414 
THE HELIC0P1S. 
perfect form. As may be seen from the illustration, the shape of the pnpa is very remarkable, 
reminding the observer of an ancient jousting-helmet with the visor down. 
The two beautiful insects, known under the terms Hetcera pier a and Hetcera dracontis , are 
examples of the family Satyridm. Both these creatures, unlike as they appear to be, belong 
to the same genus. The Hetcera pier a bears a wonderful resemblance to the transparent 
heliconia. Its wings are delicately transparent, and with the slightest imaginable tinge of 
yellow. On the lower wings there is a blush of orange-red, and the marks are darkish 
brown. 
The Hetcera dracontis is a delicately marked, though not brilliant insect. The upper 
wings are very soft brown, traversed by a band of a grayish hue, and with a very slight tinge 
of chocolate. The lower wings are also brown, but with a faint wash of blue, and the light 
marks are azure. On the under side it is wholly brown, with two round spots of black edged 
with buif, and two or three whitish blotches. 
The family of the Erycinidse comes next in order, and, as may be seen from the specimens 
upon the colored illustration, embraces insects of very differing forms and colors. The 
strange-looking insect, Zeonia Batesii, derives its name from Mr. Bates, who discovered it. 
The white portions of the wdngs are membranous and transparent, and the dark portions 
are nearly all black, except that the base of the projecting portions of the lower wings is deep 
blue. The light-colored bar is rich scarlet. This specimen represents a male ; the hinder 
wings of the female are closer together, and the tails are nearly straight. 
A small but elegant butterfly is the Calydna calamita. The upper surface of this insect 
is black, diversified with numerous blue and white spots. Below r , the ground color is brown, 
spotted profusely with black and white, and having some short transverse lines of yellow. 
This insect inhabits the regions about the Amazon. 
A butterfly called Eurygone opalina is of simple but extremely beautiful coloring. 
Unless held in a favorable light, the insect seems to be of a simple orange color, but if 
held with its head towards the observer’s eyes, and the sun being behind his back, its 
wdngs glow with a golden effulgence that surpasses all pow T er of description. As the insect 
is gently turned or held so as to communicate a quivering motion, all the tints of the 
rainbow play over the trembling wings, and the glory reflected from its surface is almost 
intolerable to the eye. As is the case with all the butterflies, this insect is represented of its 
natural size. 
Ox the illustration at page 405, two more examples of this family may be seen. The first 
is placed in the centre of the left-hand side, and immediately under the tip of the left wing of 
the great Thoas butterfly. This is the Helicopis cupido , an insect which, if only viewed on its 
upper surface, seems, except for the long and slender projections of the hinder wdngs, to be 
hardly worthy of much observation, the color being pale and dull brown, changing to pale 
rusty-red towards the base of the wings, and having a rather large whitish spot in the centre 
of the upper wings. But on turning it over, so as to bring the under surface into view, it 
proves to be a really wonderful insect. The upper wdngs have little remarkable about them, 
their color being brown, becoming paler towards the edge, and having a sharply defined 
whitish-yellow mark in the centre. But it is on the lower wings that the chief interest is 
concentrated. On a ground of ochreous-yellow are a number of large spots which look 
exactly as if they were made of gold-leaf artificially affixed to the wings, the resemblance being 
so close, that without the aid of a magnifier which shows their real structure, a person who 
had seen them for the first time might well imagine that they had been veritable pieces of 
gold-leaf, and fastened to the wing by cement. This butterfly is a native of Demerara, while 
the Misipsa inhabits the regions about the Amazon. It may be seen in the left-hand lowei 
corner of the same engraving. The color of this pretty little insect is silvery blue, over which 
are drawn a number of black bands, thus producing a very bold effect. The under surface is 
simply light brown, with some bands of a darker hue. 
