n6 



PLASTINGIA. 



a vein, the lower longest ; one large oblique cellular one of hour-glass 

 shape ; and three discal ones in echelon, of which one is very large, occupy- 

 ing the entire breadth of the lower median space, irregularly pentagonal, 

 twice as long as broad, separated from the cell-spot only by the black 

 median vein ; the other two smaller, elongate, broadest outwardly. Also with 

 the following opaque markings : one above the cell and one in the interno- 

 'median space, extending obliquely from the internal vein, not far from the 

 base, to the lower median vein, which separates it from the basal part of 

 the larger discal spot. Hindwing with a large irregular ochreous patch in 

 the disc just beyond the cell, consisting of two translucent areas joined by 

 the opaque orange-ochreous base of the upper median space, the outer one 

 larger, obliquely quadrate, between the lower subcostal and upper median 

 branches, the other occupying the basal part of the lower median space. 

 Below blackish, tne veins, except near the abdominal margin of both 

 wings, widely bordered with reddish-ochreous. Fore-wing with the rufous 

 costal area extending over the upper part of the cell ; that in the interno- 

 median space much larger and paler than above. Hindwing with a 

 number of lustrous lilac markings in the black spaces between the reddish 

 nerve-rays, namely, two in the cell, the basal one elongate, one at the base 

 of the costa, elongate, two in the upper subcostal space, the outer one 

 elongate, one in the lower subcostal space, quadrate, and three in the 

 median and submedian spaces, in a line receding from the border. Cilia 

 cinereous. 



One male, Margherita, and a similar one, Sadiya. 



The species is a local form (differing in the large subapical spots, the 

 absence of the outer-fourth discal spot, the undivided cell-spot separated 

 from the interno-median one, and in the ochreous patch of the hindwing 

 consisting of two hyaline and one opaque space and confined to the disc) 

 of another found in the three Indo-Malayan islands, the Malayan Peninsula, 

 and Mergui, but everywhere rare. The Javanese form (callineura) seems, 

 judging by my specimens, to differ but slightly. The single, very worn 

 Mergui specimen, taken by Dr. Anderson, has been identified by Mr. Moore 

 as Plastingia latoia, Hewitson. But that species (and P. callineura, Felder, 

 which is regarded as conspecific with it) has been described and figured by 

 Hewitson, Felder and Distant with ochreous submarginal spots on the 

 hindwing below, no blue ones being mentioned. In any case the above 

 mentioned characters separate my species as a distinct local form. 



The egg of several species of Plastingia examined by me, generally 

 resembles that of Suastns. But like those of Hesperia satwa, de Niceville, 

 and the species of Cttpitha, though in a lesser degree, it possesses a large 

 crown-like mass of white cells apically, surrounding the micropyles, as 

 delicate in structure as the finest lace. They are the most beautiful 

 butterfly-eggs known to me." (Dohcrty, L c.) 



