298 LYCANIDZE. THECLA. 
The difference in the neuration of the forewing in the opposite sexes of species of this 
genus is considerable, and appears to be entirely due to the presence of the secondary sexual 
characters of the male. The ‘“‘sex-mark” has been figured and described by Dr. Aurivillius 
with the corresponding part of the wing of the female as it exists m Zhecla w-album, Knoch, 
a European species (Kong. Svens. Vet.-Akad. Handl., vol. v, p. 21, n. 4, pl. ii, figs. 13, 14 
(1880), 
In taking 7. spzzz, Wiener Verzeichniss, which occurs in Europe ani Northern and Eastern 
Asia, as the type of the genus Zec/a, I follow Mr. S. H. Scudder,* Mr. W. F, Kirby,t and 
Messrs. Godman and Salvin,} rather than Mr. A. G. Batler,§ the last named adopting detule, 
Linnzeus, a European and North Asiatic species. The latter is, however, the type of 
Dalman’s genus Zephyrs. In restricting the genus Zecla to species with the characters 
given in the above generic diagnosis, I shut out a vast number of Lycenida, principally from 
South America, which have been placed in the genus by various authors, but which, in my 
opinion, should properly be placed in many distinct genera. 
According to Dr. Lang, eight species of Z%ecla inhabit Europe, of which two—detule, 
Linneus, and gwercus, Linneus—belong to the genus Zepkyrus. Many species inhabit 
Northern Asia (Asia Minor, Syria, Persia, Amurland, China, and Japan), Mr. Leech|| recording 
as many as fifteen from Japan, but many, if not all, of these species probably belong to 
Zephyrus. Many species of true Zhecle occur in North America, some of which have no tail, 
others a second tail from the termination of the second median nervule. In India only a single 
species occurs, the 7. sassanides of Kollar, which is found only in the extreme north-west 
corner of the empire, extending into Turkestan and Persia. On the upperside of both 
sexes it is brown glossed with obscure purple, underside greyish-brown without gloss, 
both wings crossed by a discal white line, from which the name “ hair-streak,” po- 
pularly applied to this group of butterflies; has been derived; there is also a marginal 
white line more prominent on the hindwing, within which are a few black spots. All 
the species of this genus, as faras I know, are found in the perfect state on trees and 
bushes, from which they may be disturbed by beating, seldom settling on the ground or on 
low plants and flowers. They have a rapid flight, but seldom fly far, and rest with closed 
wings on the upperside of a leaf. Mr. Westwood (Gen. Diurn. Lep., vol. ii, p. 482) 
thus describes the transformations of the genus: “ LARVA, short, onisciform, thick or linear- 
oblong and depressed, and attenuated at each end; generally clothed with very fine short 
hairs, Pupa, short and smooth, head rounded ; attached by the pointed tail, and girt across 
the middle.” The larvae of the European species nearly all feed upon trees and bushes, 
T. rubi, Linnzeus, feeding sometimes on Papilionaceous plants. 
862. Thecla sassanides, Kollar. (PLATE XXVII, Fic. 202 ¢). 
T. sassanides, Kollar, Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Nat. Cl., vol. i, p. 51, m. x (1850); id., 
Westwood, Gen. Diurn. Lep., vol. ii, p. 486, n. 123 (1852); Z. deria, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 
1865, p. 507, n. 112, pl. xxxi, fig. x1; idem, id,, I. c., 1274, p. 272, p. 703 T. mirabilis, Erschoff, Lep Turk.y p. 7, 
n. 17, pl. i, fig, 4, female (1874); id., Swinhoe, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1885, p. 342, n. 27; Strymon mirabile 2 
Butler, Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., fifth series, vol. ix, p. 208, n. 11 (1882). 
HasiTaT : South Persia (Xo//ar) ; Sarafschan Valley, Turkestan (Zrschof/) ; Chaman, May 
(Butler) ; Upper Kunawur, Kashmir (J/0ore). 
EXPANSE: ¢, 9, 1°15 to 1'50 inches. 
Description: ‘“ Uprersipe, doth wings uniform dusky blackish. Aindwing tailed. 
UNDERSIDE, Joth wings pale ashy, with a white streak across both, inwardly margined with 
fuscous ; with a series of ocelliform black dots before the external margin ; the ¢az/ longer, black, 
* Hsstorical Sketch of the Generic Names proposed for Butterflies, p. 279 (1875). 
+ Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond., Zool., vol, x, p. 499 (1870). 
t Biol. Cent.-Am., Rhopalocera, vol.1i, p. 9 (1887), 
§ Cat, Fab. Lep. B. M., p. 181 (1869). 
\| Proc, Zool. Soc, Lond., 1887, p. 401. 
