FLETCHEE— LEPIDOPTEEA. 319 



Parquhar, Providence, and the Amirante Islands. 



The dispersal of tlie Lepidoptera of these groups calls for little comment, as aU the 

 species appear to have been derived from the African fauna. The only exception is 

 Utetheisa pulchelloides, which, as already noted on page 317, seems to be here a 

 straffsler from the Indo-Australian resrion. 



Seychelles. 



The Synopsis of the Distribution-Table shows a large African element, but a few 

 species have not been found up to the present in the African region. They are : — 

 Utetheisa pulchelloides, Chasniina sericea, Eutelia inext?^icata, Ai^gina astrea, Zizera 

 maha, Nacoleia charesalis and Omphisa anastomosalis. 



Of these TJ. pulchelloides seems to belong properly to the Indo-Australian region, but 

 has been spread, doubtless by cyclones, to Cargados and the Amirantes. It is not known 

 at present from Madagascar, the Mascarenes, or the African mainland. 



Chasmina sericea is eminently the insular representative of its genus, being widely 

 distributed amongst the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its life-history is 

 quite unknown, so tliat it is difficult to hazard a guess as to its means of transport. 



Eutelia inextricata appears to be a truly Indian species, replacing in that region the 

 closely -allied E. delatrix of the African fauna. It is difficult to trace its arrival in the 

 Seychelles, unless it has come direct from India or Ceylon. 



Argina astrea is known from Madagascar and the Mascarenes, but not from the 

 African mainland. Perhaps it has been introduced by man from India. 



Zizera maha is at present a rather doubtful member of the list, being included in the 

 Seychelles fauna on the strength of a single specimen, which I shall not be surprised to 

 find was incorrectly identified. 



The two Pyralids may represent a true Indian element in the Seychelles fauna, but it 

 seems premature to assert it as a fact that they do so, since tlie Pyralidae of Madagascar 

 are very little known ; Saalmiiller's work was left unfinished and the collection which 

 Herr Pagenstecher has lately described seems to have contained very few examples of 

 the smaller moths. 



VI. On the Means op Dispersal op Lepidoptera in the Islands of 



THE Indian Ocean. 



So far as the Lepidoptera are concerned, we have to deal with five possible means of 

 dispersal: — (i.) Prevailing Winds; (ii.) Storms; (iii.) Marine Currents; (iv.) Birds; 

 (v.) Human Agency. 



Prevailing Winds form a great factor in the distribution of many species of 

 Lepidoptera, particularly in the case of islands situated at comparatively short distances 

 (of not more than a iew hundred miles) from the mainland or from one another. It 

 must be remembered that these winds blow constantly and strongly in the same direction 

 for months at a time. 



42* 



