( elxviii ) 
plan of scaling that I know as yet among the group; the whole 
of the blue scales are of one pattern and shape in all areas 
ef the wing, the only modification being a very slight one in 
the subcostal region, where a slight narrowing takes place. 
The scales are longish, of moderate width, tapering but slightly 
wider to the apex which is highly and evenly arched; they 
are finely ribbed longitudinally and striated reversely rather 
irregularly : in the plan of these scales they are very simple 
also, there being scarcely any overlap at all transversely, 
the longitudinal overlap being likewise small; under these is 
a solid layer of short, broadish, dull brown scales, with even 
apices scarcely arched at all. The blue scales themselves are 
highly developed, being reticulated in the technical sense, 
but their arrangement is unusually simple, and there is a 
paucity of the upper layer of scales, though the paucity is 
not observable inasmuch as the blue surface appears to the 
unaided eye absolutely solid and even. The same arrange- 
ment obtains in both wings. 
There are no “ blasenschuppen” in this species, this no 
doubt is accounted for by the fact of there not being sufficient 
overlap to render them of any service. 
Another group of brilliant colours called for some investiga- 
tion, viz. those of a lustrous metallic nature as is represented 
by such species as the gorgeous green Arhopala, also by the 
similarly green species of the genus Ruralis and again by 
Heliophorus brahma with its wonderful metallic golden lustre, 
species that de Nicéville stated to be the most brilliant gems 
in the insect world, beside which the brightest and most 
lustrous of the blues were quite dull in comparison. Taking 
first Ruralis duma, a common Indian species, of a brillant 
metallic green colour, I found that the costal cable was very 
narrow and of a light structure, being composed of the type 
of scales common to the genus, a long rather narrow scale 
with sharply serrated apices; these are all warm brown, those 
on the veins are also brown, square in shape with the corners 
rounded off, the apices being waved or very slightly arched 
in many cases; these are bronzy brown and both under direct 
and transmitted light they retain much of their bronzy hue; 
this is however quite different to the metallic colour of the 
