NYMPHALIDyE. NYMPHALIN^. NEPTIS. 79 



353- NeptiS plagiOSa, Moore, 

 N.plagiosa, Moore, Proc. Zool. Sec Lend., 1878, p. 830. 

 Habitat : Upper Tenasserim, Naththoung to Paboga ; Malda, Sikkim, Calcutta, Sylhet, 

 Assam, Chittagong, Orissa, Nilgiris, Ganjam, and Trevandrum. 



Expanse : ^ , i -50 ; ? , 1-90 inches. 



Description. "Allied to N. hordonia, Stoll ; differs on the upperside in all the 

 ferruginous bands being broader. Forming has the lengthened discoidal band spreading over 

 the median nervure, the marginal line also broader and very distinct. Eindzving with the sub- 

 marginal band nearly as broad as the discal band. Underside, the strig^ are more numerous 

 and darker, covering both bands on the hindtvmg." iMoore, 1. c.) 



This species was originally described from Upper Tenasserim, and I have a specimen 

 named by Mr. Moore from Coonoor. The distinctive characters appear to be the broadness 

 of the orange bands on the upperside, especially the submarginal one on the hindwing, and 

 the ferruginous strig^e or mottling on the underside practically covering the whole of the 

 hindwin.^ • also the violaceous colour instead of being confined to two bands suffuses the 

 whole outer half of the hindwing. These characters, however, though they enable typical 

 specimens to be distinguished, are very inconstant, and there appears to be every gradation 

 between the narrow-banded form with the underside scantily mottled, to the broad-banded 

 profusely striated form. Neither is the width of the discoidal streak and the marginal Ime 

 distinctive I have given above the localities from whence I have seen typical specimens 

 of N flagiosa, bur from Sikkim, Sylhet, Assam and elsewhere, I have specimens which are 

 quite intermediate between N. hordonia and A^. plagiosa. In Sikkim typical N. plagiosa has 

 been taken in December, and typical N. hordonia and intermediate forms from the spring to the 

 autumn • in Calcutta I have taken typical N. plagiosa in February only ; in Orissa Mr. W. C. 

 Taylor has taken typical N. plagiosa in February and March, Mr. J. L. SherwiU at Hulunguri, 

 Torehat district, Assam, in March, the type specimens also were taken in the cold weather j it 

 appears possible therefore that A', plagiosa may be the winter form only of N. hordonia. 



354. ITeptiS Slnuata, Moore. 

 N. sinuata, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1879. P- 136 ; Rahinda sinuata, id., Lep. Cey., vol. i, p. 56, 

 pi. xxviii, figs. 3, 3« (1881). 



Habitat : Ceylon. 



Expanse: <?, 1-62 to 1-85 ; ?, 1-87 to 2-05 inches. 



Description: "Allied to N. hordonia, Stoll. Differs on the upperside in the bands 

 having deeply sinuated borders. Underside also paler ; the strigse less prominent, and 

 disposed in more blotchy patches." (_Moore, 1. c. in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.) 



In Ceylon N. sinnata is " principally a low country insect, difficult to capture perfect 

 as it always frequents the vicinity of thick thorny Acacias. Found at all times, but mostly 

 in March and April" {Mackivood'). "Western and Central Provinces; commonest in the 

 plains, but found up to 3,000 feet, in forest land, at all times. Shy, flutters about bushes, 

 alighting on the leaves with wings opened" {Hutchison). 



This species is a local race of A', hordonia, very slightly differing from the North Indian 

 form. It may be distinguished by the discoidal streak on the upperside of the forewing being 

 more distinctly bicleft, and the lower margin of the discal band on the upperside of the hind- 

 wing more distinctly sinuous. It is subject to the same variation in the profusion or otherwise 

 of the ferruginous mottling of the underside as is the continental form, the tone of the 

 ferruginous ground-colour below is also very variable. 



The next three species differ in lacking the mottling of ferruginous stride on 

 the underside. 



