96 



Varieties. — The wing-markings are extremely variable. The 

 sexes are usually easily distinguishable, the males being broader- 

 winged, with smaller and more widely separate spots ; in the 

 females the spots are usually larger, more closely approximated 

 (rarely tending to coalesce), and ^supernumerary spots are often 

 present. 



To enter into details — The fourth spot is sometimes 

 surmounted by a small extra spot. The connecting spot between 

 fourth and fifth may be entirely absent, or rudimentary, or well- 

 developed, about half-length or less of upper segment of fifth spot. 

 A small spot resting on second spot is rarely present in the male, 

 frequently in the female. Very rarely first and third spots are 

 partially confluent (one specimen). In hindwings distal spot 

 may be small (especially in males), with upper segment small or 

 absent, or large (especially in females), with upper segment well 

 developed. In the abdomen the orange on the dorsal surface of 

 penultimate and ante-penultimate segments may be reduced to 

 small central dots. Beneath the two ante-apical segments may 

 have the orange fairly well-marked, reduced to a few scattered 

 scales or absent. The anal tuft is always orange. 



After careful comparison with the types in the Macleay and 

 Australian Museums, I believe that all Meyrick's names given 

 above are synomyms for one variable species. All the forms 

 occur commonly about Brisbane. At the same time I would 

 freely acknowledge, that if my material had been restricted to 

 Mr. Meyrick's types, T should have regarded them as separate 

 species as he has done. 



With regard to Syntomis aperta, Walk., I have felt consider- 

 able difficulty. Walker's description of the wings I cannot 

 understand, but he says " scutellum" is yellow, which is suggestive 

 of this species. Meyrick describes the thorax as black, but this, 

 I believe, after examining them, to have been due to his types 

 being rubbed. That in Dr. Lucas' collection has a conspicuous 

 posterior yellow spot. Mr Meyrick describes the antennae as 

 white at apex, but I cannot help regarding this as an error. 

 Careful inspection of the types named by him aperta in the 

 Macleay, Australian Museum, and Lucas' collections shows no 

 more than a doubtful paleness of the terminal joint in one 

 instance, due to loss of scales. These types appear to me to be 

 certainly referable to the common Brisbane species. 



If my conclusions be correct, the species has a wide range from 

 the extreme north of Queensland to South Australia. It is very 

 common in the neighbourhood of Brisbane. Mr. R. Illidge finds 

 the larvcie in his garden feeding on various weeds and deca3^ing 

 leaves and fruit they are densely clothed with brown hairs. 



