NYMPHALID^. NYMPHALIN^. ABROTA. 1S3 



first branch arising about one-fourth the length of the wing ; second a little beyond it, and 

 before the extremity of the discoidal cell J third branch arising at two-thirds the length of the 

 wing, and extending in a slight curve to the tip ; fourth branch straight, arising half- 

 way between it and the apex, which it reaches just below the tip; the terminal portion of the 

 vein deflexed. Upper disco-cellular nervtde very short, outwardly oblique, arising at one- 

 third from the base of the wing ; 7niddle disco-cellular curved outwards ; Iffwer disco-cellular 

 long, curved outwards, and uniting with the third branch of the median nervure at a little dis- 

 tance beyond its origin, closing the discoidal cell at a little more than one-third the length of 

 the wing. Hindvving, somewhat rounded ; costal margin arched at the base, from thence 

 nearly straight to the apex, wliere it curves slightly downwards ; exterior margin rather longer 

 than the costal, rounded and waved. Prcecostal nervure curved outwards ; costal nervure 

 curved, extending to the apex ; subcostal nervure branching near its base ; upper disco-cellular 

 nervtde arising at a short distance from the base of the subcostal branch ; lozvcr disco-cellular 

 obsolete, so that the (//.fc^/V/rr/ <r^// is open. Forelegs, of the male %\&\\(ltx ; femur scaly in 

 front, beneath clothed with fine long silky hairs ; tibia as long as the femur, clothed with 

 downy hairs ; tarsus two-thirds the length of tibia, conical, covered with uniform hairs. 

 Of iht female scaly ; fe}?mr Wiih. a few silky hairs beneath ; tarsus rather longer than the male, 

 truncated at the tip, where it is finely spined beneath. Middle and hindlegs, moderately 

 long, of equal length ; tibia shorter than the femur, thickly clothed with short scaly hairs, 

 with two rows of short thick spines ; femur thickly scaled ; tarsus as long as the tibia, thickly 

 clothed at the sides and beneath with rows of short spines ; f/(Z7c/j sharp, and much curved." 

 (Moore, 1. c.) 



Abrota is a genus of very small extent, and comprises but two closely-allied if really 

 distinct species, inhabiting a very limited area. The colouration of the males is rich ochreous 

 with black bands, that of the female dark brown with paler ochreous or olive-green bands. 

 In the length of the antennee, and in habits, such as resting with wide out-spread wings 

 on leaves in dense forest, they closely resemble many species of the genus Euthalia, Both 

 species occur in Sikkim from April to July. 



Key to the species of Abrota. 



A. Male with four distinct well-separated black bands on upperside of hindwing ; female with ochreous 



bands above. 



476. A. MiRUS, Sikkim. 



B. Male with three black bands on upperside of hindwing, the middle one partially divided by a lunulate 



ochreous line ; female with olive-green bauds above. 



477. A. JUMNA, Sikkim. 



476. ATsrota miruSj Fabricius. (Plate XXIV, Fig. no, ? only). 



PapiUo tnir-its, Fabricius, Ent. Syst , vol. iii, pt. i, p. 48, n. 146 (1793) ; Abrota tnirits, Butler, Cat. Fab. 

 Lep. B. M., p. 61, n. i (1S69) ; A.ganga, Moore, Horsfield and Moore, Cat. Lep, Mus. E I. C, vol. i, p- 178, 

 n 361, pi. virt, fig. I, mate sxid. female (1857) ; Adolias confinis, Feldei, Wieu, Ent. Monatsch., vol. iii, p. 1S3, 

 n. 7, pl.iv, fig. 2,, female (1859). 



Habitat : Sikkim. 



Expanse : ^ , 3-0 to 3-25 ; ? , 3-6 inches. 



Description : " Male. Upperside ferruginous. Foreioing along upper part of dis- 

 coidal cell, a spot, and disco-cellular mark within it, a broad oblique streak, tapering from 

 middle of costal nervure to middle of lower discoidal nervule, then extending in a zigzag 

 manner to posterior margin near the base, the space between the latter and the median 

 nervure only smeared ; exterior and costal margin, submarginal line, and sineary patches near 

 the apex and lower part of the disc, black. Hindwing with marginal, submarginal, third 

 and fourth inner bands, black. Cilia with small white spots. Underside dull yellow, with 

 duller exterior margins; a distinct dark narrow streak from near apex of forewing to near 

 abdominal margin [of hindwing] ; two indistinct zigzag lines across the disc, and markings 

 about the base of both wings dull ferruginous ; from apex of forewing some white spots. 



