Ii8 NYMPHALID^. SATYRIN^. MYCALESIS. 



lines, on each side of which the colour is dull ochraceous (in some specimens a minute white- 

 centred fuscous spot between second and third median nervules). Underside with the 

 colour brighter and paler ; both wings crossed by a narrow fascia [pure white in the figures], 

 on foiewing passing somewhat beyond, and on hindwing about end of cell. Forcioing with 

 two submarginal ocellated spots, which are black, with white centres and yellow margins, 

 the first and smallest situate on the discoidal nervules, and perfectly surrounded by a pale 

 greyish line ; the second and largest placed on the second and third median nervules, with 

 a pale surrounding greyish line, which terminates inwardly on the transverse white fascia 

 (both these spots sometimes throw off a smaller one, the upper one generally posteriorly and 

 the lower one usually anteriorly) ; two pale greyish marginal lines, the inner one waved, and the 

 cilia also pale greyish. Hin.huing with seven submarginal ocellated spots of a similar 

 pattern and colour to those on forewing, of which the second and third are minute, the whole 

 series being surrounded by a much waved pale greyish fascia, which in some specimens tends 

 to coalesce and perfectly surround the sixth and seventh spots ; two pale greyish marginal 

 fascicX, the inner one most strongly waved, and the marginal cilia also pale greyish. Body 

 and legs concolorous with the wings. Female, larger than male. Upperside, fore-wing 

 with the ocellated spot larger and brighter : hindwing with two more obscure ocellated spots 

 situate on the second and third median nervules (theie are sometimes indications of the 

 commencement of a third spot between the third median nervule and submedian nervure). 

 Underside as in male, but with all the spots and markings larger and brighter." 

 (Distant, 1. c.) 



Distant also enumerates two varieties of M. mincus as follows : — 



Var. a. Mycalesis cepheus,* Butler. "Male: This variety differs on the under- 

 side of the forewing in having an additional spot in front of the lower ocellated spot, 

 and enclosed by the same pale greyish line ; and on the underside of the hindwing in 

 having the second and third submarginal spots a little longer, which renders the series 

 apparently a little more arched, as Butler describes." 



■*' Var. b., Rhop. Malay,, pi iv, fig 7. " Male : Differs from typical specimens on the 

 underside by the lower ocellated spot of \.\\q forewing Xxaw'mg a smaller one attached or non- 

 attached to it beneath, but which is also enclosed by the same surrounding pale greyish line. 

 Mr. Moore (Lep. Cey., vol. i, p. 22) describes a like varietal form as not uncommon in 

 Ceylon, and which is indicated in his figure, plate xi, fig. 4^. Hindwing with the second and 

 third small ocellated spots of typical specimens totally absent." {Distant, I.e.) 



Distant remarks of M. mineits : " This is a very variable species, but not more so than we 

 might expect, when we remember analogous cases of Satyrid variation in Europe." This is quite 

 borne out by the numerous specimens we have examined. On the upperside it is very constant, 

 there being invariably one median-sized ocellus between the two lower median nervules in the 

 forewin"; the hindwing in the female shews occasionally one or two subanal ocelli by trans- 

 parency. The variations of the underside are as follows :— 



(a ) In ihe forewing with, two ocelli, the upper one small, the lower twice the size, each 

 encircled with an outer complete ring. 



(b.) The upper ocellus with a smaller one attached beneath it, both surrounded with a 

 single outer complete ring ; the large lower ocellus as in (a). 



(c. ) The upper ocellus as in (a) ; the lower with a smaller one attached above it, and both 

 surrounded with a single ring. 



* Mycalesis ccpJu:us,^\.\t\er. Haditat : Penang. Expansr : 187 inches. Dkschiption : " Uppkr.sidB 

 fuscous, with the external margin, the median fascia, and the iris of the ocellus of the fore-iving paler. Fore- 

 «««;f with a discal blind ocellus obscure fuscous ; a marginal line of the same colour : the margin itself black. 

 Body fuscous. Undhkside almost as in M. mincus, Xmx. with the median fascia more slender and <luller ; the 

 series of ocelli on the hindwing morit arched. Closely allied to M. mincus, but paler on the upperside, with a 

 broA'n blind ocellus in the forewing ; below with a narrower and straighter central band, and the row of hind- 

 wing ot-elli much more arched ; the marginal lines also pale ochreous." (Butler, Ann. and Mag. of Nat Hist , 

 third series, vol. xx, p. 402, pi. ix, figs. 3, 4 (1867). Kirby has included M. ceplieus as a variety of il/. blasius ; 

 but Distant confirms Butler's view as to its being closely allied to M. tiiincus. 



