114 BUTTERFLIES, 



coloured. The Li/cccnidce or " blues " are represented by no less than 

 125 species, many of them of surpassing beauty. The males of three 

 common species of llerda are beautifully marked with changeable 

 metallic hues on the upperside of the forewing: cpicles with violet, 

 androcles with green, and hralima with golden-bronze. They are all 

 abundant at elevations varying from 3 — 9,000 feet, and are an inch 

 and-a-half or less across. Others are blue of many shades, and many 

 have long slender tails. The male of Zcplvjrus duma, which is found 

 from 7,000 feet upwards, is altogether of a brilliant gold-green on 

 the upperside, but the female is a dowdy brown. The periodical 

 occurrences of many of the "blues," and also of some of the other 

 butterflies, is perplexing; one year a species may be in the greatest 

 abundance everywhere, and then for several years be very scarce with- 

 out any apparent cause. Other genera, comprising large or remarkable 

 species, are Danais, Euploea, Zophoessa^ Elymnias, Melanitis, Discophora, 

 Enispe, Cethosia, Cijnthia, Ilelcyra, Sephisa, Apatura, Jimonia, NejMs, 

 Siibocfiioiia, IlijpoUmnas, Argijnnis, Lmenitis, Athi/ma, Eutkalia, Vanessa, 

 Vyrestis, Charaxes, Dodona, Abisara, etc. 



Moths. 



The moths are not yet so well known as the butterflies, notwith- 

 standing they are the more interesting race from an economic point 

 of view. Sikhim is exceptionally rich in species. Already about 1,500 

 have been classified, but many are still undescribed, and probably their 

 number will ultimately be foimd to exceed 2,000. The majority of 

 the Sikhim moths are rather small in size, but several are among the 

 largest of the insect race. The largest of them all is the Atlas-moth 

 [Aitaciis atlas), which is sometimes nearly a foot aci'oss. Its caterpil- 

 lars feed on many kinds of leaves, but those of the sal tree are their 

 favourite food. Next in size come several species of the genus Actias, 

 of which selene is the most common. It is of a pale green colour with 

 a pinkish spot partly edged with a black crescent on each wing, and 

 has long slender tails. It measures about eight inches across the 

 forewings, and nearly as much from the shoulder to the tip of the 

 tail. Several species spin tussur-like silk cocoons, but as yet none 

 have been procured in sufficient quantity to enable their commercial 

 value to be tested. They are well worth enquiring into, however, and 

 may yet prove a source of income to the inliabitants. The more pro- 

 mising species appear to be one or two species of Ant/ie?'cea vfhich yield, 

 to the non-professional eye, a thread of excellent quality and colour, 

 and in considei'able abundance. Their caterpillars feed on oaks and 

 Engelhardtia spicata (mahwa of the Nepalese), a common tree of a wide 

 range, being found from the bottoms of the lower valleys up to 5,000 



