Lepidoptera of Sikkim. 337 
Though I hesitate to give a new name to a form of so 
difficult and variable a genus as Melitea, yet, if all the 
insects from Ladak are as different from those found in 
the Hastern Himalaya as the typical specimen described 
by Moore, one of which is in my collection, I should 
consider it necessary to separate them. 
Though I have not seen Felder’s type, which came 
from the same region as sindwra, I have little doubt that 
it is identical ; but this Ladak form is so much lighter 
than any of the specimens which I have received through 
native collectors from the frontier of Sikkim and Chumbi 
that it can be distinguished at a glance. 
The Sikkim form, however, is very variable, and, as 
the range of the insect doubtless extends all along the 
north of Nepal to Ladak, it is probable that whatever 
differences are perceptible between specimens from the 
extreme localities would be bridged over by intermediate 
varieties. 
Of twelve males and eight females in my collection, 
the average are about the same size, and not unlike 
M. aurelia of Kurope; but the males are redder in tint, 
and in both sexes the dark markings are much heavier 
both on the margins and inner part of the wings. 
The silvery markings of the under side distinguish the 
species from any other ; the colour and breadth of the 
submarginal fulvous band on the hind wings below is 
very variable, but the pattern is similar to that of 
sindura. J have found all attempts to describe nearly- 
allied species of Melitzeas in words useless, so have given 
an exact figure of the insect. 
Though I cannot give its exact habitat, it is certainly 
at a high elevation in the interior of Kastern Sikkim or 
Western Bhotan. Melitea Jezabel, Oberthur, resembles 
it closely on the upper side, but the under side of that 
insect is more like that of typical specimens of sindura 
from Ladak. 
108. Atella sinha. 
T'emios sinha, Koll., Hugel’s Kash., p. 488 (1848); 
Putt Ind. H., p--20,'t. xx., De. 87, Be 
Not common in Sikkim, where, however, it occurs at 
2—3000 ft. between May and October. In the Khasias 
it is found up to 5000 ft. in open grassy places. 
