268 PEECY SLADEN TEUST EXPEDITION. 



similar to that seen in pulehelloides, except for the absence or obsolescence of the black 

 costal spot just before | of the fore wing. 



Marie Louise I. — A single worn specimen, collected in Marie Louise Island by 

 Mr. Dupont. 



Distribution. — Farquhar I. ; Providence Group ; Marie Louise I. (Amirantes) ; 

 Assumption; Gloriosa; Aldabra. 



It is interesting to note the extraordinary range of variation in the markings of this 

 species. We have : — - 



(a) The type-form lactea, in which the wing is pale creamy-white and practically 



unspotted. 



(b) A black-spotted form, in which the black markings of the usual JJtetkeisa-patteTn 



are developed, but no red markings. This form seems to be predominant in 

 South Providence, and may be distinguished as var. nigrosignata, var. n. 



((?) A red-spotted form or subspecies, in which the scarlet spots of the fore wing are 

 strongly developed, the black spots being more or less obsolete. This form, 

 which may be distinguished as rubrosignata, var. n., occurs rather sparingly 

 with the type in Farquhar and South Providence, but is still more strongly 

 marked in Gloriosa and Assumption, where it appears to quite replace the 

 typical lactea form. 



{d) Examples from Aldabra in which both the red and black markings are strongly 

 developed so as to give a superficial resemblance to Z7. pulehelloides, from which, 

 however, this form is easily distinguishable by (i) the presence of a white patch 

 in the black border at anterior angle of hind wing; (ii) the absence of any 

 discoidal spot on hind wing ; (iii) the unspotted cilia of fore wing. This form 

 has hitherto only been found in Aldabra and I therefore name it aldabrensis, 

 subsp. nov. 



2. TJtetheisa pulehelloides, Hmpsn. 



Utetheisa pulehelloides, Hampson, A. M. N. H. (7) xix. (1907) p. .239. 



Chagos. — Forty-three specimens from Salomon (He du Sel, He de la Passe, He 

 Anglaise), Peros Banhos (He Diamant [type]. He du Coin), and Diego Garcia. Found 

 abundantly in all the Atolls. 



In a few specimens, particularly those from He Anglaise, the black spots on the fore 

 wing coalesce and form incomplete transverse bands ; this tendency is very strongly 

 marked in examples from the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands in the National 

 Collection. In one specimen from Diego Garcia the black spots have combined to form 

 a longitudinal striga. 



The females seem to be more active on the wing than the males, and start up more 

 readily as one approaches the bushes on which they are resting. At Diego Garcia on 

 12 June some specimens of this species were so active on the wing in the extremely 

 hot midday sun that at first sight they appeared to be small Pierid butterflies. 



The larvae (Plate 17. fig. 16) were found feeding on the leaves of Tournefortia 

 argentea. 



