ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE FAMILY 267 



In the first edition of this haud-book the descriptions of 

 thirteen undoubted species of this genus were included, and 

 two more were placed along with them, because from their 

 scanty descriptions as Gulices, it appeared on the whole most 

 likely that they should really be placed here. Of the thirteen 

 good species, one which appeared simply as " Megarhma, sp., 

 from Sikim, has been redescribed by Mr. Theobald and reappears 

 under the guise of M. Gilesii, Theob. ; and four more new species 

 have been received in the museum and described by him, making 

 the present total seventeen. 



The members of this genus often present very distinct sexual 

 differences, and this is noticeably the case with the marking of 

 such species as have patches or bands on the tarsi, which 

 generally differ somewhat in detail in the two sexes ; and in 

 M'cs. hcBmorrhoidalis, separata, and inornata, though present in 

 the females, are quite absent in their consorts, and the same may 

 be the case with some others which have been described from 

 specimens of one sex only. In using the table given below, this 

 point should be borne in mind. 



Table of the Species of the Genus MEGAEHINA. 



A. With the caudal tufts red and black. 



II. The tarsi, with some joints marked whitish in the $ only. 



1. M. hcBmorrhoidalis (Fabr.) Third joint of the palpi much longer 



than the fourth. 



2. M. separata, Arribalzaga. Third joint of the palpi as long as the 



fourth. Tarsi not specially described. 



B. With the caudal tufts more or less yellow and black. 



I. The tarsi with certain joints or bands whitish, in one or both 

 sexes. 



3. M. inornata, Walker. Tarsi banded in the ? only. Thorax 



bronzy-brown, blue at I'oots of wings and on prothoracic lobes. 



4. M. splendens (Wied). Tarsi (as in remaimng cases of species 



with yeUow and black tufts in which both sexes are known) 

 banded in both sexes. Thorax with metallic green and gold 

 scales. Abdomen green at base, purple behind. 



5. M. purpurcea, Theob. Thorax chestnut with median azure 



line ; abdomen brilliant purple. 



6. M. lutescens, Theob. Thorax dull bronze with azure patches 



over roots of wings ; abdomen golden-green scaled. 



7. M. suhitlifer, Doleschall. Thorax brown with greenish-gold 



scales ; anterior margin of the wing metallic-blue scaled. 



8. M. s/jeciosa, Skuse. Thorax brown with greenisli scales : margin 



of wing pale. 



