244 LYCANIDA. ARHOPALA. 
The markings and coloration of the underside of both sexes of this species are very 
distinctive; the ground-colour is reddish-brown, and all the spots and bands are very obscure. 
The forewing has a very small spot near the base of the cell, a larger transverse one in the 
middle, and a still larger one closing the cell, a narrow discal unbroken band, and a submargi- 
nal more obscure band, allof a slightly darker shade than the ground, and outlined paler. 
There is usually a very small but prominent black spot near the costal base of the hindwing, 
but, with this exception, all the other markings are obscure, as in the forewing ; a patch of 
metallic blue scales is rarely present at the anal angle. 
A rare species in Sikkim ; Mr. Otto Moller has specimens taken in October and November. 
The Revd. Walter A, Hamilton has obtained it in profusion in the Khasi Hills. 
797. Arhopala agaba, Hewitson. 
Amblypodia agaba, Hewitson, Cat. Lycenide B. M., p. 8, n. 39, Pl. iv, figs. 39, 40, female (1862); Satadra 
agaba, Moore, Journ. A. S. B., vol, liii, pt. 2, p. 38 (1884); id., Elwes and de Nicéville, Journ. A. S. B., 
vol. lv, pt. 2, p. 439, n. 104 (1885). 
Hapsirat : India (ew/tson), Mergui Archipelago, Upper Tenasserim, Tavoy. 
EXPANSE: ¢@, 1°65 to 1°80; 9, 1°65 to 1°80 inches. 
DESCRIPTION: “FEMALE, UPPERSIDE, doth wings bright blue, with the margins broadly 
black. UNDERSIDE, doth wings lilac-grey, the spots dark red-brown. Forewing with the 
transverse band long, nearly equal in breadth, except at the extremities, formed of seven spots. 
Hindwing with two branches, the inner branch becoming obscure beyond the middle, the 
anal angle irrorated with white.” (Hewitson, l.c.) “ MALE. UPPERSIDE, doth wings differ 
from those of the female only in being purple rather than bright blue, the outer margins 
narrowly and evenly, instead of broadly, black. UNDERSIDE, doth wings like the female.” 
(Zlwes and de Nicéville, \.¢.) 
This species is very brilliantly glossed with purple on the underside. In the forewing 
there are three increasing spots in the cell, one on the costa above the spot closing the cell, one 
below the cell at the base of the first median interspace, anda discal band as described 
above. The hindwing has four basal spots, a spot below the costal nervure, another in the 
middle of the cell, the discal band bifurcated, the inner bifurcation consisting of three spots, 
one closing the cell, and two divided by the second median nervule; a prominent black spot 
on the anal lobe, beyond which the margin is sprinkled with metallic green not white scales, 
as stated by Hewitson. 
In the Phayre Museum, Rangoon, is a male taken at Rangoon in March, in the Indian 
Museum, Calcutta, a female taken at Mergui on 22nd March, 1882, by Dr. J. Anderson, also 
a male from Tavoy obtained by the Museum Collector, Moti Ram. I possess two males from 
the Thoungyeen forests taken in March, and one from the Upper Thoungyeen forests taken 
in April, by Major C. T. Bingham. This species should be easily recognisable. It is 
perhaps nearest to A. se/éa, Hewitson, but the male on the upperside is of a much deeper shade 
of purple, the outer black margins narrower, the discal band of the forewing on the underside 
also narrower, and less regular and continuous, 
I give as a foot-note* a description of 4. aroa, Hewitson, originally described from 
Sumatra, and identified from Malacca by Mr. Butler. I also identify the species, but with 
considerable doubt, from Singapore, it being extremely difficult in many cases to identify 
with certainty species of this genus without having access to the type specimens or at any rate 
without specimens from the habitat of the type. 
a ase PS TS a ee ee ee ee ee 
* Arhopala aroa, Hewitson. Amblyfodia aroa, Hewitson, Ill. Diurn. Lep., p. x n. 60, aloe 
12, male (1863); id., Butler, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., Zoology, second series, vol: ay 248. ita beeen 
Narathura aroa, Distant, Rhop. Malay., p. 266, n. 9, pl. xxiii, fig. 17, made (1885). Habitat : Sumatra 
(Hewitson), A ocemeaet (Butler), EXPANSB : of ee cones DsSCRIPTION: ‘* MALE. UpprEersiDE, both 
qings violet-blue ; the margins very narrow, black. Unbersips, doth wings rufous-b 5 ‘G wi 
the band of nearly equal breadth, slightly curved.” ¥ gs rufous-brown. FoREWING with 
“4. aroa is very nearly allied to A. Ayfomuta, Hewitson, the blue of its upperside is less brilliant, 
and the spots and bands of the underside appear to be much wider apart. A. hyfomuta seems, on the hindwing, 
as if covered throughout with spots, the spaces between the bands and spots having nearly the same appearance 
as the usual spots and bands themselves have."’ (//ewirson, |. c.) 
