HELICONIA I. 
It is well known that species of an allied family, as Danais Archi'ppus , gather 
in great flocks, but this seems to be only at certain seasons of the year, and then 
by day as well as night, and is apparently connected with their migrations, which 
are believed to be periodical, at least in some districts. But Chcivitonici assem¬ 
bles for the night only, and for rest, dispersing during the day in search of food, 
after the fashion of our wild pigeons. 
The family Heliconidse embraces an immense number of species. Mr. H. W. 
Bates, in 1861, stated that there were two hundred and eighty-four then known 
in tropical America. They are most numerous in those parts of the countiy 
where the forests are most extensive and the climate most sultry and humid. 
They are peculiarly creatures of the forest, and like the Plattyrrhine monkeys, 
the arboreal Gallinacem, and the other groups of the same region, point to the 
gradual adaptation of the fauna, during an immense lapse of time, to a forest- 
clad country.” 
It has been noticed by authors who have treated of this family that the species, 
although exceedingly abundant in individuals, and of slow flight, and conspicuous 
colors, more easy to be caught by birds than almost any other insect, are not per¬ 
secuted by birds, lizards, or other animals. Mr. Belt, in u Naturalist in Nicara¬ 
gua,” relates that he had watched a pair of birds catching butterflies and dragon¬ 
flies, which they brought to their nest to feed their young, and in no case did they 
catch one of the Heliconidse, which were in great numbers about, and could have 
beenyaught with less trouble than any others. Also, that a tame monkey, who 
was extremely fond of insects, and would greedily munch up any beetle or but¬ 
terfly given to him, never would eat a Ileliconia. There was no doubt, from his 
actions, that they were distasteful to him. And this immunity from attack is be¬ 
lieved by Mr. Wallace to be owing to a u strong, pungent, semi-aromatic or medi¬ 
cinal odor which seems to pervade all the juices of their system.’ 
Dr. Wittfeld, in 1881, called my attention to a strange habit of these butter¬ 
flies, as follows : “ On May 28th, I observed three Charilonias on a chrysalis of 
same species in the woods. They were firmly attached, and on trying to drive 
them off they would not go. I tried repeatedly, and finally used force, but after 
flying around a few times they took up their former position, heads down. The 
next day the same thing occurred, only I noticed that one butterfly at a time 
would leave to feed ; force was again used, with the same result as before. The 
following day, shortly after dawn, only a trifle of empty shell remained. 
“ This observation prompted me to raise another chrysalis, which I suspended 
in a flowering shrub, which Charitonia frequented, June 27tli. feoon some but¬ 
terflies came and touched the chrysalis, but its wriggling seemed to cause them 
to move off. 'Two days before the imago was due, they attached themselves 
