Our plate gives a very good idea of this insect in both sexes, the male being always marked near the outer angle of hind wings by a short black bar. Expanse 1.90-2.10 inches.
Found in southern Texas and Mexico.
There are a number of forms of this insect, slightly variant.
Genus MEGANOSTOMA Reakirt
(The Dog-face Butterflies).
PL. CIV
Closely resembling the insects of the next genus, from which they may be distinguished by the more pointed fore wings, and the fact that the rude outlines of the head of a dog are shown in yellow silhouette upon the fore wings. There are two species in our territory, one of which, M. eurydice Boisduval, found in California, may be distinguished from the other by the splendid purplish iridescence of the fore wings of the male.
(1) Meganostoma cæsonia (Stoll), [Plate CIV], ♂ (The Southern Dog-face). (See [p. 180.])
The sexes are much alike in this species, which ranges from Florida and the Gulf States northward as far as southern Illinois. Expanse 2.25 inches.