NYMPHALID/E. NYMPHALIN^. NEPTIS. 91 



This is a very distinct and well-marked species. The apex of the forewing is much 

 more rounded than in N. vikasi, and all the markings more distinct, broader and more 

 macular. It is very distinct from all the other species of this group, the wings being shorter 

 and broader, and the outline more evenly convex. It more nearly resembles the N. varmona 

 group in general aspect, but the markings of the upperside being fuliginous, and the discoidal 

 streak uninterrupted readily distinguish it. The type specimen from Moulmein is in the 

 Indian Museum, Calcutta, taken by Major C. H. E. Adamson j and Dr. Anderson took a 

 pair in the Mergui archipelago during the cold weather. 



The next three species are the darkest of all, the bands being very narrow and 

 fuliginous or brown not white. On the underside A', vikasi and N. harita have only a very 

 faint trace of violet, and the markings correspond in general style with those of N. cartica. 

 N. anjana has all the bands violet, and is as distinct in its markings from its allies as N. radha 

 is among the species with orange bands. 



374. NeptiS vikasi, Horsfield. 



N. vikasi, Horsfield, Cat. Lep. E. I. C, pi. v, figs. 2, aa (1829) ; id., Horsfield and Moore, Cat. Lep. Mus. 

 E. I. C, vol. i, p. 165, n. 340 (1857) ; id., Distant, Rhop. Malay., p. 152, n. 5, pi. xvi, fig. i2,/e»Mle (1883). 



Habitat : Sikkim, Cachar, Assam, Mergui, Malay Peninsula, Java, Borneo, Celebes. 



Expanse : 2'25 to 2-80 inches. 



Description: "Male and female. Upperside dark shining fuliginous-brown, with 

 paler and darker markings. Fornaing with the following very pale fuliginous markings : — 

 a long basal cellular [discoidal] streak about reaching the lower discoidal nervule [distinctly in- 

 dented at the end of the cell by a pair of five black lines enclosing a pale space], beyond which 

 the wing is crossed by a strongly curved series of spots, [a highly irregular narrow line follow- 

 ing the outer margin of the curved discal series of spots] and two almost straight submarginal 

 fascias, which are denoted and separated by two very dark fuscous and abruptly sinuated 

 narrow fasciae, the outer margin with a distinctly darker patch near apex and about middle. 

 Hindwing with an almost straight, transverse, and very pale fuliginous fascia near base, followed 

 shortly beyond by a narrow and obscurely paler linear fascia, and a very dark fuscous macular 

 fascia crossing middle of wing ; a submarginal series of very dark fuscous spots placed 

 between the nervules, preceded and followed by pale fuliginous, the outer margin being 

 broadly fuscous and very obscurely spotted. Underside very much paler, marked generally as 

 above, but the pale markings nearly white, and the spots on the outer margins of both wings 

 very distinct. Body and legs more or less concolourous with wings." {Distanl, 1. c.) The 

 FEMALE is larger, has the wings broader, and the apex of the forewing less produced than in 

 the male, the outer margin of the forewing also is not emarginate. 



A. vikasi is not uncommon throughout the warmer months in Sikkim. Mr. Wood-Mason 

 took it in Cachar in July and August, and Dr. Anderson at Mergui during the cold weather. It 

 is a very distinct and well-marked species, 



Mr. Moore has described a species of NepHs from Penang which Mr. Distant places as 

 a variety of A^. vikasi with the following remark :— " I cannot, however, believe that Penang 

 possesses a different species to the widely ranging one [TV. vikasi] found in Province Wellesley ; 

 and a drawing of N. omeroda kindly made for me by Professor Westwood has, in my mind, 

 confirmed this view." (Rhop. Malay., p. 153). Mr. Moore's original description of N. omeroda 

 is appended below.* 



* Nefitis omeroda, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1874, p. 571. Habitat : Penang. Expanse : 1-37 

 inches Description : " Allied to N. vikasi, but is a much blacker insect both above and below. Upperside 

 blackish glossed with greenish olive-brown ; banded with olive-brown, as in N. vikasi. Forewing, upper portion 

 of transverse discal series of spots oval, lower portion rounded. Underside black, palest externally, with a 

 glaucous gloss ; veins brown ; discoidal streak, lower portion of transverse discal series of spots ol Jorewing, 

 and inner band of kindxmn^ pale fuliginous ; the subapical spots and outer bands ^ greyish white, the scales OU 

 the latter being raised or depressed, and thus having the appearance of short strigw." {Moore, 1. c.) 



