70 NEW SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN LEPIDOPTERA. 



Family SATYPJD.E. 

 Melanites Solandra, Fab. 

 Various authors have divided our Queensland types of this 

 variable genus into a large number of species. Butler has 

 sought to re -arrange the nomenclature and tabulate the distribu- 

 tion. The Australian series are named : — 



M. Solandra, Fah. 



M. Banksia, Fah. 



M. phedima, (/ram. 



M. ismene, ('iron. 



M. Helena, West 



M. Leda, Lin. ; and others. 

 As far as I can judge, by observing their habits, relations to each 

 other, and general distribution in wide distant localities, I can 

 only come to the conclusion that there are two distinct species 

 in S. Queensland, and, as far as I have seen, in N. Queensland. 

 If that opinion be confirmed, and no large number of specimens 

 can be arranged as this type or that type, without every inter- 

 mediate variation, all then would appear to be synonyms of M. 

 Solandra, Fab., except the one named M. Leda, Lm. Thus 

 grouped, the species may l)e described as most variable in 

 colouration of browns and reds, but always with the apical third 

 of the hindmargin of the forewings falcate and delicately wavy, 

 and with the inner two-thirds scolloped out one-fifth of the depth 

 of the wing ; in colour the forewings are fuscous towards the 

 base and inner margin, light red or golden brown toward the 

 costa and hind margin, and with a broad band of smoked brown 

 or purple shade along hindmargin ; there is a larger or 

 smaller triangular chocolate patch subtended from centre of 

 costa, and a similar patch, but darker, midway between this and 

 apex ; the black blotch in wing is very conspicuous, and con- 

 tains two milk-white spots, the one nearer the costa being the 

 larger. The hindwings are fuscous, with two minute dots, one 

 often missing, and with a purple fuscous shading toward hind 

 max'gin. The under surface is most variable ; it is grey, light 

 brown, chocolate broAvn, sometimes simply marked by two 

 bands, but oftener by bands and patches, and lines of brown and 

 black, by blotches, broken bars, suffusions, specks as coal-dust, 

 &c. The ocelli are very minute, and so differ from M. Barnardi, 



