1862.] MR. W. C. HEWITSON ON NEW BUTTERFLIES. 87 
in fact, more like Mal. inornata of the Vera Paz, from which, how- 
ever, it appears likewise distinguishable on comparison, the latter 
having a rufescent tail, the breast of a less decided fulvous, and the 
fulvous colour more equably distributed over the lower surface. 
2. Descriprions or BuTTERFLIES FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF 
A. R.Watuace ano W.C. Hewitson. By W.C. Hewitson. 
(Plates IX., X.) 
NYMPHALID. 
Mynes tevcis, Boisduval. (Pl. IX.) 
This species was first described by Dr. Boisduval, in the ‘ Voyage 
of the Astrolabe,’ under the name it bears above. It was also de- 
scribed by Guérin Méneville, in the ‘ Voyage of the Coquille,’ under 
the same name, but is figured in the plates which accompany the 
work as Nymphalis australis. The figure there given is a very good 
one ; but as it only represents the upper side, I have thought that a 
figure of its remarkable under side, together with some of the strange 
varieties into which it runs, from the rich collection of Mr. Wallace, 
' may be of interest to those who make the Lepidoptera their study. 
Greatly as the varieties of this insect differ above, they bear a 
much closer resemblance to each other on the under side, and do not 
wander very far from the accompanying figure. 
The examples figured in the plate are all females. A male in my 
own collection, from Mysol, is entirely black, with the exception of 
the central spot of the posterior wing. I have described below all 
the varieties which I have with me, for the whole of which we are 
indebted to Mr. Wallace. They were all collected in the New 
Guinea group of islands. I have indicated each variety by a sepa- 
rate letter, following the good example of Dr. Boisduval in his 
‘Spécies Général,’ not being myself able to see that any good what- 
ever can arise from the modern custom of giving names to varieties 
and thus elevating them to the same importance as the typical species, 
from which they are sometimes scarcely to be known. On the con- 
trary, I believe that it will produce great and endless confusion. 
Var. A. ¢. Anterior wing black, spotless. Posterior wing black, 
with a large central bifid white spot, and two smaller spots between 
it and the inner margin bordered with grey. 
Hab. Mysol. 
Var. B. 2 (Pl. IX. fig. 1). Anterior wing black, with a spot 
near the middle of the costal margin, two spots beyond the middle 
of the wing, and a submarginal band of eight spots all white. Poste- 
rior wing with the central spot quinquefid. 
Hab. Dorey. 
Var. C (Voyage Coquille, pl. 14 is). Anterior wing black, with a 
small spot near the middle of the costal margin, followed by two 
