2S6 NYMPHALID^. SATYRIN.E. MELANITIS. 



247. Molanitis varaha, Moore. 



M. varaha, Moore, Horsfield and Moore, Cat. Lep. E. I. C., vol. i, p. 224, n. 467 (1857). 



Habitat : Canara, South India. 



Expanse : 2-37 inches. 



Description : "Upperside dusky-brown, ashy-brown along exterior margins ; subapical 

 patch indistinctly black, with two white spots. Underside ashy, tinged with olive from the 

 base to the middle of wing : near apex of jorrcving two small brown dots. Himhuiug with 

 a submarginal row of indistinct paler spots." {^Moore, 1. c.) 



We are unable to identify this species ; nothing that we have in our collections answers 

 exactly to the description ; the shape of the forewing is not indicated ; the very small size is 

 only approached by some specimens of M. aswa ; but it seems to us that it is nearest to 

 M. hela, of which it may probably prove to be merely a small variety. 



248. Molaaitis gokala, Moore. 



M. gokala, Moore, Horsfield and Moore, Cat. Lep. E. I. C., p. 224, n. 468 (1857). 

 Habitat : Canara, S. India. 

 Expanse : 3 inches. 



Description : " Upperside brown, suffused with ashy about the apex and exterior 

 margins ; an indistinct blackish subapical patch (without spots.) Underside glossy olive- 

 brown, washed on the basal two-thirds with pulverulescent ashy- white ; a small white dot 

 on lower disco-cellular nervule, and another near anal angle of hindwing." {A/oore, 1. c.) 



This species also we are unable to identify ; the outline of the forewing is not indicated ; 

 it seems to be closely allied to Jlf. bela, but the complete absence of the white spots of the 

 upperside, and of the submarginal series of the underside of the hindwing would, if constant, 

 suffice to distinguish it. In all the specimens of M. bela that we have seen the anterior spot on 

 the upperside of the forewing is invariably present, and in almost all cases both are visible. 



249. MelanitiS ismene, Cramer. (Plate XII, Fig. 28 <J .) 



Papilio ismene, Cramer, Pap. E.x., vol. i, pi. xxvi, figs A, 6(1775); P. mycena, idem, id., vol. iv, pi. 

 ccxci, fig. F ; P. arcensia, idem, id., pi. ccxcii, fig. C (1780); Melanitis ismene, Moore, Lep- Cey , vol. i, p 14, 

 pi. X, figs. 2, 2a, male ; 2*, larva and pnj>a (1880) ; idem, id.. Distant, Rhop. Malay., p. 42, n. 2, pi. iv, figs. 9, 

 j2, male; 11, female (1882). 



Habitat : Throughout India, Ceylon, Burma, Andaman Isles, and the Malay Peninsula 

 and Archipelago. 



Expanse : 2'8 to 3'2 inches. 



Description : Male and Female : Upperside uniform rather dark brown. Fore- 

 wing with a large black spot pupilled with white, placed between the second and third median 

 nervules, with another somewhat elongated black spot in the interspace above it also with 

 a white spot, but placed upon or near to its exterior margin ; sometimes with a third indistinct 

 suffused spot below the second median nervule. These spots are inwardly and beneath, 

 below the second median nervule, bordered with bright ferruginous ; there is also a somewhat 

 square patch of this colour above the uppermost black spot. In some specimens there is a 

 suffused black patch merging into the dark ground-colour on either side of the subapical 

 squarish ferruginous patch. Hindiving usually with one or two submarginal black spots 

 with white centres near the anal angle ; these vary much in size, as also in number, and in 

 some specimens are entirely wanting. The costa near the apex of the forewing, and the 

 outer margin of both wings is in some specimens paler, thickly sprinkled with darker atoms, 

 showing in this respect an approach to M. duryodana. Underside extremely variable. The 

 ground-colour in some specimens is very pale buff-brown, in others ferruginous, in some gray, 

 and again in others almost black, with innumerable shades between all these colours. In most 

 specimens there is a dark discal band common to both wings, with another similar band, but 

 straighter, across the forewing about midway between the first band and the apex. Many 



