NYCTALEMONIN^E. 53 



may be only a seasonal form of the well-known C. madagas- 

 cariensis. 



There has been much difference of opinion respecting the 

 tailless insect with the head of a Butterfly, originally figured by 

 Drury under the name of Papilio rhipheus, and said to come 

 from China. It is usually regarded as a broken specimen of 

 C. madagascariensis, or an allied form, with the head of one 

 of the Equitidce attached ; but as we now know that at least 

 some species of the latter Family mimic species of Alcidis^ Hiib- 

 ner (Moths belonging to the Sub-family Nyctakmonina, which 

 are closely allied to the Cydimonina\ it does not appear to be 

 quite impossible that an anomalous Butterfly agreeing with 

 Drury's figure may yet be discovered. 



SUB-FAMILY II. NYCTALEMONIN^. 



Egg. Not described. 



Larva. With sixteen legs, not hairy, but with short, conical 

 tubercles on each segment, bearing short bristles. 



Pupa. On the ground, among leaves. 



Imago. Of large size, and with broad wings, the hind-wings 

 dentated and tailed, the longest tail traversed by the upper 

 median nervule. Flight diurnal. 



There are but two genera of this Family, one, Alcidis^ 

 Hiibner, confined to the Moluccan Islands from Amboina to 

 Australia,* while the other, Nydalemon, Dal man, has a wider 

 extension, from India and China to Australia. The species of 

 Alcidis are blue-black Moths measuring four inches across the 

 fore-wings, which are crossed by two green bands, the inner- 

 most broadest the hind-wings have one broad central band, 



* The alleged occurrence of A. zodiaca, Butler, in China must be con- 

 sidered very doubtful. 



