Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/163

137 HELICONIA CYNISCA.

PLATE XI. Fig. 2.

Godart.—Pap. Ricini (Fem.), Linn.—H. Erato, Fabr.—Pap. Vesta, Cramer, Pl. 119, fig. A.

species presents a considerable similarity to the preceding, both in size and distribution of colours. The surface is deep black; a large portion at the base of the anterior wings fulvous-red, traversed by three black nervures; near the middle a large spot of sulphur-yellow, and beyond it a circular series of smaller unequal spots of the same colour. The under wings have from five to seven red stripes, extending in a radiated form from the base towards the hinder margin. Beneath the design is similar, but the ground colour inclines to brown, and one of the yellow spots on the superior wings is prolonged nearly to the base. The body is black, the sides of the thorax spotted with yellow, and the breast marked with transverse lines of the same colour; there is likewise a yellow line along the under side of the abdomen.

The above description applies to the most ordinary form of this insect, but it is liable to a good deal of variation. It occurs in Guiana.