RHOPALOCKUA MALAYAN A. 261 



decided contrast to the allied species. A few examples will suffice. In the genus EupJirn of 

 the subfam. Danaina, in which the prevailing colour is generally some shade of black or brown, 

 we see this resplendent blue coloration seeking to establish itself, as in the Midamua group, 

 and reaching its full splendour in E. dioeletia, Hiibn., a species found in the Philippine Islands. 

 Amongst the Saturimv of generally sombre hue we again find this colour manifesting itself in 

 such dull coloured genera as Lethe, where the L. scanda, Moore, a Sikkim species, is in striking 

 contrast to its specific allies ; in the genus Ctdites this blue coloration assumes a more 

 dominant form, but reaches its maximum in Puidumdra loujaiiiii, Peld., another Philippine 

 species.* In the Kymphalida' (referring only to this fauna) we have already seen it as a special 

 element in the Morphina, and in the Xijiniihaliiia, Euriitela castelnaui, Feld., is a striking 

 example. The eastern Eriicinidn- show little approach to this hue, but still in the subfam. 

 Lihytlui'ina we find again another and excellent illustration of the recurrence in Lihjithea antipoda, 

 Boisd., a species found both in Celebes and the Philippine Islands. The Papilioiudic prove no 

 exception. In the subfam. Pierince, in which white and yellow hues predominate, this same 

 phenomenal coloration appears in Appias celestina, Boisd., a Papuan species, whilst in the 

 Papilionince the most resplendent bluish coloration is exhibited in P. Hi/ysscs, Linn., and some 

 other allied species, likewise found in the Papuan region. These examples are taken solely 

 from the Oriental and Papuan regions, and could be considerably augmented by increasing the 

 area of examination. It is such isolated instances, and such concurrent facts, that promote 

 research, and must be understood before we can arrive at any adequate explanation of the 

 gorgeous and diverse coloration of butterflies. 



The last remark, and one not the least important, is that though the late Mr. Hewitson 

 was a considerable collector of these butterflies, and has left behind him some beautifully 

 illustrated results of his study and regard, the figures in these works, which were drawn 

 by himself, and represent in many cases the types of his own species, will venj often he 

 found to disagree with the figures of the same species given in this publication. The figures have 

 been, however, carefully compared with his types, and the only explanation feasible is, either 

 that his figures are not sufficiently exact, or, as I have had reason to believe, in substituting 

 fresh and perfect specimens for his own cabinet, he has been known to have discarded a faded 

 type, and replaced it by a well-conditioned specimen of an allied but distinct species. 



1. Narathura centaurus. (Tab. XXI., figs. 4 <? , 5 2 .) 



Papiliu centainus. Fabricius, Syst. Ent. p. 520, n. 329 (1775); Sp. Ins. p. 117, n. 523 (1781) ; Mant. Ins. 



p. 68, 11. 640 (1787) ; Ent. Syst. iii. p. 275, u. 63 (1793). 

 Ambtypoiliii nakiila, Feld. Wieu. Ent. Mon. iv. p. 395, n. 4 (I860) ; Dnice, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1873, p. 353, n.l; 



Kbeil, Eliop. cler Insel. Nias, p. 33, n. 121 (1884). 

 Arhopala nakul,,, Feld. Eeise Nov. Lep. ii. p. 222, n. 244, t. 29, f. 14 (1865) ; Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1878, 



p. 835; Wood-Mas. & de Nic. J.A. S. Beng. vol. l. p. 251, n. 77 (1881). 

 Amhl,/po,Ua centaunt.^, Butl. Cat. Fabr. Lep. p. 179, u. 1 (1869); Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Zool. vol. i. p. 548, 



n. 1 (1877) ; Druce, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1874, p. 107, n. 1. 



* The occun-enee of these two brifiht blue butterflies in the Philippines, beloughif; to both the Danahui; and Satyrince, 

 recalls the several similar instances foimd in insular faunas, given by Mr. WaUace m ilhistratuiK his tliesis ( Un some 

 Eelations of Living Things to their Environment," Pres. Address, Sect. Biology, Brit. Ass. Glasgow, 1876). 



Feeru.\ey 20, 1885. ^ ^ 



