central America. 



E. hypereia DU. d Hew., the first described form and type of the genus, is very similar to the hijpereia. 

 figured theope (31e). It is somewhat larger, has broader dark margins and bands, and the base of the forewing 

 and the whole disc of the hindwing are reddish yellow-brown. It flies in the mountains of Venezuela. — hyspa hyspci. 

 Godm. (& Salv. (= antioquensis Stgr.) is a local form of liyperia from Ecuador and Colombia, which is distin- 

 guished by much weaker red-brown colouring, especially in the disc of the forewing. — imitatrix Stgr. (31e) imiiatrix 

 resembles the species of Thyridia and of the transparent Aprotopos. But it is very nearly allied to the preceding 

 and differs chiefly by the absence of the red-brown colour on both wings, as well as by the blackish transverse 

 band across the middle of the hindwing. It occurs on the eastern slopes of the Andes of Peru and Ecuador. — 

 theope Godm. <& Salv. (= dilucida Stgr.) (81e). This is the Central American form of hypereia, from Costa Eica. Iheope. 

 It is distinguished especially by the paler margins and the narrower distal margin of the hindwing, which is 

 proximally edged with yellow-brown. 



