LYCAINID/L. ILERDA. 4327 
we possess the types. Kollar’s figure is not good, having been taken from a worn and broken 
specimen, but the identity of the species is settled by the ‘‘ sky-blue gloss” of the basal’ half 
of the wings (in Z. coruscans the colour is shining metallic emerald-green) ; as a matter of fact 
the colour is ultramarine, but a little inaccuracy in colouring is perhaps admissible in the de- 
scription of a rubbed insect. Kollar says, ‘ We possess only a single example of this beautiful 
species, and it has suffered severely in transport, so that in fact only the wings are preserved,’ 
and from the description we find that the hindwings, at least, are ‘ badly rubbed.’ ” (Budéder, 1. c.) 
A good deal of confusion has arisen with regard to the correct identification of this. 
species, owing to Messrs. Hewitson and Moore in 1865 applying the name éamu to a glit- 
tering green insect, which must be incorrect, as in Kollar’s Latin diagnosis he speaks of it 
as blue (cyaneo), and in the German as sky-blue (Azvmelblauen). (Kollar uses the word 
cyaneous for 7hecla nila, T. rama, and Apatura ambica, all of which are more or less blue 
insects, certainly not green ones. As far as I know there is only one sky-blue JZ/erda, 
so there canbe no doubt about its identification. 7, mooreiz, Hewitson, is blue, but of a 
resplendant metallic sheen quite different from Z ¢amu, and moreover 7. mooret does not 
occur in the country from which Baron Von Hiigel brought the types of Kollar’s amu. 
I find that 7. ¢auw isa somewhat variable species. In the male the breadth of the outer 
black margin of the upperside in both wings is double as broad in some specimens as it is in 
others, my broadest specimens being from Murree, my narrowest from Ulwas in the Chumba 
State, and from Naini Tal. Every gradation exists between the broadest and narrowest black- 
bordered specimens, the width of the border is of no specific value. On the underside the 
differences are even greater. The outer vermilion border varies in width just as does the black 
border of the upperside, there is often a prominent black disco-cellular line and a discal line 
on the forewing, these are often more or less obsolete, sometimes entirely absent, giving a very 
different appearance to the wing. In the hindwing also there is sometimes a discal black 
line, which is often entirely absent. The female of Z. ¢awzz is easily known from the females of 
the other species of the genus by the presence of a rich orange irrorated patch on the disc of the 
forewing on the underside. 
7. tamu does not appear to be anywhere common, but has a wide range in the Western 
Himalayas between the altitudes of 7,000 and 10,000 feet, and occurs throughout Kashmir in 
suitable spots. Mr. Moore (Cat. Lep. Mus. E I. C.) records it from Bhutan, but this is 
probably a mistake. He correctly identified it at that date (1857), as he wrote ‘‘ Upperside 
of wings with glittering blue patches,’ though this description would apply better perhaps 
to Z. moorei, Hewitson, a species which occurs in Bhutan, but had not at that date been described. 
886. TIlerda moorei, Hewitson. 
Z. moorez, Wewitson, Ill. Diurn. Lep., p. 58. n. 5 (1865); ? Thecla saphir, Blanchard, Comptes 
Rendus, vol. Ixxii, p. 811, note 1 (1872) ;. lerda suphir ? Elwes, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1882, p. 4o2, pl. xxv, 
figs. 9, male; 10, female.* 
HABITAT : Bhutan (Zewiétson), Native Sikkim. 
EXPANSE: @, 9, 1°35 to I'50 inches. 
DESCRIPTION: “MALE. UPPERSIDE, doth wings brilliant metallic blue. Forewing with 
the apical half dark brown, the costal margin rufous-brown. A/zxdwing with the margins broadly 
rufous-brown, the anal angle with two or more scarlet lunules, the two only at the base of the 
tail distinct, the inner one marked below bya line of blue. UNDERSIDE, both wings orange-yellow, 
the outer margins rufous. Cilia white. Forewing with a spot of brown bordered with white 
near the anal angle. MHindwing with the outer margin broadly scarlet irrorated throughout 
with white, marked by indistinct lunules of brown and a submarginal line of white.” (Hewitson, 
lc.) FEMALE. UNDERSIDE, both wings differ from the same sex of JZ. brahma, Moore, and 
Z. viridipunctata, mihi, in the ground-colour being of a darker shade of orange-yellow. 
a i A SES 
* Mr H J. Elwes notes that he has seen a specimen of the true /, safhir, Blanchard, from Moupin, and 
that it is near to, if not identical with, 7. ¢amz, Kollar, . : 
