RHOPALOCERA MALAYAN A. 366 



Genus LEPTOCIRCUS. 



LeptociiTua, Swainson, Zool. 111. Ins. ii. p. lOG (183'2-33); Boisd. Sjp. Gen. i. p. 380 (188G); Duiibl. Guu. 



Diurii. Lep. p. 22 (18i7). 

 Lamproptera, Gray, Griff. Auu. Kiogd. sv. t. 102, f. -1 (1832). 



This geuus, as already pointed out {antra, p. 324), differs from Papilio in all its sectional grouim, by 

 having the third, fourth, and hftli subcostal nervules of the anterior wings with a common origin. More 

 detailed diagnosis appears unnecessary here, as these characters are not only clearly defined, but the 

 general facies of the species are almost indicative of the genus. 



Leptocuxus seems well aud naturally classilied in a ])osition intermediate between the 

 " Swallow-tail" Papilios and the Hesperiidte, many species of which — especially from Tropical 

 America — have more or less similar caudate prolongations to the posterior wings. 



The geuus is not of large extent, and is purely Eastern in distribution. It aiipears to 

 be confined to the ludo-Malayan region, and other portions of the Malayan Archipelago. 



Two species are here recorded as from tlie Malay Peninsula. 



1. Leptocircus meges. (Tab. XXXII., tig. 3.) 



t'lipUu) Miyes, Ziuken-Sommer, Nova Acta Ac. Nat. Cur. xv. p. IGl, t. 15, f. 8 (1831). 



Erycina Curius, Godt. Enc. Metb. ix. Suppl. p. 827 (1823). 



Lamproptera Ciimts, Gray, Griff. An. Kingd. xv. t. 102, f. -1 (1882). 



Leptocircus Curius, Swains. Zool. 111. Ins. ii. t. lOG (1833) ; Boisd. Sp. Gen. i. p. 381, t. 7, f. 1 (183G). 



Leptocircus Meyes, Doubl. Zool. i. pp. 110, 111, tig. (1843); Gray, Cat. Lep, Papil. p. 73, n. 337 (1852); 

 Horsf. & Moore, Cat. Lep. Mus. E.I. C. vol. i. p. 85, n. 173 (1857); Feld. Spec. Lepid. Papil. p. 1, 

 n. 2 (1864); Eeak. (part), Proc. Ent. See. Phil. iii. p. 494, u. 29 (18G4); Wall. Trans. Linn. See. 

 vol. XXV. p. 68, n. 120 (18C5). 



Male aud Female. Anterior w'iugs above pale hyaline, the neuration, the margins, and basal half 

 black, the black area being divided by a broad, pale greenish fascia ; posterior wings black, a greenish fascia 

 parallel and similar to that on anterior wings, but attenuated posteriorly, and not extending beyond the 

 central area ; the anal-augular area and caudate appendages dusted with greenish scales, the lower half of 

 fringe, inner margins and apices of caudate appendages greyish-white. Wings beneath as above, but 

 inner area of both wings pale greenish, thus giving the appearance of two greenish fasciae, the central fascia 

 greyish on posterior wings, and the posterior wings with the abdominal margin above anal angle marked 

 with three oblique pale greenish stripes. Body above black; beneath, with legs, greyish-white; legs 

 streaked with blackish. 



Exp. wings, 45 millim. 



Hab.— Continentalludia ; Silhet, Assam (Feld.).— Malay Peninsula; Perak Kunst.— Calc. Mus.) ; 

 Sungei Ujong (Durnford— coll. Dist.) ; Malacca (Feld. aud Wall.).— Java (Zink. aud Wall.). 



In February, 188-1, my friend Capt. Godfery sent me some interesting observations on 

 this species. He wrote:— "In Perak .... I invariably found this butterfly over running 

 water, and its appearance was so peculiar that, had I not known what to expect, I might 

 almost have passed it by, thinking it was not one. The transparent wings and long streanuug 

 tails give it a certain resemblance to a dragon-fly, and since its haunts are by the water-side, 

 this may be of service to the insect. Its flight, however, hardly bears out this resemblance, 

 consisting of a kind of dancing motion,— a series of mid-air jumps, so to speak,— very different 

 to the direct swift flight or the steady hovering motion of the Lihcllulida. Still the rapid 



April 30, 1886. ^ '^ 



