^ ( xcii ) 



The resemblance between the Pierine Huphina abnormis 

 and a form of the Nyniphaline genus Mynes was remarked by- 

 Wallace more than fifty years ago ; and in later times an 

 even closer likeness has been found to exist between the 

 Huphina and one or more species of the Pierine genus Delias. 

 The superficial resemblance is so great as to have misled good 

 lepidopterists as to the actual affinities of these forms; and 

 great confusion has prevailed with regard to their relative 

 position in a systematic series. The mistakes thus started 

 have not been confined to the species originally concerned, but 

 have extended to other forms of a more or less similar aspect. 

 On the evidence of neuration, scent-scales and genitalia, 

 there is no doubt that Wallace's abnormis is neither a Tachyris 

 nor a Delias. The same is true of Honrath's euryxaniha, 

 wliich may possibly be conspecific with abnonnis. The affinity 

 of these two Pierine forms, as was first recognised by von 

 Mitis, is with Moore's genus Huphina, of which they may be 

 considered to form a subordinate section, characterised by 

 slight peculiarities of structure. The same combination of 

 black and scarlet as in H. abnormis is presented by the 

 underside of the male of Delias irma, Fruhst. ; though here, 

 there being no white fore-wing area, the resemblance to D. 

 ornytion and H. abnormis applies only to the attitude of the 

 latter forms during complete rest. There is no scarlet sub- 

 marginal series in D. irma, nor in D. ornytion from Western 

 New Guinea; but as the range of D. irma does not appear 

 to extend to the latter region, no particular significance can 

 be attached to this fact. 



While H. abnormis thus approaches the aspect of one group 

 of Delias, the closely allied, or, as^some think, conspecific 

 H. euryxantha bears considerable resemblance to another; 

 viz. the group formed by Delias mysis, Fabr., and its near 

 allies, particularly the New Guinea subspecies D. lara, Boisd. 

 With regard to Mynes doryca, Butl., it is observable that the 

 scarlet mark on the fore-wing corresponds roughly with that 

 on the hind-wing of H. abnormis, and vice versa. 



The resemblance between these forms extends in many 

 cases to the upper as well as to the under surface; though 

 here it is naturally less striking, being merely a common 



