Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 45



Cramer describes this elegant Butterfly as a native of Surinam, and our own specimens were received from the same country. All the species of this group that have yet fallen under our inspection, are natives of South America. Their flight is high, powerful and rapid: the predominating colour on the upper surface of their wings is brown, and on the under white.

It is the misfortune of not understanding the typical structure, and the principles which regulate its variation, in higher groups, that in defining the characters of a lesser, we can form no just idea of its relative value: whether, in short, we should consider it a genus or a sub genus, or whether it is typical, aberrant, or osculent. This, however, is but a temporary evil; and will only continue until an insight is gained into higher combinations, by first placing together kindred species under one common name. If this be done heedfully, such a group must be natural, whatever opinions may be entertained in the first instance, as to its proper denomination.