RHOPALOCERA MALAY AN A. 129 



local entomologist who can by breeding alone decide.* I am unacquainted with any 

 description or hgure of the larval characters of Tanaa-ia, though it is more than probable, 

 from the close connection of the genera, that they partake of the unique structure of the 

 Euthaliad larviB. 



As several of the species here enumerated are only known to me by figures and 

 descriptions, it is impossible to divide the genus sectionally by neural characters. 



1. Tanaecia flora. (Tab. XVIII., fig. 6 2 .) 



TanaccU, Flora, Butler, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, p. 235; Aid, Iduiitif. lus. t. 21 (1881). 



Wings above pale fuliginous-brown ; cell of each wing crossed by the usual dark linear markings. 

 Anterior wings crossed by two obscure and irregular dark fuscous macular fascite, the first commencing 

 a little beyond cell, obliquely directed outwardly to about first median uervule, from whence it is directed 

 inwardly and becomes obsolete at about the third median nervule, the second being straight and 

 submarginal ; between the fasciffi, at area of the discoidal nervules, are some very obscure violaceous spots ; 

 outer margin narrowly pale violaceous, narrowest at apex and slightly widening to posterior angle ; 

 extreme outer border fuliginous, with the fringe grey. Posterior wings with a very broad pale violaceous 

 margin, widening towards anal angle, with its inner margin dentate, where there are indications of a dark 

 macular fascia. Wings beneath dark ochraceous, the markings very closely resembling those of EiUludia 

 macitairi (Tab. XIV., f. 10), but paler and with the outer narrow discal fascia to anterior wings less 

 angulated and waved. 



Exp. wings, 65 millim. 



Hab. — Malay Peninsula ; Province Wellesley (coll. Butl.) 



This unique species possesses three distinct and interesting features : — firstly, the palpi 

 have a much shorter slender termination than other species of the genus, thus being somewhat 

 intermediate in that respect between Euthalia and Tanaecia, though the position of the first 

 subcostal nervule of the posterior wings clearly denotes its relation to the last-named genus ; 

 secondly, it very closely resembles the female of Euthalia macnairi, a resemblance which may 

 or may not find its subsequent explanation by the theory of " mimicry"; f and thirdly, it is a 

 species of extreme rarity. 



The female specimen here figured was taken by myself at Province Wellesley in 1868, and 

 is now in the collection of Mr. Butler, who founded the genus, and to whom it was my great 

 pleasure to present it. Since then, although large collections have been formed in the same 

 neighbourhood, and continued during a term of years, not another specimen has yet been 

 discovered, and the male still remains unknown. 



* In these empirical questions one's memory recalls the opinion of Goethe, that species only exist in the copy-books 

 of the specialists ; and the remark of the late Edward Forbes, that some can see difference and uo resemblance, others 

 resemblance and no difference, whilst some again can see neither one nor the other. 



\ Since I published some remarks (ante, p. 33) expressive of the opinion that a reference of such resemblances to 

 the theory of " mimicry," without the necessary support of observed facts, was more calculated to obscm'e than advance 

 philosophical Entomology, much ink has been spilled by my friend Mr. Meldola and myself — 2"'° '^^ '"'" — upon the subject. 

 No fresh fads wer-e available or could be advanced, and the curious are referred to the articles as they appeared (Ann. 

 and Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, vol. s. p. 417, and vol. xi. p. 43). 



June 30, 1883. 2 l 



