RHOPALOCERA MALAYANA. 



Genus HESTIA. 



Hestia, Hiibn. Verz. bek. Schmett., p. 15 (181G); Doubl. Gen. Diuru. Lep., p. 94 (1817); Scmldcr, Proc. Am. 



Acad. Arts & Sc, x., p. 189 (1875). 

 Idea, Fabr. lU. Mag., vi., p. 283 (1808); Lak. Enc. Meth., ix., p. 10 (1819). 

 Nectaria, Dalm., in Billb. Enum. Ins., p. 7G (1820); Scuddcr, Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sc, x., p. 224 (1875); 



Moore, Lep. Ceyl., i., p. 2 (1881). 



Autennfe long, slender, almost filiform, scarcely thickened at apex. Wings large and scmidiapbanous. 

 Anterior ^Yings lengthened, subtriaugular ; costal margin arched from base; apex broad and rounded ; outer 

 margin oblique and more or less sinuate ; inner margin shoii and more or less concave. Costal nervure 

 extending to more than half the length of costal margin ; subcostal with first nervule emitted at some distance 

 before end of cell and anastomosed with costal ner\Tire. Cell long ; upper discocellular nervule inwardly 

 oblique and slightly angled near subcostal nervure, lower outwardly convex. Submedian nervure much 

 recurved. Posterior wmgs elongate, more or less regularly obovate ; costal margin strongly curved ; apex and 

 anal angle rounded ; costal ner^-ure short ; subcostal ner^les widely separated, the first short. Tarsi of the 

 mtermediate and posterior legs long, with the claws curved rather short, and provided with pulvilli. 



Scudder has proposed the division of Hestia, as hitherto uuderstood, into two genera,— 

 Hestia, type hjnccus, and Kcctaria, type idea,— and Moore has adopted this view. But despite 

 the assertion of Mr. Scudder that those two species are generically distinct, I cannot consider 

 them so from my point of view, and therefore only follow all previous writers in recognising 

 but one genus for these peculiar and beautiful butterflies. 



According to Dr. Thwaites,* the Ceylon species of the genus is known by the name of the 

 " Sylph," and frequents the glades of woods, f The Rev. L. C. Biggs, in a popular article on 

 " Butterflies in Malaya," I states that species of the genus are found in old jungle throughout 

 the Straits, and are known by the name of the " Ghost." The same author writes, " They are 

 not usually very common, but may be seen in great numbers where their favourite honey can 

 be gathered. This is usually at the top of a tree some thirty to fifty feet high." When 

 collecting in Province Wellesley myself, the colloquial term used was the " Widow," and I saw 

 the genus in greatest abundance on Penang Hill. Mr. Moore records that his H. malaharica is 

 " found in woody places on the western coast, especially on the thick-wooded mountain-passes 

 up the Western Ghats and Nilgiris." 



Laiiv.e.— The only published figure of a larva of this genus is in Horf. and Moore's Lep. Ins. Mus. 

 E.I.C., i., pi. iv., fig. 11, where it is described, on the authority of Prof. Westwood, § as being that of Ideopsis 

 daos, Boisd. This is an error. The drawings were made by Capt. Hamilton, and Mrs. Hamilton, in a 

 letter to my friend Mr. F. Moore (the contents of which that gentleman, with his usual kindness, has 

 communicated to me) has informed him that they really represent the larva and pupa of the Malabar 

 species of Hestia, H. malaharica, fi-om specimens taken on the Western Ghats of Southern India. Mr. Moore 

 has also since received verification of the same from other observers. As, however, that species is not 

 found in om- fauna, and its larva is the only one of which we have a published description, it would be 

 hazardous to describe the same as of typically generic character. 



* Lep. Ceyl., i., p. 2. 



t Tennent (Nat. Hist. Ceyl., p. 426) states that in Ceylon it is also known by the names of '■Floater," "Spectre," and 

 ■" Silver-paper-fly." 



I ' Month. Packet,' 1881. § Proc. Ent. Soc, u. s., i., pp. 35, 36. 



March 31, 1882. c 



