298 NYMPHALIDiE. 



MORPHINE. 

 2S2. DlSCOphora tulUa, Cramer, 



DISCOPHORA. 



/'(i//7/(? ///Wi, Cramer, Pap. Ex., vol. i, pi. Ixxxi, rrg";. A. B (1775), female; Morpho tiiUla, Godart, Eijc. 

 Mdth. vol. ix, p. 446, n. 19 (1819) ; Discophora ticllia, Moore, HorsfieM and Moore, Cat. Lep. E. I. C, vol i, 

 p. 211, n. 431, pi. xij, figa. 15, larva ; isa.piipa (1857). 



Habitat : Nortli-East India, Burma. 



Expanse : i, 3'3 to 3-8 ; ? , 3 5 to 3-9 inches. 



Description : Male : Upperside velvety fuliginous brown. Fora^jiiig with three 

 nearly complete series of bluish, fulvous, or white spots, one submarginal, one near to it discal, 

 and one more remote median. Ilindwing with the usual patch of plush-like scales, two obsolete 

 submarginal series of ochraceous spots. Underside paler than in D. celinde, but more uniform 

 in tone, the dark markings not so prominent. Female paler brown, sometimes with a fulvous 

 tinge. Forewing with the three series of spots larger, white, the discal ones only irrorated with 

 bluish, the median and discal spots between the discoidal nervules coalesced. Eiiukoing with 

 three corresponding series of bright fulvous spots, and a series of indistinct fulvous spots 

 on the outer margin. Underside as in the male, but much paler and duller in colour. 



Larva brown, thickly covered with brown hairs, with a paler dorsal line, and a dark 

 brown spot on each side of it on each segment ; the first three segments with a yellow ring. 

 " Feeds on Bambnsa:' (1. c.) Pupa pale brown, smooth, boat-shaped, tapering to a fme point 

 at the head. (Described from P.Ioore's figures.) 



D. tidlia is commoner than D. cdinde, and has been taken in more localities, but the 

 geographical range is the same within Indian limits, excepting that D. liillia is known to occur 

 in the plains of Bengal as far south as Calcutta at all events. In the male the blue spots on the 

 yt'ri7£//«^ are generally small, sometimes partially obsolete ; all three series are usually clearly 

 traceable ; in some specimens the submarginal series is obsolete, in others the median series has 

 disappeared, with the exception of the spot between the discoidal nervules. In the Malay race 

 figured by Mr. Distant in his Rliopalocera Malayana all three series have disappeared, and the 

 upperside is unspotted, but this latter is probably the male of the next species, D. zal. The 

 female varies much in tone, and in some all three series of spots on the forewing are white as in 

 Cramer's type figure without any trace of bluish irrorations. D. tullia is common in 

 Sikkim and in Tenasserim from September to April, In the neighbourhood of Calcutta 

 Mr. de Niceville has taken it throughout the year. They rest under the shade of large 

 trees among the dead leaves on the ground, taking short flights when disturbed, and are easily 

 captured. Mr, Wood-Mason took it commonly in Cachar from May to August ; and there are 

 specimens in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, from Sibsagar, and Sylhct. 



