WCP685

[1]

CARACAS,

DITTON HILL,

SURBITON.

12. Sep. 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 sp 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, [illeg.]cinidae are the most numerous of which some species of Stalachtis are peculiar & most interesting as fitting in with mimetic groups strangely enough I did not find the Hesperidae particularly numerous.

lthomiines are abundant but typical lthomias, Pteropus Etc. are poorly represented no doubt owing to a want of elevated country. The Lyconas pasmintia & crus are both abundant & generally with the darkened hind [3] wing only met with in Guiana. The Heliconius species are interesting. Several forms of H. [Heliconius] numata, velustus (peculiar) an n. sp guinea melpomene verus, antiochus [illeg.] alba, rhia Sabrinia (most remarkable species in N. W. district only), and pasithoe only found apparently in the Demerara river & not on any other river. Then there is astydamia & catharminae & other allied y red & yellow marked species.

True Nymphalid i.e. Nympalinae species are scarce; one of two Catonephele [4] some rare Eunicas, Peridromias & Ageronias. 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. [illeg.] (not rare) M. adonis verus M. neoptolemus (not rare)

I believe the Gold Officer is sometimes known as the Sub-warden & that the post is the same as yr surmise.

Ys very truly | W. J. Kaye¹ [signature]