Dec, 1909.] THE VICTOkIAN NATUKALIST. 115 



Miletus ; beneath the metaUic markings are less conspicuous than 

 is usual in the genus, and the red-brown spots of the hind-wing are 

 also of a dull tone. The female, with its central orange area of 

 fore-wing above, is a handsomer butterfly, at first glance recalling 

 female Ogyris ianthis, or a larger form of female Miletus 

 hecalius ; beneath it is paler than the male, and the tints are 

 more delicate. 



M. elgneri may be readily distinguished from other species of 

 the M. ignita section by the discal band of fore-wing beneath. 

 Only in this species and in M. narcissus does this band run from 

 the costa towards the tornus ; the corresponding band in the 

 other species of the section runs parallel with the termen. From 

 J/, narcissus it is abundantly distinct in size, colour, and markings. 



Miletus erythrina, n. sp. 



Male. — Length of costa of fore-wing 15 to 16 mm.; shape as 

 in male M. ignita. 



Above. — Shining bluish-purple, shading to dull brown at 

 margins ; base of costa of fore-wing coppery ; brown costal 

 margin of hind-wing not (as in M. ignita) reaching sub-costal 

 vein ; terminal line brown-black, internally at veins i, 2, 3, and 4 

 coppery ; cilia whitish. 



Beneath. — Stone-grey (much paler than in M. ignita) ; coloured 

 spots and bands in same positions but distinctly smaller and more 

 heavily margined metallic-green ; costa cell and sub-terminal line 

 of fore-wing orange (paler than in M. ignita) ; sub-terminal line 

 of hind-wing orange (in M. ignita red) ; otherwise as in M. ignita. 



Female. — Length of costa of fore-wing 14 to 16 mm.; shape 

 as in female M. ignita. 



Above. — Fore-wing ; shining blue ; base of costa coppery ; 

 costa and apex broadly dull brown ; termen broadly and 

 obscurely brown ; bar at end of cell brown-black; terminal line 

 brown-black ; cilia whitish. Hind-wing : shining bluish-purple 

 (paler and brighter than in male) ; costa broadly dull brown 

 extending to sub-costal vein and along vein 7 to termen ; 

 terminal line brown-black, internally at veins i, 2, 3, and 4 

 coppery; cilia whitish. 



Beneath. — Paler than in male ; red bands and metallic lines 

 and margins brighter and broader than in male. 



Three males and two females. Types in collection Lyell ; co- 

 types in collection Waterhouse. 



Locality. — Port Darwin (F. P. Dodd), Feb., March. 



This race of M. ignita is more clearly differentiated from the 

 typical form than any we have yet seen. It is easily distinguished 

 above by the narrower dark margins and the brighter purple of 

 the male, and by the narrower dark margins, paler blue of the 

 fore-wing, and the difference in the colours of the fore-wing and 

 the hind-wing of the female. Beneath the ground-colour is a 



