118 D. Prain — Fauna of Narcondain and Barren Island. [April, 



5. Leptosia xiphia Fabr. 



One specimen caught on high ground near the north end of t lie 

 island. Not previously found in the Andamans, though a distinct 

 form (YAR. nicobarica Doherty) occurs in the Nicobars. 



DlSTBlB. India ; Indo-China ; Malaya. 



6. Huphina lichinosa Moore ! 



One female ; after Cynthia erota the commonest butterfly. 

 Distrib. India ; Indo-China ; Malaya ; Andamans. 



7. Ixias axdamaxa Moore. 



Seen during our ascent of the peak at about 1,200 feet eleva- 

 tion ; no example was obtained. 

 Distrib. Andamans. 



By reviewing the distribution of the birds and butterflies (of which 

 two groups, so far as these remarks go, anything precise is known) we 

 may perhaps form some idea of the general relationship of the fauna of 

 these two islands to that of the nearest adjacent lands. For it is ex- 

 tremely probable that, though neither group is completely detailed in 

 its list, these lists nevertheless are representative. And it is equally 

 probable that all the groups of air-breathing creatures will, when 

 thoroughly known, be found to owe their presence here to the agencies 

 that are accountable for the presence of the species enumerated. 



The two islands, though spoken of ordinarily as members of the 

 Andaman group, are only to be admitted as such with a very consider- 

 able qualification, since in reality they belong to quite a different physio- 

 graphical system from that to w T hich the Andamans proper are to be 

 referred. 



The Andamans themselves are, as in well-known, undoubtedly a 

 continuation of the chain of tertiary sandstone hills known as the Yomah 

 of Arracan, the connecting links being Diamond [sland off the south 

 coast of Arracan, Preparis Island and the Coco Group, idie same system 

 of peaks reappearing with certain limitations and modifications* in some 



* For example, at the southern end of Great Andaman there axe to be found, 

 besides the sandstone about Port Blair wbioh is exactly Like that of the Coco Group 

 and of Diamond Island, a different kind of sandBtone rock in the " Archipelago " to 

 the north-east of Port Blair and a coralline limoiono in the "Sentinels" to the 

 sonth-west ; whether tho " Archipelago" sandstone recurs in the Nicobars the writer 

 is uuable to say, the " (Sentinel " limestone undoubtedly does, e, y., in Batti Malv. 



