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V. Comparative notes on Chilades galba, Led., and phiala, 
Gr. Gr. By G. T. Beruune-Baker, F.LS., F.Z.S. 
[Read December 4th, 1912.] 
PLATE V. 
THE specific distinction of Chilades galba has always been 
more or less obscure in our collections, and it is only since 
the Elwes collection has been incorporated at South 
Kensington that its definite position has been made possible. 
Lederer described the species in 1855 (Z. b. V., 1855, p. 190, 
taf. 1, fig. 4) from Beirut, and he also stated that Kotschy 
obtained it at Senaar. He then compared the underside 
with trochilus, though the upperside was blue. Phiala was 
described in 1890 (“ Romanofi’s Memoires,” IV, p. 366, 
t. 21, f. 4) by Groum-Grshimailo from Kabadian, who 
stated that it was very close to galba. The figure given 
in those Memoires is not very accurate, the lighter spots 
being decidedly too dark. 
In examining these specimens the first question that 
arose was their generic position; they certainly had nothing 
to do with lysimon, with which I found galba mixed up, 
and they appeared to be more nearly related to trochilus 
than to anything else, though probably to be distinct 
from the genus containing that species. The only way 
to solve the difficulty was to examine the genitalia. Per- 
mission having been obtained for this to be done, it soon 
became evident that the two species before us occupied a 
peculiar position. The clasps are nearest to Lycaena 
charybdis and are very similar to those of that species; 
from this character its natural position would therefore be 
in the arion section in its broad sense, but the tegumen is 
quite Plebeid, being highly bifid and is extremely close to 
Chilades lavus in its structure; the falces (hooks), however, 
are not quite typical of the genus Plebeius, whilst the 
aedoeagus is also very closely allied to Chilades laius. 
It appeared to me evident at first that a new genus 
should be raised for the two species we are considering, 
but as I cannot find any structural character apart from 
the genitalia I am rather unwillingly constrained to place 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1913.—PaRTI. (JUNE) 
