﻿NYMPHALINyE. (Qroup limenitina.) 211 



Bi-y-season brood (Plate 270, fig. 1, larva and pupa, la, b, (5* ? ). 

 Athyma Ranrja, Moore, Catal. Lep. Mus. E. I. Company, i. p. 175, pi. oa, fig. 6, ^ (1857); P. Z. S. 

 1858, p. 15. de Nicc'ville, Butt, of India, ii. p. 172 (1886). 



IsiAGO. — Male. Upperside similar to the wet-season form. Differs only in both 

 wings having the white discal band broader, the submarginal and marginal lunules 

 distinct and sullied white ; the submarginal row of conical spots ou the hindwing 

 being also broader. Underside dusky ferruginous-brown or olivesceat-brown ; 

 markings as in tvet-season form, but all broader, as on the upperside. 



Expanse, c? 2^^^ to 2^q, S 2i^o inches. 



Caterpillar. — Head spined. Segments with a subdorsal row of branched- 

 spines, of which the anterior are longest, and a lateral row of shorter similar branched - 

 spines. Head and segmental spines brownish ochreous ; segments green, with a 

 pale ochreous-white band round the ninth segment. (Described from Davidson's 

 figure, I.e.) 



Chrysalis. — " Suspended perpendicularly. Abdominal segments slender, thorax 

 larger and expanded laterally ; two long sharp horns issuing from sides of the head 

 in front, which are at first parallel and then diverge and point laterally ; a prominent 

 medio-dorsal and a thoracic process curved towards each other ; and many smaller 

 points, or tubercles. Colour mostly brilliant silver, the segments and parts being 

 outlined with brov/n" (Davidson, I.e. 1890, 350), 



Habitat. — Nepal; Sikkim ; Bhotan ; Assam; Daflfla Hills; Khasias; Burma; 

 Tenasserim ; South India. 



DiSTRicuTiON. — K. Mahesa " is a common species in Sikkim at low elevations, 

 and occurs Eastwards as far as Sibsagar in Upper Assam, and again in South India. 

 There is a single specimen of the dry-season form (Ranga) in the Indian Museum, 

 Calcutta, from the DaflBa Hills. All the specimens of Banga, of which the date of 

 capture is known, have been taken in the winter months, November, December and 

 March" (de Niceville, Butt. lud. ii. 172). Mr. H. J. Elwes states that " Mr. Moller 

 found both forms at various seasons in Sikkim from March to December, in the warm 

 valleys up to about 3000 feet elevation, Mahesa as the commoner form " (Tr. Ent. 

 Soc. 1888, 353). We possess examples of the ivet-season form from Nepal, taken by 

 the late General C Ramsay. Colonel C. Swinhoe has received numerous specimens 

 of the dry -season form {Banga) from the Khasia Hills. Capt. E. Y. Watson 

 obtained a single specimen at " Tilin in March, during the Chin-Lushai Expedition 

 of 1889-90 " (J. Bombay, N. H. S. 1891, 40). Colonel C. H. E. Adamson took " two 

 specimens of Mahesa in December at Hpapoon on the Yunzalee River, and a single 

 Eanga near Mogoung in February " (List of Burmese Butt. 23). Colonel C. T. 

 Bingham captured a male of the dry-season form in the Yunzaleen Valley in November, 



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