THE COMMOX nUTTEliFLlES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. ()39 



inv\nrdly couical dusky-brown spots, and a slender anticiliary black line. 

 TIr' posterior two spots of the outer line of subterniinal markings are also 

 black. Cilia white. Antenna" black : the shafts ringed with white ; head, 

 thorax ami abdomen brown, the heail, thorax and base of the abdomen 

 with a little blue scaling ; beneath : the palpi, thorax and abdomen white. 

 Female. L'yjyw.Naff : dark brown. Fore and hind wings from their bases 

 outwards to a varying extent shot with bright iridescent blue, this colour 

 not extended on either wing to the costa, termon or dorsum. Hind wing : 

 in addition a curved postdiscal series of whitish lunules very often 

 obsolescent, in some specimens entirely wanting; followed by a subter- 

 niinal series of black, narrowly white-encircled spots that are often 

 "bscure and in some specimens do not reach the apex. Anticiliary black 

 lines and cilia as in the male. Underside : precisely similar to that of the 

 male. Antennte, head, thorax and abdomen as in the male. 



Dri/-seas</n hvood. — Male and female. Closely resemble specimens of the 

 wet-season brood, but can always be distinguished by the somewhat paler 

 ground-colour of the upperside, while on the underside both sexes bear a 

 large nebulous brown patch on the hindwing posteriorly. Sometimes the 

 ground-colour on the underside is much paler, almost white, especially in 

 the female. Expanse : Male and female, 28"-32 mm. 



Larra. — Of the usual normal shape of Nacaduha, ttc. Head black, smooth 

 shining. The constrictions between the segments slight ; the usual gland 

 and extensile organs present. The surface of the body but very slightly, 

 shagreened, covered with extremely fine and short, downy hairs. Colour 

 green of the shade of the lime leaves it feeds upon ; a dark green dorsal 

 line ; a pale, subdorsal line and a similar, subspiracular one. L : 10 mm. 



Pupa. — Of the Nacaduba type, with a dorsal and lateral series of some- 

 what obscure, conjoined, brownish spots on the dorsal region ; otherwise 

 plani green. 



Ikihits : — The above description of larva and pnpa is taken from 

 de Nicevilles Butterflies of India. Burma and Cejdon. The follow- 

 ing habits have also been noted by that author : — The larva feeds 

 upon the young leaves of Lime and Pomelo. The pupa is formed 

 on the iindersides of leaves and is quite normal in its attachment. 

 The butterfly is found in Baluchistan ; X. W. Himalayas, not 

 ascending above 6,000 or 7,000 feet; N. W. Provinces, eastwards 

 to Bengal and Assam, southwards through Central, Western and 

 Southern India to Ceylon ; Burma ; Tenasserim ; Southern China. 



8. Genus — Talicada. 



The genus consists of a single species confined to Western and Southern 

 India ; Ceylon, Assam and Upper Burma. The sexes are absolutely 

 similar, the upperside glossy black with a large vennillion, anal patch on 

 the hind wing and the cilia chequered black and white ; the underside is 

 white with black spots and bands. The larva is peculiar in that it feeds in 

 the inside of leaves of Bnjophyllum cfdycinum and Kalanchoe of the order 

 Crassulaeea;, the home Stonecrops. It is hardly ever attended by ants. 

 The flight of the butterfly is weak : it never rises high and does not often 

 come to flowers. It is found from sea-level up to, at least 2,o00 feet and 

 slightly over. 



144. Talicada nyseus, Guorin. Male — (PI. G. fig., 46) — and Female. 

 Upverside : black or brownish black, in fresh specimens in certain lights 

 with a dull purplish flush. Fore wing : uniform, with a very slender 

 thread-like edging of white to the costa. Hind wing : a large conspicuous 



