NEPTIS. 147 



It is common throughout the East Indies, and Western and 

 Central Asia, and is also found in some parts of Eastern 

 Europe. The reddish-brown larva has two spiny tubercles on 

 the third, fourth, and eleventh segments, and feeds on Orobus 

 vermis in spring and summer. 



These Butterflies much resemble the species of Limenitis, 

 the best known form of which is our " White Admiral," but 

 the fore-wings are shorter and more rounded, and have no spur 

 at the base of the median nervure. They are most numerous 

 in Southern Asia, but extend to the border-countries of the 

 Indian and Palcearctic Regions, and are found in China and 

 Japan. Several species, too, are met with in Western Asia, 

 and two extend to Eastern Europe. The genus is also found 

 in Africa, but the species are less numerous there than in the 

 East Indies. 



Nearly all the species are black or brown, with white or 

 tawny markings, usually consisting of a streak from the base 

 of the fore-wings, often broken into two or three parts, a 

 broad band reaching across the wings, and a narrow sub- 

 marginal line, more or less interrupted. One curious species, 

 N. raddei, Bremer, is nearly black. It is found on the Amoor 

 river and in Japan. 



Mr. Trimen describes the South African species of Neptis as 

 frequenting wooded spots, where they flit slowly about the trees, 

 and settle on the leaves, often with their wings extended. 



NEPTIS NICOMEDES. 



{Plate XX., Fig. 3.) 



Neptis nicomedes, Hewitson, Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 



vol. 10, p. 205 (1874). 



Male. — Above dark brown. Both wings crossed at the 



middle by a broad band of white (oblique on the anterior wing, 



