82 LETHE. By Dr. A. Seitz. 



imica. M. unica fjeiicli. (29 0). The underside of both wmgs bears as in f/otama a large ocellus besides a 



number of obsolescent ones; but on the forewing it is the apical ocellus which is the best developed. The 

 discal line of the underside is very broad and curved, distinctlj' shining through on the upperside. — The 

 single ? on which the species is based was found at Moupin in Jul}'. 



k'pc/ia. M. lepcha Moore. Easily recognized by the hairy eyes and the scalloped distal margin ot the 



hind wing, the latter bearing in the cf a scent-patch at the base before the sujjcostal. Underside finely 

 marinorated, distallj^ grey. A very conspicuous very light discal band across both wings below, this band 

 distinctly shining through above. Distally to this band both wings have very variable submarginal oceUi. 

 The sijecies appears to be uncommon in Kashmir, but is locally very common in India, being represented 

 by a whole series of closely allied forms, such as ritdis Moure from Bengal, bcthaiiii and dariclsoni Moore, 

 malsara Moore from Sikkim, which hardly are to be considered specifically distinct. 



M. misenus N'keo. This Indian species is only represented in the Palaearctic Region by the form 

 serial, serica Leech (29 c) , which differs from nymotypical misenits in the reduction or complete absence of the 

 apical ocellus of the upperside; the anal ocellus of the hindwing also is smaller or even may be entirely 

 absent. — One of the larger species, from Omei-shan, found in July at an altitude of 1000 m.*) 



5. Genus: Xiethe Hhn. 



Unicolourous brown butterllies, not below medium-size, one species very large. The body is strongly 

 hairy; the thorax robust; the antenna very delicate, being hardly incrassate at the apex; the palpus long 

 and porrect; eye hairy. The veins not inflated at the base, only the costal nervure somewhat incrassate 

 at the base. The costal margin of the forewing strongly arched, the hindwing almost circular, the distal 

 margin being sometimes scalloped, sometimes dentate, or even produced in the middle into a pointed lobe. 

 The cell of the forewing is broad and does not quite reach to the centre of the wing, being truncate or 

 rounded at the apex. The cell of the hindwing acuminate. Whereas the upperside is entirely or almost 

 entirely without markings, the underside always bears discal lines or bands, and mostly also ocelli, which 

 are similarly arranged as in Mijcalesis. 



The centre of distribution of this genus is the mountain-system of the Himalaya, where 80 "/o of 

 • all the known forms occur. The forms are most numerous in North India, Sikkim alone being inhabited 



by 24 forms. They are all mountain-insects, except a single very widely distributed species, L. europa, 

 which descends into the plains. From this centre of distribution their numbers rapidly diminish in all 

 directions. Towards west Letlie extends as far as Kashmir, presumably penetretating into the Hindukush, 

 which is not yet sufficiently explored lepidopterologically ; in the east they reach to Japan and Amurland. 



The larvae are spindle-shaped, greenish or brownish, often bearing pale lines. The head is produced 

 into a horn which is vertical when the larva is feeding. They live on bamboo or grass. Pupa mostly 

 green, anteriorly obtuse, fastened with the cremaster. The butterflies are on the wing in summer and 

 autumn, in the warmer countries throughout the year. In day-time they mostly sit motionless among 

 leaves tljing only a few jards when disturbed. After sunset they become lively and tlj- briskly about. 

 They imbibe the sap exuding from trees and drink at puddles, visiting also the bait made of suggar and 

 beer, and coming to the lamp; I found L. roltria on the fresh droppings off a buffalo. Shortly after dark 

 in clearings one may observe the cfcf sitting with the wings half open at the top of shrubs or branches 

 and lying in wait for ?? flying by ; they rush at every insect hurrying past and letinn to their post of 

 vantage after the chase. 



schmickii. L. schrenckii Men. (29 d). Dark brown, near the apex of the forewing and exteriorly on the disc 



of tlie hindwing ovate black spots standing in a lighter patch. Tliese spots bear white pupils on the under- 

 side and are encircled by yellow rings. Throughout Eastern Asia, from Tibet to Yezzo and Amurland, 

 local, but rather plentiful, in July. A separate genus might be proposed for this species, which deviates 

 rather strongly from the other species of Lethe and is at once recognized ])y its size. Schatz placed it 

 with Pnrarge ; it has nothing to do with Proxophihi with which it was classified by Menetries. The 

 Continental specimens are a little smaller and darker than Japanese ones. The larva is not known. The 

 butterflies occur in localities which are densely covered with undergrowth, and flee into dense thorny 

 shrubs, in which they are difficult to catch without injuring them. On the wing they closely resemble the 

 very large Asiatic form of Hati/riia (Iri/ns, which fUes at the same time in the same localities. 



epiinenides. L. epimenidcs Mm. (-= fentoni Bilr) (29 e). On the upperside resembKng a small pale schrenckii, 



but the underside pale leather-yellow, the disc traversed by numerous brown lines. Staudingee distinguishes 



epaminondas. as L. epaminondas (29 e) specimens which have the forewing more obtuse and jjroader, the upperside more 



*) MymUsia perseiis F., a common wide-spread Indian butterfly, approaclies in Kangra, as well as probably also in 

 China, the southern Palaearctic boundary; but it has not become known to me that the species extends into our Region. 



