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XVI. Notes on Eastern Butterflies {continued). By 

 Alfred R. Wallace, F.Z.S., V.-P. Eut. Soc, &c. 



[Read 3rd May, 1869.] 



Genus Diadema. 



In Doubleday, Westwood, and He^vitson's Genera of 

 Diurnal Lepidoptera this genus included six or seven 

 others, which were most of them characterized and 

 named as subgenera, or sections. These are now 

 generally considered as distinct genera, since they offer 

 remarkable structural differences, and mostly inhabit 

 distinct geographical regions. The genus thus restricted 

 will contain eighteen species, only two of which do not 

 inhabit the Malay Archipelago. One of these, Diadema 

 Salmacis, is found in Africa, and a beautiful new one, 

 apparently allied to it [Diadema Dexithea) has been de- 

 scribed by Mr. Hewitson, from Madagascar. Two of 

 the commonest species, Diadema Bolina, L. {Auije, Cr.) 

 and D, Misippus, L. [Bolina, Cr.), have an immense 

 range, from Australia and the Pacific to India and Africa, 

 but no other species of the restricted genus is found in 

 continental India, and all but two are inhabitants of the 

 Austro-Malayan region, which we may therefore look 

 upon as the probable birth-place of the group, as indi- 

 cated by the following table : — 



It is remarkable that the African D. Salmacis should 

 most resemble in its colouration and general appearance 

 a species inhabiting Celebes, D. Diomea ; one of the little 

 group of facts which point to some unknown mode of 

 connection in former times between these remote por- 

 tions of the earth. 



trans, ent. soc. 1869. — part iv. (august) . 



