511 



LEPIDOPTERA TAKEN IN CUTCH. 



By Capt. C. G. Nurse, F.R.G.S., F.E.S. 



My stay in Cutch only extended from December 1891 to March 1893, and 

 I cannot therefore hope that the following list contains nearly all the 

 species of Lepidoptera which occur there. I do not think however that 

 many more species of Butterflies will be added to my list, though as far as 

 the Moths are concerned, an assiduous collector might probably in a few years 

 almost dciuble the number of species enumerated below. But the following 

 list ma bo of interest in showing the chief species of Lepidoptera that occur 

 in such a dry locality, and I hope that it may induce the next entomologist 

 who may be stationed tliere to place on record the result of his labours. 

 My collecting was done chiefly round Bhuj, the capital, and it is almost 

 needless to remark that most of my specimens were obtained during and 

 immediately after the rains. 



With regard to nomenclature : I have, except where otherwise mentioned, 

 followed Mr. De Niceville so far as the three published volumes of the 

 Butterflies of India go. In the Fierince I follow the late Capt. E. Y. Watson 

 in his '' Notes on the synonymy of some species of Indian Pierince " (J. Bo. 

 Nat. Hist. Society, Vol. VIII, No. 4): also as regards the Hesperidce I 

 follow him in Hesperidaj Indicce, as modified by his article in Vol. IX No. 4 

 of this journal. 



In the Moths I follow Sir Gr. F. Hamp^^on in his Volumes on Moths in the 

 Fauna of India series. I also desire to acknowledge his kindness in assisting 

 me to identify my specimens at the British Museum. Whenever I was in 

 doubt as to the identification of a specimen, he was good enough to put me 

 right, and I therefore feel far more confidence in the accuracy of the follow- 

 ing list than I should had it been the result of my own unaided efforts. 



In thus following recognised authorities, I have not thought it necessary 

 to quote in brackets after each species the name of the describer, which can 

 easily be ascertained by reference to the above-quoted works. 



RHOPALOCERA. 



Danais liminiace — Common during the rains. 



Dauais chrysipms — 'Abundant everywhere at all seasons. 



Danu'S genutia — Not uncommon in the rains. 



EupTcea core — One of the commonest butterflies in the rains, 



Melanitis leda — I saw a specimen of this species on one occasion when I 

 had no net. 



Errjolis ariadne — One specimen at Charwah, about 12 miles from Bhuj, 



Byhlia ilUthyia — Very common at Charwah, and occasionally seen near Bhui. 



Junonia lemonias^ , „ , . , 



r . 7 . . All very common during the rams, but occasional 



JtiHoiua hierta y . , 



^ . 7 . ' specimens were to be seen all the vear round. 



Jimoma orithyia j 



