Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 124



We now, for the first time, detach from the moth-like, or diurnal Sphinxes, all those large and imposing species which are found in Tropical America; and by comparing their characters with those of the Oriental group Helonia, it will be seen how strikingly they differ. During our researches in Brazil, the chief metropolis of this group, great attention was paid to these insects, of which we have a most extensive series. They fly slowly and heavily during the middle of the day, and on the least touch counterfeit death. Most of the species, when handled, discharge from their body a brown liquor, like their prototypes the Heliconidæ.

If we were not in possession of both sexes of the foregoing species, we should have suspected that this was a mere sexual difference; but the spots are transparent. The remarkable resemblance between this and some of the Heliconian butterflies, particularly Linus and Psidii, (Cr. pl. 257.) is truly astonishing. Nature could not have stamped their analogy stronger.