PLUME-MOTHS OF CEYLON. 15 



Platyptilia citrojpleura, Meyr. 

 T. E. S. 1907, 482. 



Distribution.. — Maskeliya. Also found in Assam (Khasi Hills). 



Early Stages. — Early stages and food plant unknown . L<wo<\ .~ scs.l]^.' 3 °f 



Observation. — Quite distinct from taprobanes, being smaller and ^iiS^-i- 

 blacker ; moreover, the cleft in the forewing is so shallow that it 

 does not reach to a position immediately over the outer scale-tuft 

 on the hinder margin of the wing ; in taprobanes the base of the 

 cleft is directly over this tuft. 



I have examined a specimen, taken at Maskeliya in June, in the 

 collection of Mr. J. Pole, and two examples (both Maskeliya, Janu- 

 ary, 1908), in that of Mr. G. B. de Mowbray, and am further indebted 

 to Mr. Pole for a specimen taken at Maskeliya in November, 1908, 

 and which he has kindly added to my collection. 



HEPTALOBA, Wlsm. 



On its inception this genus was considered by Lord Walsingham as 

 most nearly allied to Amblyptilia {Platyptilia), but the linear, 

 similarly-shaped segments of the hind wing seem to me to place it 

 much nearer to Oxyptilus. 



Plate B. , figure B. , shows the neuration of the only known species. 

 It will be noted that vein 3 of the fore wing has apparently been 

 rendered obsolete by the development of the cleft between veins 2 

 and 4; at least, I have been unable to observe its presence after a 

 careful examination of four specimens specially prepared for the 

 microscope. 



The neuration of the hind wing (not shown in the figure) is as 

 follows : — 16 to apex of third segment ; 2 short, running into hinder 

 margin of second segment near base ; 3 out of 4 at angle of cell, 

 long, parallel, running into hinder margin of second segment at J ; 

 4 to apex of second segment ; 5 and 6 apparently absent ; 7 to apex 

 of first segment ; 8 parallel to 7, running into costa at half. 



Heptaloba argyriodactyla, Wlk. 



Wlk., Cat. XXX., 929 ; Wlsm., E. M. M., 1885, 175 (fig.) ; Moore, 

 Lep. Ceylon, III., 527, t. 209, f. 13 (unrecognizable). 



Distribution. — Kandy. Both species and genus are peculiar to 

 Ceylon. 



Early Stages. — The life-history is quite unknown. 



Observation. — Easily distinguished from all other Ceylon plumes 

 by the fissure of the fore wing into four segments. 



It was originally described by Francis Walker from specimens 

 given to the British Museum by Dr. Templeton, but no exact locality 

 is stated. I have seen examples from nowhere except Kandy, but 

 in the immediate vicinity of that town it seems to be fairly common. 



