RHOPALOCERA MALA VAN A. 259 



angulation at apex of second median nervule dark fuscous, with tlic apex greyish-white. Wings beneath 

 warm brownish, shaded with purple. Anterior wings with seven white spots, situate one largest and 

 elongate in cell, one at end of cell, and five in somewhat curved series between end of cell and outer 

 margin, of which the third is the largest and extends outwardly, and a submarginal, somewhat obscure, 

 macular series of small greyish spots ; towards inner margin the ground colour becomes much paler. 

 Posterior wings with the basal half dark purplish, bounded by a central silvery white fascia, which is 

 widest at abdominal margin and contains some irregular purplish markings ; the basal dark purplish 

 area also contains two silvery white fascite, the first short and costal, the second very large, extending 

 from near base of abdominal margin to apex, with a concave depression above and a narrow central 

 continuation beneath, which reaches the central silvery fascia; bej'ond this the colour is ochraceous, with 

 some purplish marginal spots, bordered with white near apex, and a broad bluish marginal fascia bordered 

 with white, extending from about upper median nervule to anal angle, and containing a darker spot 

 at either end. Body above and beneath more or less coucolorous with wings ; legs pale brownish. 



Female. Wings above pale uniform ochraceous-brown, the costal area of the posterior wings paler, 

 the tail-like appendages and angular prolongation darker brown, with their apices greyish. Wings 

 beneath as in male, but brighter in hue and markings. 



Exp. wings, ^ , 35 to 38 millim. ; ? , 45 millim. 



Hab. — Malay Peninsula ; Penang (Brit. Mus.) ; Singapore (coll. Godfery). 



Although the female is decidedly larger than the male it is probahle, if a large series 

 could be measured, that the diversity is not so great as the above dimensions advocate. The 

 male also possesses a more elongate appearance than the female, but I was unable to figure 

 one when the plate was executed. 



Considerable confusion has ensued by several distinct species having for a long time been 

 placed under one name. Thus Mr. Hewitson* has not only considered I. timoleon, StoU, 

 I. rochana, Horsf., and I. lazarena, Feld., as one species, but has also included the species 

 described here, as is evident from the mention of Penang as a locahty. In this opinion he 

 has been copied by Mr. Kirby. t All these species are, however, clearly distinct and easily 

 determinable by the emphatic markings on the under surface of the wings, which, in the 

 Ehopalocera, are the surest guide for specific difference. \ 



Genus NAEATHUEA. 



Xarathum, Moore, Proc. Zool. See. 1878, p. 835. 

 yUaseni, Moore, Lep. Ceyl. vol. i. p. 11-1 (1881). 



Anterior wings ample ; costal margin more or less convex, either oblique towards apex as in 

 N. ccntaurus, or convexly depressed towards apex as in N. (iDqiliiiniita ,• exterior margin more or less convex ; 

 inner margin slightly concavely sinuate. Costal nervure short, terminating at about one-third of costal 



* lU. Dim-n. Lep. p. 25 (1869). t Cat. Diurn. Lep. p. 418 (1871). 



I Amidst the present creation of specific names, which seem in many cases to be the only reason why certain insects 

 are called bj' the term "siiecies,"- — that pons asinoruin of so many naturalists, — it is refreshing to see clearer views being 

 sometimes emmciated. Thus quite recently Mr. W. F. de Vismes Kane (' Naturalist,' November, 1884, p. 73) has well 

 remarked : — " From one jioint of view there is no such a thing as variation of sjjecies ; since the most rigid and painstaking 

 scnitiuy of Natm-e leads, little by little, slowly but inevitably, it seems to me, to the conclusion that there is no such a thing 

 as species, if we mean by the term a primeval type which has permanent and unaltered persistence of characteristics." 



The evolution of species appears to have been always admitted by the older anthropologists, for who can doubt the 

 modifying and constructive power in Nature which has produced the diverse races of mankind, and deny that the same cause 

 has been inoperative or ineffectual in the case (say even} of butterflies. 



