ATHYMA. 



27?, 



extending below the apex ; the terminal portion of the vein rather deflexed. Upper disco-cellular vein almost 

 obliterated, arising from the subcostal at one third of the length of the wing ; middle disco-cellular very 

 short, curved, forming the base of the lower discoidal vein ; lower disco-cellular obsolete in the typical species, 

 the discoidal cell being open. In others it is, however, distinct, although very slender, arising from the 

 extremity of the middle disco-cellular, which is in such species curved obliquely towards the base of the wing, 

 and joining the median vein close to the origin of the third branch. In other species, e.g. L. Vikasi, the 

 middle disco-cellular (owing to the greater length of the basal portion of the median vein) is obliquely directed 

 towards the anal angle of the fore wing, and the outer disco-cellular is emitted much nearer to the middle of 

 the wing, but is nevertheless united to the median vein close to the origin of the third branch. 



Hind Wini/s subtriangular. Costal margin rather rounded. Outer margin rounded, and more strongly scalloped. 

 Precostal vein strongly curved outwards. Costal vein arched, and extending to the outer angle. Subcostal 

 vein branching very near to its base, and also emitting the upper disco-cellular very near to. the base of its 

 branch. Upper disco-cellular forming the base of the discoidal vein. Lower disco-cellular obsolete. 



Fore Legs of the male small, pectoral, hnely hairy. Tibia not so long as the femur. Tarsus rather more than 

 two thirds of the length of the tibia ; Avhen denuded it is cylindrical, simple, cxarticulate, and destitute of 

 claws or spines, as is also the tip of the tibia. Fo)-e Legs of the female rather longer and thicker, scaly. 

 Tarsus with well developed joints ; the first being half the length of the tarsus, without spines at the tip 

 beneath ; second, third, and fourth joints with strong short spines on the under side. 



Four Hind Legs moderately long. Tibia spined beneath ; tibial spurs strong. Tarsi more thickly spined 

 beneath ; the spines arranged in rows. Claws and their appendages of the same form as in the allied genera. 

 Abdomen moderately robust, often party-coloured, especially at the base. 



Larva long, cylindrical, with setose warts at the sides. Head spinose ; each of the second and third 

 segments with two long, erect, sharp, setose spines ; remaining joints with similar spines, but those of the 

 fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth joints are shorter than the intermediate ones. 



Pupa suspended by the tail. Head furcate. Body with a conical protuberance on the dorsal portion of the 

 thorax, and another at the base of the abdomen. 



The insects of wliich I propose to form the present genus seem sufficiently distinct both from Neptis and Limenitis to warrant its 

 adoption. From the former they are distinguished by their larger size, more robust structure, larger and shorter wings, more squamose 

 and obtuse palpi, and especially by the costal vein of the hind wings extending to their outer angle, and the longer tarsi of the fore legs. 

 From Limenitis they are structurally distinguished with much less facility ; the form of the fore wings, however, and the style of their 

 markings, the open discoidal cell in the typical species, and especially the form of the larva, armed along the whole length of its body 

 with erect setose spines (judging from Dr. Horsfield's figures of the transformations of Leucothoe), together with the cxarticulated 

 condition of the anterior tarsi of the males, appear to be their chief points of distinction. Dr. Horsfield, who has generically separated 

 Leucothoe from Neptis as well as from Limenitis, has taken up the Fabrician name of Biblis for this gi'oup. If, however, the 

 Fabrician generic name is to be retained, it ought strictly to be given to the Fabrician typical S])ecies, P. Biblis (Bibfis Tliadana 

 Boisduvul), which consideration has induced me to propose a new name for this group, in allusion to the melancholy style of colouring. 

 Dr. Horsfield, in addition to Leucothoe, has given Procris, as belonging to the same genus ; but that species has so entirely the liabit 

 of Camilla and Sibilla, that I cannot consider it advisable to separate them, especially as it is evident that Dr. Horsfield's views of the 

 position of the two latter species were influenced by the very incorrect figure which he has copied of the larva and pupa of Sibilla. 



The variations in the structure of the eyes and the disco-cellular veins of the fore wings in the species of this genus, as mentioned in 

 the generic description, together with those afforded by the palpi and the markings of the body, will furnish better points of distinction 

 than have hitherto been employed to determine the various species, a task hitherto of great difficulty. In addition to tiiese, it may be 

 mentioned, that the sexes of Athyma Nefte and A. Inara differ considerably in their colouring ; the females being black, with rich orange 

 markings, whilst the male of Nefte has white markings, and that of Inara (figured in our Plate XXXIV. fig. 3.) has the anterior and 

 middle row of markings white, with a purplish tinge. A. Vikasi (which Dr. Horsfield unites with Neptis) is dark brown, with the 

 markings of the ordinary type, but suffused with dusky brown. I have not seen A. Venilia, which may be the male of a species allied 

 to Inara, with the middle pale bar of the wings suftused at the edges with blue scales ; but it is represented by Cramer as having very 

 much rounded wings. 



There are a considerable number of new species in our collections, especially from Northern India, Sylliet, Mussooree, &c. The 

 British Museum is rich in these ; but, as they are undescribed, I have not thought it necessary to swell the list with MS. names, or 

 indications of species without names, which it would be difficult to identify. For the like reason, I have omitted several quite distinct 

 in my own collection from Assam, which I owe to the liberality of IMajor F. Jenkins. 



ATHYMA. 



1. Athyma Leucothoe. 



Papilio Leucothoe Linn. 3Ins. Lud. Ulr. 292., Syst. Nat. 



ed. 12. vol. II. p. 780. n. 17!)-; Fab. Ent. Syat. in. pt. 



1. p. 129. n. 395.; Siilzer, Hist. Ins. t. 18. f. 2, 3.; 



Godart, Enc. M. ix. p. 430. n. 256. (Nymphalis L. 



but not Leucothoe of Cramer). 

 Var. ji. Papilio Hylas * Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 11. p. 486. 

 Papilio Erosine Cramer, Ins. t. 203. f. E. F. 



Najas hilaris Erosine Hiiburr. Saniml. fj-nt Srhm. Band i. 



pi. -. 

 Papilio Polyxena Doniiran, Ins. China, pi. 3.5. f. 3. (1st ed.) 

 Limenitis Leucothoe IVcstwond in Donovan, Ins. China, 



2nd edit. 

 Acca Leucothoe Hiihnrr, Vers. bek. Schniett. p. 44. n. 397. 

 India, China, Java. B.M. 



* There is a strange confusion in the works of Linnicus and Clerck as to PapiHo Hylas, Clerck having figured our Cyrestes Hylas under that name, with a 

 reference to the Linnsean n. 173., which figure Linnseus subsequently quoted as a variety of his P. Leucothoe. 



