NYMPHALID.E. NYMPIIALIN.^.. CYNTHIA. 43 



in Assam and the Khasi Hills. Tliey are very powerful on the wing, and frequent damp 

 spots where they suck up the moisture. The female is far less frequently seen. 



The figure shows the upperside of a male and a female specimen in the Indian Museum, 

 Calcutta, from Shillong. 



323. Cynthia saloma, n. sp., Swinhoe, ms. 



Habitat : Nilgiris, Wynaad, Travancore. 



Expanse : J , 4-2 ; ? , 4'6 inches. 



Description : Male. Upperside with the basal and external areas of both xohi^s 

 much darker than in typical C. erota, the black lines broader and more prominent, the 

 violaceous patch at anal angle of himhmitg wanting, the discal area between much paler, 

 and the markings on it obsolescent. On the underside the discal area is also paler and 

 more conspicuous, the markings on it less prominent, and the silvery violaceous washing of 

 the external area duller and more restricted and in some specimens barely traceable. The 

 FEMALE differs in having the white discal area on the upperside of the ^;ra'z«^" wider and 

 more diffused at the costa and much narrower below, the area beyond being powdered with 

 lilac grey, especially near the hinder angle. On the himhving the white discal band is much 

 restricted, barely extending below the lower subcostal nervule, while in C. erota it extends 

 right across the wing to the submedian nervure. 



This species, differing as it does in both sexes from the typical C. erota, forms a well- 

 marked local race linking C. erota with the Ceylon form C. asela. on the other hand the pale 

 Tenasserim local race of C erota described above (of which the female is still unknown) 

 appears to link C. erota with the Malayan C. deione. 



Mr. Rhodes-Morgan has taken both sexes of this species in the Wynaad, as also has 

 Mr. Harold S. Ferguson in Travancore. Mr. Frank W. Bourdillon says of this species : 

 '• Occurs in Trevandrum at about 2,000 feet elevation, uncommon and difficult to secure owing 

 to its strong flight and habit of settling 20 or 30 feet from the ground." Colonel Swinhoe's 

 original description of C. saloma from specimens from the Nilgiris is given below.* 



324. Cynthia asela, Moore. 



C. asela, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1S72, p. 55S ; idem, id., Lep. Cey., p. 53, pi. xxvi, figs, i, male, 

 la, female ; id, larva ; \c, ptipa. 



Habitat : Ceylon. 



Expanse : cj , 3'4 to 4*0 ; ? , 4"0 to 4'3 inches. 



Description: "Male. Upperside bright ochreous-yellow, darkest on basal area and 

 marginal border. Forewing with a black medial transverse interrupted line, discoidal streaks, 

 two streaks below the cell, two marginal sinuous lines, and a submarginal row of more or less 

 obsolete lunate spots, the upper spot being pale centred ; an indistinct darker ochreous zigzag 

 fascia across the disc. Hindimng with a black medial transverse line, an inner discal zigzag 

 ochreous fascia bordering an outer series of spots, the one between the [lowe r] subcostal [and 



" Cynth'a saloma, n. sp. Habitat: Nilgheries. Expanse: Dlitle, 37 ; female, 4-7 inches. Des- 

 cription: ]M*LE, dull ochreous, basal area and marginal border darker, densely irrorated with reddish 

 grey wiih a greenish tinge, markings as in C. asela but the colouration is altogether different and the band 

 between the medial line and outer border is much pgler than either in C. erota or in C. asela, giving it the 

 appearance of a dull pale whitish greyish ochreous band, which gradually darkens on the lower half of the 

 hhidwing, and becomes suff'used into the darker colour of the marginal border. Underside as in C. asela 

 but paler, colouration duller and less reddish and without the small brown patch at the hinder angle. Femalb 

 dark greenish grey, outer border dark chocolate grey ; forewing with the cell markings as in C. erota, 

 female, a central brown line followed by a broad white band divided by the veins and which is narrowest on the 

 hinder margin, where the outer half of the band is greenish, and it expands upwards to the costa to within half 

 an inch of the apex, a suffused black spot on the lower radial interspace, a dentated black line running through 

 the band near its outer margin, a white subapical spot and two very slightly sinuous black submarginal lines 

 very nearly straight and not together as is usual in C. erota and C asela. HOuhul/ig with a central faint brown 

 line in continuation of the one on the forewing, followed by a broad bfind also in continuation of the band on 

 the forewing, but this band instead of being white is greenish grey, only slightly paler than the colouration of 

 the basal half, and is quite as opaque as the rest of the wing instead of being semi-hyaline as is the case in 

 the allied species ; there are al.^o the two usual discal ocelli and two submarginal black lines. Underside as in 

 C. erota, female, but the band on the ki/nlwii/g instead of being white is greyish ochreous and very slightly 

 paler than the colouration of the outer border " 



pa 



and other collections, and 



I compared these insects with many specimens of this genus at the British Museum, and at Mr Moore's, 

 am of opinion that it is a distinct and good species." (Swinlioe). 



