3o6 NYMPHALID^. MORPIlINyE. THAUMANTIS. 



brilliant blue patch very large, it being an inch in diameter either way, and extends over the 

 whole of the middle of the wings. The underside is paler than in T. diores, and the wavy 

 line running near the exterior margins of T. diores is nearly obsolete in T. ra video ; the two 

 ocelli on the hindwiug are very small." [Moore, 1. c.) Female like the male, but larger, and 

 lacking the erectile tuft of hairs on the hindwing. 



'j haumantis 7-amdeo is found over the same ground as T. diores ; the Indian Museum has 

 specimens from Sikkim, from Sibsagar in Assam, and from the Dafla hills. It is a very 

 beautiful species ; the metallic blue patch is paler with an even more brilliant metallic sheen : 

 on the forewing it extends to the inner margin and well into the discoidal cell, and on the 

 hind%i<ing it extends well below the fust median nervule and covers the entire cell to tlie 

 base. 



The figure shows the upper and undersides of a male specimen from Sibsagar, Upper 

 Assam, in the Indian Museum, Calcutta. 



T. odaiia* the typical species of this section, inhabits Singapore and Java ; it differs 

 from the Indian species in lacking the metallic blue patch on the hindwing. Two other species 

 of the group, T. lueipor and T. noiireddin, occur in the Malay Peninsula, f descriptions of them 

 are appended for reference. They have the anal angle less rounded and more produced 

 than in the Indian species. 



* Morpho [Thnuniantis] odana, Godart, Enc. M^th., vol. ix, p. 445, n. 16 (iS-g) ; id., Horsfield, Cat Lep. 

 E. I. C , pi. vi, figs. 5, 5a (1829) ; Tliaumantis odnna. Boisduval, Spec. Gen., L^p.. vol. i, pi. xii (viii B.) fig, i. 

 (1836). Habitat : hingapore, Java. Expanse : 4 inches. Descf<ii'tion : " Sexes alike in colour. Upi'ER.side, both 

 ivings blackish-fusCMUS. Foreiving with a broad oblique purplish blue discal fascia, shining paler in the middle, 

 and a while subapical dot . Underside with discal stri^se and outer margin greyish or lilac-white. Hindwing, 

 with a small costal marginal dot, and a large ocellus towards the anal angle circled with yellow above. The 

 underside varies considerably in the intensity of the markings, especially in specimens from Sin'.'apore, from 

 whence it has been sent by Mr. Wallace. The male has a patcli of hairs at the base of the hindwing on the 

 upperside " (West-aoad, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., new series, vol. iv, p. 170 (1856). Mr. Distant does not 

 include this species in his Khopalocera Malayana. 



t Thaumantis lueipor, Westwood, Gen D. L., vol. ii, p. 337, n. 5 (1851), note ; idem, id.. Trans. Ent Soc. 

 Lond., new series, vol. iv, p. 173, n. 5, pi. xix (1856) ; id , Distant, Rhop. Malav., p. 77, pi. ix, figs. 8, male ; 9, 

 fetiiale (1882). Habitat : Province Wellesley, Borneo. Expanse : Male, 35 to 37 ; Female, 3 8 inches. Dbs- 

 CRiPTiON : "Male, Upperside, bothivingsfAe: chocolate-tirown. tlie discs darker, and with dark and resplendent 

 bluish reflections, which do not extend to the costal area and wide outer margin (diminishing from the apex) 

 of the forewing, nor to the abdominal or outer margin of the hindwing. U.mderside, both tvings chocolate- 

 brown, with the outer margins broadly and distinctly paler. Foreiuing with three very indistinct and irregular 

 pale fasciK crossing the cell ; an oblique distinct pale fascia comniencing about the costal nervure a little 

 beyond the apex of the cell, and terminating about the first median nervule ne.ir the pale outer margin, which 

 possesses a submedial and much waved darker line, on the innerside of which the colour is much suffused with 

 greyish; beneath the first median nervule the coluur is pale brownish. Hinduniig with the basal area much 

 suffused with greyish, on vvhich is a large, irregular and curved fascia, which is broadest on the costal margin 

 and narrowest at its termination near the submedian nervure. At the boundary of the pale outer margin the 

 colour is much darker, and between the first median nervule and the submedian nervure appears as a sud- 

 denly bent and refleted fascia; this area contains two ocellated spots, the first and uppermost of which, situated 

 between the subcostal nervules, is dark with a slightly paler margin, and its inner third white ; the lower is 

 situated between the second and first median nervules, and has its inner margin white. The outer pale margin 

 possesses a submedial and much-waved darker line, on the innerside of which the colour is much suffused with 

 greyish, and between the first median nervule and the submedian nervure is an oblong black spot with an outer 

 white continuation. Body and legs more or less concoloious with the wings. The male possesess two basal 

 patches of pale (described as black by Professor Westwood in the typical specimen, so probably variable in 

 hue) hairs near the costal base of the upperside of the hindwing, which probably denote scent-secretory organs. 

 Female larger, and with the wings on the upperside slightly paler than in the male, with similar blue reflections 

 as in that sex, but which do not extend beyond the basal halves of both wings. Fore^uing with the blue reflec- 

 tion outwardly bounded by a more or less distinct pale oblique but broken fascia, commencing above the first 

 discoidal nervule and terminating near the first median nervule ; two small subapical ochraceous spots on each 

 -side of the fifth subcostal nervule, followed by a murh-waved and sinuated submarginal ochraceous fascia, 

 commencing near the first discoidal nervule and terminating near the outer angle. Uindnniig with a much- 

 waved a-.id sinuated fuscous submarginal fascia, commencing near the apex of the first subcostal nervule and 

 terminating near the anal angle ; between the subcostal nervules this fascia is outwardly bordered by a pale 

 ochraceous marginal spot. Underside somewhat paler and brighter than in the male, excepting the dark 

 shadings, which arc as intense as in that sex. Ilindiving crossed by a narrow undulating dark fascia, com- 

 mencing near the costa, crossing near the apex of the cell, and terminating at the first median nervule (this 

 is faintly discernible in the male) ; the submedial waved fascia; to the pale outer margins of both wings are 

 also Very distinct." (Distant, 1. c.) 



Thijtmanlis noiireddin, Westwood, Gen. D L., vol. ii. p. 337, n. 6 (1851), note ; idem, id., Trans. Ent. Soc. 

 Lond., new series, vol. iv, p. 175, n 6, pi. xx (1856) : id.. Distant, Rhop. Malay., p. 78, pi. vii, fig. 3. ;«rt/c ; 

 pi. ix, fig. T, female (1882). Habitat : Province Wellesley, Malacca, Borneo. Expanse: tMale, 37 ; Female, 

 3'7 '" 3'9 inches. Desckiption : "Mai.k: Upperside, *o/A ?t//«^« dark fuscous-brown; the outer margins 

 broadly paler. F'orexving with the pale outer margin much waved inwardly, and there denoted by a row of more or 

 less distinct whitish spots placed upon the nervules ; the costal area and basal portion of the cell also somewhat 

 paler. Hindiviiig has the pa'er outer portion much less well defined, broadest at the anal angh, and terminating 



