LYCANIDA. VIRACHOLA. 477 
depressed (as seen from above) secondary sexual character in the male is pear-shaped, with its nar- 
~- row end directed towards the base of the wing, extends slightly into the discoidal cell, and covers 
the bases of the subcostal nervules, reaching exactly to the point where the middle disco-cellular 
arises ; the disco-cellular nervules are outwardly oblique, nearly in one straight line, of equal 
length ; the second median nervule has its origin just before the lower end of the discoidal cell, 
The palpi in the males are much shorter and more slender than in the females. The eyes are 
hairy. 
Virachola is abundantly distinct from Dezdorix, Hewitson, and Zehera, Moore, neither of 
which have secondary sexual characters inthe male. The shape and position of the glandular 
patch on the hindwing of the male will alone distinguish Vrachola from the other genera of 
this group which possess male secondary sexual characters and have one tail and an anal lobe. 
The genus at present contains three species, all of which are strictly confined to the 
Indian region, unless the Deudorzx antalus, Hopffer (vide Trimen’s ‘* South African Butterflies,”’ 
vol. ii, p. 107), which is said to be a near ally of V. zsocrates, Fabricius, should turn out to be 
congeneric. The life-history of two of them is almost thoroughly known, the third species, 
VY. smilis, Fewitson, is very rare, and the female imago has alone been described. The 
larvee of V. zsocrates, Fabricius, and VY. Zerse, Hewitson, are internal feeders, eating the seeds 
of various fruits ; a full description of their interesting habits will be found under the de- 
scriptions of the species. All three butterflies of the genus are of large size, brightly colour- 
ed, with markings on the underside very much as in Deudorix epijarbas. Moore. The 
female of V. ¢socrates is aberrant, as it alone has no blue coloration on the upperside. Their 
flight is extraordinarily rapid and can hardly be followed by the eye, but they usually soon 
settle and are then easy to catch. 
Key to the species of Virachola. 
A. Both sexes, underside, forewing with no spot in the cell towards the base in addition to the one on the 
disco-cellular nervules 
a. Male, upperside deep violet-blue, with a rich purple iridescent gloss in some lights ; female, 
upperside violet-brown, with no purple gloss. 
to12 V. ISOCRATES, throughout India except the desert tracts, Ceylon. 
5. Male and female, upperside black, the lower basal area of the forewing and discal area of 
hindwing bright blue, no iridescent shot in the male. 
1013. V. PERSB, throughout India except the desert tracts, Ceylon. 
B. Female, underside, forewing with a large spot in the cell towards the base in addition to the one on 
the disco-cellular nervules. 
1014. V. SMILIS, East India, Andaman Isles, 
1012. Virachola isocrates, Fabricius, 
Hesperia isocrates, Fabricius, Ent. Syst., vol. ili, pt. 1, p. 266, n. 29 (1793) ; Polyommatus zsocrates, 
Godart, Enc. Méth., vol. ix, p. 633, n. 59 (1823); Thecla isocrates, Westwood, Trans. Ent. Soc, 
Lond., first series, vol. ii, p. 1, pl. i, wale and female, structure of imago, and pupe (1837) ; Dipsas 
zsocrates, Horsfield and Moore, Cat. Lep. Mus. E. I. C., p. 33, m. 42 (1857) ; Deudorix isocrates, Butler, 
Cat. Fab. Lep. B. M., p. 181, n. 4 (1859) ; Virachola isocrates, Moore, Lep. Cey., vol. i, p. 104 (1881) 
Hesperia pann, Fabricius, Ent. Syst., vol. iii, pt. 1, p. 276, n. 67/1793) 3 Papilio pann, Donovan, Ins. India 
pl. xxxviil, fig. 1, fevzale (1850) ; On the habits of a species of Hair Streak, belonging to the genus Thecla, 
Downes, Calcutta, Journ. Nat. Hist., vol. ii, p. 408 (1842). 
Hasrrat : Throughout the plains of India (except the desert tracts, Assam and Burma), 
Ceylon. 
EXPANSE: @,1°5 to 18; 9, 1°8 to 2'0 inches. 
DESCRIPTION : ‘* MALE. UPPERSIDE, doth wings deep violet-blue, [the lower discal area 
of the forewing and almost the entire surface of the hindwing glossed in some lights 
with brilliant violet.] Aorewzzg with a very indistinct ochreous spot, visible only in certain 
lights, beyond the cell. Azzdwing with a slender black marginal line and small anal spots, 
the latter grey-speckled. Cv/éa greyish-white. UNDERSIDE, doth wings pale vinous-grey, with 
a white-bordered disco-cellular streak, a discal transverse broad catenulated band, and a less 
