26 



MR. G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER: A REVISION OF THE 



nervure angled upwards to the origin of the latter nervule. Submedian nervure some 

 times straight, often waved. Hind wing generally ample, sometimes with no tail, 

 generally with a tail at the end of the first median nervule, which is sometimes little 

 more than a tooth, hut varies considerably, and is not unfrequently long ; sometimes 

 there is a second very short tooth-like projection at the end of the second median 

 nervule, and occasionally yet a third very short one at the end of the submedian nervure. 

 Anal angle sometimes round or sharply angled or sometimes distinctly lobed. Inner 

 margin variable, straight, emarginate, or rounded. Costa evenly arched, sometimes 

 flattened, sometimes waved. Costal nervure generally well arched, but sometimes con- 

 siderably straighter. First subcostal nervule well arched, rising generally well before 

 the apex of the cell ; upper discocellular nervule shorter than the lower, rather concave, 

 and somewhat oblique outwardly; lower discocellular erect, or somewhat oblique 

 inwardly, or occasionally straight, rarely concave. Second median nervule rising just 

 before the lower end of the cell ; submedian nervure waved ; internal nervure recurved. 

 Antenna? short, generally less than half the length of the costa, with a slight graduated 

 club. Palpi rather long, porrect. Eyes smooth. Body generally decidedly robust. 

 The larva is said to be onisciform, flattened in the anal region, and bristly laterally. 

 Pupa of the usual Lycsenid shape. 



Boisduval created the genus Arhopdla and placed in it two new species, one from 

 New Guinea and the other from the Aru Islands, which he named respectively 

 A. plmjrus and A. meander. Unfortunately he did not diagnose the genus, and until 

 within the last decade the brothers Felder are the only authors who have used it. In 

 18SS Dr. Staudinger drew attention to it in his ' Exotische Sehmetterlmge,' and since 

 then it has been generally accepted in a more or less restricted manner; de Niceville, 

 however, was the first who used it in its wide and, as I believe, correct sense. Distant, 

 in his ' Rhopalocera Malayana,' does not use it at all. Mr. Moore, however, has split 

 the genus up considerably, creating no less than seven genera out of it, of which I can 

 only retain one, viz. Mahathala. Acesina, which de Niceville retains with doubt, has 

 somewhat distinct markings below, but they coincide precisely with the general Arhopala 

 pattern, and there is no structural difference whatever. As regards the structural 

 characters relied on by Mr. Moore in the genera that he suggested, there is not one 

 that is constant ; the whole are extremely variable, even in the species which are most 

 nearly allied, and no good can be gained by subdividing a large and well-marked genus 

 like this, merely for the sake of making it less unwieldy, when no definite and good 

 characters can be given. 1 feel, therefore, with all deference to so old and experienced 

 an observer, that 1 cannot adopt his ideas on this point. I have examined a considerable 

 number of the prehensores of the males, but do not find that they aid much in this 

 respect, and it seems very doubtful if the eggs will be sufficiently well known in our 

 generation to be of any use in the matter. The headquarters of the genus are India 



