There appears no end to the immense number of species referrible to this genus, which will perhaps be found the most extensive tropical group of all the Linnaean _Phalaenidae._ Of these, near eighty species I found in Brazil; Dr. Horsfield has brought a great many from Java; near fifty are found in North America, and I have little doubt that the whole number existing in the cabinets which I have inspected may amount to about three hundred and fifty. The thorough investigation of these is a work of no ordinary labour; and, until this is done, it appears most advisable to let the generic distinction remain, as given by Latreille, though there can be no doubt that among them distinct groups will be detected.
Cramer"s figure will not indicate even the genus, and Fabricius describes the body as white; the tip ferruginous; in this it is yellow, tipped with red.
Mr. Haworth obliged me with this insect, which Fabricius notes as African.
BOTIS bicolor,
_Black and White Gauze-wing._
_B. alis anticis fuscis, punctis duabus angulatis transversis albis; posticis ad basin albis._
Anterior wings, brown, with two transverse angulated white spots; posterior white at the base.
From the same collection as the preceding; the margin of the thorax and body are white. I apprehend it is an American species, which is distinct from any figured by Cramer, the princ.i.p.al author on the Exotic Lepidoptera.
Pl. 78
[Ill.u.s.tration]
PICUS affinis,
_Golden-naped Woodp.e.c.k.e.r._
GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 14.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
_P. supra aureo-fuscus, subtus pallidus, fasciis nigris transversis ornatus; capite (in maribus) rubro; nucha colloque supra aureis; tectricibus secundis fulvo maculatis; cauda nigra, fasciis fulvis ornata._
Above, orange brown; beneath, pale, with transverse black stripes; head (in the male) red; nape and neck, above, golden yellow; lesser wing covers with yellowish spots; tail black, with yellowish bands.
Ornithologists have either entirely overlooked this bird, or have slightly noticed it as a variety of _Picus icterocephalus_, the golden-headed Woodp.e.c.k.e.r, from which it is nevertheless quite distinct.
Total length near seven inches; bill blackish horn colour, and one inch long from the gape; the feathers on the upper part of the head are short and pointed; the tips bright red; the base black; on the hind head they are longer, and change to a bright golden yellow, which spreads round the nape; the ear feathers and front of the head are greyish brown, striped down the middle with whitish, and in some there is an appearance of a whitish line over the eye, joining the nape. The upper parts of the body and wings are of a rich golden brown, with indistinct brighter spots; the lesser wing covers have a whitish spot at the top of each, forming two bands; quills on the inner shaft black, with white spots. Under plumage grey, tinged on the breast with rufous, and banded with brownish black; tail short, black, with interrupted transverse bands of obscure olive.
The female has the head blackish, the feathers tipt with dull white; the ears darker; the plumage above more olive, the spots brighter, and the bands on the body grey, paler, and more indistinct than in the male. The feet in both s.e.xes are greenish, and the wings three inches and a half long.
It inhabits Brasil, but is not common; I found it both in the Province of Bahia, and that of Rio de Janeiro.
Pl. 79
[Ill.u.s.tration]
NATICA mustelina,
_Belted Natica_--_upper figures_.
GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 75.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
_N. testa subglobosa, mustelina concolore, obsolete rugata, fascia levata basin cingente; spira depressa, apice acuto; umbilico magno, aperto; columellae basi gracili, levata._
Sh.e.l.l sub-globose, uniform, fulvous-brown, obsoletely wrinkled, base with an elevated belt; spire depressed, the tip acute; umbilicus large, open; pillar termination slender, elevated, and central.
The elevated belt at the base affords an excellent distinction to this species. The specimen in my cabinet is the only one I have seen. Locality unknown.
NATICA sordida,
_Brown Natica--middle figures._
_N. testa subglobosa, fused, spira prominente; apertura intus fusco-purpurea; umbilico parvo, labio interiore paululum tecto; columella obsolete terminante._
Sh.e.l.l sub-globose, brown; spire prominent; aperture within purplish brown; umbilicus small, partially covered by the inner lip; pillar termination obsolete.
This Sh.e.l.l is both undescribed and apparently unfigured; the spire is more elevated than usual; the umbilicus small; and the termination of the pillar not seen: it is not uncommon, and is often much larger than here represented, but I am unacquainted with its locality. The little decision in the figures given by authors of these sh.e.l.ls, renders it hazardous to quote them with certainty.