40 RHOPALOCERA MALAYANA. 



Genus MELANITIS. 



Mi-I^niitis, Fabricius, Illiger's Mag. vi. p. 282 (1807) ; Moore, Lep. Ceyl. i. p. 14 (1881). 

 Hi/iio, Hiibn., Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 56 (1816). 



Cyllo, BoiscL, Voy. Astrol. Lep. p. 140 (1832); Faiine Mad. p. 57 (1833) ; Westw., Gen. Diui-D. Lep. p. 360 

 (1851); Trimen, Ehop. Afr. Austr. p. 186 (1866). 



Anterior wings short and broad, with the costa strongly arched and convex, and with the apex produced 

 and usually angulated about lower discoidal nervule, beneath which the outer margin is distinctly 

 excavated; inner margin nearly straight; first and second subcostal nervules emitted before the end 

 of cell ; upper disco-cellular nervule strongly produced and directed outwardly, abrujitly deflexed and 

 convexly bent at apex; lower disco-cellular abruptly curved inwards near commencement, and then, 

 and for its greatest length, slightly directed outwardly. Posterior wings irregularly subovate, with the 

 outer margin waved and produced into an obtuse angle or tail near first median nervule ; nervules all well 

 separated at their origins ; lower disco-cellular nervule distinctly longer than the upper. Eyes naked. 

 Palpi clothed beneath with short scaly hairs placed close together— squamose. Antenna; more or less 

 incras sated at apex. 



This genus is widely distributed, being found in Western, Southern, and Eastern Africa, 

 throughout Continental India, and extending eastward through the whole of the Southern 

 Oriental Region, including the Malay Archipelago ; it is also extensively spread amongst the 

 Pacitic Islands, and as far south as Australia. 



It is, however, difficult to assess the number of known "species" oi Melanltis, owing to 

 the very conflicting views of different authorities, and the empirical condition of our knowledge 

 on that point. Forms which a few years ago were estimated as varieties only, have since, on 

 further consideration by the same authors, been promoted to specific rank. Thus, in 1867, 

 Mr. Butler published * short diagnoses and references to forty-one different forms of 31. leda 

 contained in the British Museum, of which he summarised the habitats as "Java ; Oceania; 

 Australia; Africa," and stated that the variation was so gradual that it was impossible to 

 determine the exact limits of the two extreme forms. In 18C8 f he formulated these into nine 

 distinct varietal forms, but since that time has had reason to treat most, if not all, of these 

 once-considered varieties as distinct species, in which he is in agreement with several modern 

 authors. 



The question, however, is far from solved, and the two species here included as such, 

 in accordance with good authorities, have more often been considered as varietal forms, and 

 should still be so if the following is accepted as conclusive. 



Mr. Darwin, in discussing the variability and formation of the ocelli or egg-like spots on 

 the plumage of birds, has made great use of these "varieties" of M. leda, from drawings 

 made by Mr, Trimen and reproduced by him. ] From an examination of the figures and a 

 consideration of Mr. Trimen's remarks on the subject, § Mr. Darwin states that " in some 

 specimens large spaces on the upi)er surface of the wings are coloured black, and include 

 irregular white marks ; and from this state a complete gradation can be traced into a tolerably 

 perfect ocellus, and this results from tlie contraction of the irregular blotches of colour. In 



* Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, vol. six. p. 51 (1SG7). + Cat. Satyridie, pp. 1 — 3. 



I ' The Descent of Man,' ed. 2, pp. 4-i8-9. § Rbop. Afr. Austr. p. 18(). 



