from the Solomon Islands. 241 



2. Ctimene excellens, sp. n. 



Apparently intermediate between C. xanthomelas and G. 

 aurinata : primaries with the basal two fifths, excepting the 

 extreme base and costa, which are black, bright cadmium- 

 yellow, separated by a broad, oblique, black belt from an 

 irregular, cadmium-yellow, discal belt (shaped like an eagle's 

 head, with the beak pointing downwards) ; outer border 

 black : secondaries bright cadmium -yellow, with rather broad, 

 black, external border, widest towards costa ; the costa grey 

 from apex to middle, but divided by a yellow spot at the 

 margin of the outer border and united to a black subcostal 

 spot in the cell. Body black ; an ochreous stripe commencing 

 on each side of the collar, encircling the neck below and con- 

 tinued down the anterior coxee ; the palpi of the same colour ; 

 the under surface of the anterior tibise pale buff. Expanse 

 of wings 36 millim. 



Ulaua and Tyoh, Malayta. 



There can be little doubt that this and the species referred 

 to above are strictly congeneric with Boisduval's type of the 

 genus, but they do not correspond with the characters laid 

 down by Mr. Meyrick for the recognition of the genus. This, 

 then, is the proper place to express my strong disapprobation 

 of the plan adopted by that author when characterizing genera 

 of the Australian region, viz. to identify a similarly shaped 

 or coloured Australian species with description or figure and 

 to characterize the genus from it instead of from the type. 

 In a case like the present it is probable that the typical 

 species could not be obtained ; but in the case of Sjnlosoma 

 and many other genera incorrectly characterized by Mr. 

 Meyrick from Australian species no such excuse exists j I hold 

 that in all such cases considerable hindrance, instead of assist- 

 ance, is offered to the advancement of knowledge. 



Uraniidse. 



3. Lyssidia mutata^ sp. n. 



Allied to X. patrochis and L. Goldiei ; colours the same ; 

 wings crossed by a rather narrow white band, slightly wider 

 than the pale brownish band of L. patroclusj but placed 

 further from the outer margin, and the band of primaries 

 decidedly more oblique than in L. patroclus-, primaries of 

 male above slightly purplish ; other characters variable, as in 

 the allied species. Expanse of wings, (J 149 millim., ? 144. 



Alu. 



