WCP685

[1]

Caracas,

Ditton Hill,

Surbiton

12. Sep[tember]. [19]03

A.R. Wallace Esq.

Dear Sir

I have not yet worked out a list of the butterflies of Guiana but have it in view when present work is finished.

I have roughly 400 species altogether ^{& mostly all 50[?] from one locality — Potaro River}. Very many are inhabitants of the Amazon region but a few are peculiar to the region. From my own [2] collection, Enseinidae[?] are the most numerous of which some species of Stalactites are peculiar & most interesting as fitting in with minoritie [sic] groups strangely enough I did not find the Hesperidae particularly numerous.

Iltholmines[?] are abundant but typical Ilthominas[?], Pteropanus[?] Etc. are poorly represented no doubt owing to a want of elevated country. The Lyeonas pasmintia[?] & crus[?] are both abundant & generally with the darkened kind [3] being only met with in Guiana. The Nehemus[?] species are interesting. Several forms of N[orth]. Numata, Velustus (peculiar) an n. sp guinea[?] melpomea[?] verus, antiochus withfor[?] alba, rhia Sabrinia (most remarkable species in N[orth]. W[est]. district only), and pasithoe only found apparently in the Demerara river & not on any other river. Then there is astydamia & eatharminae[?] & other allied y red & yellow marked species.

Time[?] Nymphalid i.e. Nympaline species are scarce; one of two Catonephil[?] [4] some rare Eumeas, Peridromias & Ageroneas. Papilios are numerous & a large number of morpho species are met with M. Achilles on rivers chiefly M. Achillaena, M. Menelaus (small form) M. Rheteror (rare) M. Liemba[?] (not rare) M. Adonis venus M. Neoptolemus (not rare)[.]

I believe the Gold Officer is sometimes known as the Sub-warden & that the post is the same as y[ou]r surmise.

Y[our]s very truly | W.J. Kaye [signature]