2 MR. G. T. BETJIUXE-BAKER : A REVISION OF THE 



genus so that even a tyro could recognize them, and when there is no good dividing- 

 line, I cannot see that any object is gained by attempting to split up the genus. 

 Mr. de Niceville has suggested spelling the word " Arhopala" with two " r's," 

 but, according to the strict canon, I prefer to leave it as it was spelt at its first 

 institution. 



The section dealing with this group in de Niceville's work, already referred to, is by 

 far the most valuable treatise we have, but there are so many extra-Indian species and 

 so much material has been received since the publication of that book, the descriptions 

 of which are scattered throughout many periodicals, whilst a good many new ones 

 appear in this monograph, that the present seems an appropriate time to gather up these 

 fragments and present them as a whole for the student. 



With the exception of one or two species found in China and Japan and in some of 

 the Pacific Islands, the whole group is confined to the Indo-Malayan region, in which 

 I include N. Australia : the insects appear to be confined, to a very large extent, to 

 forest districts — de Niceville says they seldom or never go down to streams for moisture, 

 neither do flowers attract them ; and the only way to collect them is to beat the bushes 

 and catch them as they fly up ; their flight is rapid but always short. In the present 

 paper I have described a dozen new forms, whilst in 1896 I described thirteen new 

 species in the ' Proceedings ' of this Society, and I am figuring a considerable number 

 of species that are in an unsatisfactory and doubtful condition. 



When I undertook this work I had no idea that it would be so heavy, and 1 have to 

 thank many entomologists for valuable help. My most hearty thanks are due to 

 Mr. de Niceville (whose death I deeply regret and in whom India loses a very valuable 

 observer) and to the late Dr. Staudinger — the former having sent me from India the 

 whole of his valuable collection of this group, including all his types, whilst my old 



