NYMPHALID^. SATYRIN^. HIPIO. 259 



252. Melanitis gnoplioaes, Butler. 



M. gnophodes, Butler, Cat. Lep. B. M., Satyridae, p. s, pi. ii, fig. i (1868). 



Habitat : India. 

 Expanse : 3-2 to 3*3 inches. 



Description: " Male and Female : UrrERSiPE coloured as in Guophodes (parmeno). 

 Underside variegated, the colours as in phcduna or baitkiia. The male of this species 

 resembles Gnophodes parmeno* on the upperside ; the female has a brighter orange band, and 

 resembles the Natal form of the same insect. " (Butler, 1. c.) 



Judging from Butler's figure of M. gnophodes the distinctive feature appears to be a fulvous 

 almost straight band across the forrun'ng beyond the cell from the costa to the hinder angle, 

 bordered internally throughout its length, and externally near the costa, with dusky ; the 

 ^/«^wwo- has two or three submarginal white spots near the anal angle. The forewing is 

 considerably falcated, the outline of the wings being similar to that of Al. ziienins, but it 

 seems to differ from that species not only by the absence of the two large black patches on 

 the forewing, which is an inconstant character, but also by the shape of the fulvous band, 

 which is narrower, more regular, and more produced toward the hinder angle than in 

 AT, zileniiis ; in AT. gnophodes the outer edge of the band is directed from the costa to the tip 

 of the third median nervule, while in M. zileniiis it is directed towards the tip of the falcation 

 above the third median nervule. In Mr. de Niceville's collection are four females of Melanitis 

 zitenitis from Sikkim which agree fairly well with Butler's figure of M. gnophodes, in that the 

 two black spots on the forewing are obsolete in two specimens, very obscure in the other two. 

 The ground-colour of the upperside is also paler than in most examples of AL zitenius, but 

 these specimens are clearly only varieties of that species, and they suggest a doubt as to 

 whether AI. gnophodes is really distinct. At all events we have no specimens precisely agreeing 

 with Butler's figure, and in the absence of specimens it must for the present be retained as 

 distinct. 



G-enuS 28.— HlPlO, HUbner. 

 Hipio, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schraett., p. 56 (1816). 



The next species has been retained by Butler under the subgeneric name Hipio of Hiibner, 

 and on his authority we adhere to the name, but we are unable to indicate any structural 

 features to distinguish it from Alelanitis. The subgenus contains several species from 

 the Malayan Archipelago, but only a single one is recorded from India, and that appears to 

 be excessively rare ; we have never seen a specimen, and have doubts as to whether it really 

 occurs in India at all. Its principal feature is the yellow transverse band of the forewing ; 

 the nearest approach to which is in AL gnophodes ; and its large size which considerably 

 exceeds that of any of the Indian Alelanitis. It has large distinct ocelli on the underside 

 of the hind wing as in AL leda. 



253. Hipio COnstantia, Cramer. 

 Papilio COnstantia, Cramer, Pap, Ex., vol. ii, pi. cxxxiii, figs, A, B (1777) ; Satyrus constantia, Godart, Enc. 

 Meth , vol. ix, p. 477, n. i (1819) ; Cyllo coiistantia, Hewitson, Journ. Liiin. Soc. Loud , Zoology, vol. viii, p, 143 

 (1864). 



Habitat : Darjiling and N. India {Moore') ; Malayana. 



Expanse : 4*1 inches. 



Description : Female : Upperside deep rich brown. Foiewing crossed beyond the cell 

 from the costa to the inner angle by a broad band of ochreous, darker at the edges, and 

 bearing in the interspace above the third median nervule a triangular white spot, bordered 

 with black ; below which is a black ocellus, pupilled with white and with a rufous iris. The 

 outer dark area bears a single small round black spot above the lower discoidal nervule. 

 Idindwing with a black submarginal line and three black spots near the anal angle, the two 



* A south and west Africau species. 



