ILERDA. 57 



Genus ILERDA. 



Ilerda, Doubleday. 



1 am glad to adopt this and the genus Ialmenus, which were proposed by Mr. E. 

 Doubleday, if only to relieve the genus Thecla of intruders which do not well accord 

 with its numerous South American species. 



Ilerda has the palpi erect, covered with hair, the terminal joint long and smooth : the 

 antennae composed of long and few joints : the subcostal nervure with three branches. 

 It is nearly allied to Chrysophamts, Ilerda Sena and C. Pavana forming the connecting 

 links. 



Colour, which in some genera seems to be of little worth in the discrimination of 

 species, must be considered the chief guide in this — and, unless we can believe that these 

 things can bespeak a new dress in each generation, varying from a dull pale blue to the 

 metallic sheen of a Morpho, a brilliant glittering green, and a lustre which in /. Brahma 

 rivals Chrysophanus ignitus, a very good one. 



1. Ilerda Tamu. 



d . Polyommatus Tamu, Kollar in Hmjel's Kasckmir, pi. 5. f. 7, 8, p. 417. 



Thecla Tamu, Westwood in Gen. Diurn. Lep. 



Ilerda Tamu, Horsfield $■ Moore, Cat. Lep. E. I. C. Mus. p. 28. 



Var. Ilerda Androcles, Doubleday Sf Heivitson's Gen. Diurn. Lep. pi. 75. f. 2, p. 487. 



Upperside. Female dark brown. Anterior wing with a narrow band of orange at a 

 distance from the apex. Posterior wing with a narrow lunular submarginal band of orange, 

 and under each lunule a line of pale blue. 



Underside like the male. 



In the Collection of W. C. Hewitson, from India. 



2. Ilerda Brahma. 



Ilerda Brahma, Horsfield 4' Moore, Cat. Lep. E. I. C. Mm. pi. la. f. 4, p. 29. 

 In the Collection of W. C. Hewitson, from Northern India. 



