304 NYMPHALID.^. MORPIIIN-E. THAUMANTIS, 



M'ing, one rudimentary (close lo the cubniedian nervine) and six (the first in the same inter- 

 space with the rudimentary one, and the second the largest of all) perfect ones ; each ocellus 

 dark brown encircled by a very fine line of the colour of the striga; and pupilled with iride- 

 scent silvery-white ; the thin submarginal brown line rather more deeply engrailed." (^IVood- 

 Mason, 1. c.) The female is unknown. 



There are two male specimens of this species, including the type, in the Indian Museum, 

 Calcutta. 



Genus 39.— THATTMANTIS, Hiiijuer. 



Thaumanils, Hubner, Samml. Ex. Schmett. (1816-1824) ; id., Westwood, Gen. D. L., vol ii, p. 335 (1S51), 

 in part; idem, id., Trans. Eiit. Soc. Lond., new series, vol. iv, p. 170 (iZst) , Marwgrajih. 



Body somewhat robust, hairy. Head large, hairy, with a small frontal tuft. Eyes large, 

 prominent, naked ; palpi slender, compressed, nearly erect, scarcely rising above the level of 

 the eyes, densely clothed in front with short scaly appressed hairs, a tuft of longer hairs at the 

 back of the middle joint against the face, terminal joint short, slender. Wings large, rounded, 

 ample. Forewing with the apex more or less rounded, the kinder angle much rounded ; sub- 

 costal nervure with four branches, the first anastomosing with the costal nervure for part of its 

 length, the second anastomosing with the first, the third and fourth free ; upper and middle 

 disco-cellular nervules short, the middle usually longer than the upper ; the lower disco-cellular 

 long, feebly concave or nearly straight. Hindwing with the costa, apex, outer margin and anal 

 angle all rounded ; the third median nervule much bent and approximating closely at the bend 

 to the discoidal nervule. The internal nervure long, nearly straight. Forelegs of the male 

 slender and very slightly hairy ; of the female much longer, more slender, scaly, and somewhat 

 truncate at tip. 



The genus 77^rt«;«a«//.r contains some of the most beautiful and largest Butterflies of the 

 Eastern world ; in the size of its wings it is exceeded by the allied genus StichopJithalma and by 

 the Amathusias of the portheus group, but in brilliancy of colouring it is surpassed by neither. 



Only seven species are known, all from the Indo-Malayan region. Even as restricted by the 

 exclusion of Stichophthalma (which some authors still unite with it) the genus presents two 

 distinct groups, differing both in style of colour and in structural features. 



Eey to the Indian species of Thaumantis- 



A. Wings black, with brilliant metallic purple reflections ; the forewinc; with the apex much rounded ; 

 males with a distinct tuft of erectile hairs on the hindwing along the subcostal nervure, the rest of 

 the base of the wing scarcely hairy. 



a. The brilliant metallic purple reflections confined on the forewing to a broad curved band. 



289. T. DIORES, N.-E. India. 



I. The brilliant metallic purple reflections much spread inwardly, and occupying on the 

 forewing nearly the entire disc. 



290. T. RAMDEO, N.-E. India. 



T. ODANA, Singapore, Java. 



T. LUCiPOR, Malay Peninsula, Borneo. 



T. NOUREDDIN, Malay Peninsula, Borneo. 

 B. Wings brown, with a pale yellowish or white oblique fascia on the forewing ; the apex and outer 

 portion of the hindwing bright fulvous. Forewing with the apex less rounded, the outer margin 

 straight. Males with the entire base of the hindwing clothed with long hairs, longest and 

 partially erectile below the subcostal nervure. 



291. T. psKUDALiRis, Tenasserim, Malay Peninsula. 

 T. ALiRis, Malacca, Borneo. 



2S9. Thau mantis diores, Doubieday. 



T. diores, Doubieday, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol, xvi, p. 234 (1845) ; id , Westwood, Trans. Ent. 

 Soc. Lond., new series, vol. iv, p. 171 (1856), 



Habitat : Sikkim, Assam, Naga Hills, Sylhet. 



E.\PANSE : 4"o to 47 inches. 



Description : Sexes alike. " Utperside : Both ^vings fuscous black, the porrwing 

 with a broad band-like spot, commencing near the costa beyond the middle, and extending 



