182 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIV. 



No, XXXI.— ON THE NEW SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES 

 RECENTLY DESCRIBED BY Mr. A. G. BUTLER 



Mr. Butler in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Vol. 7, No. 39, 

 has separated the Ceylon species of Iraota from the Indian and has bestowed 

 on it the name /. Nicerillei. He writes, " Iraota moecenas. Moore, Lep. 

 Ceylon, Vol. l.p. 102, pi. XL. figs. 2, 2a $, 1880-81. This species differs from 

 the true I, mcecenas (dry phase of /, timoleon) in the much more restricted 

 and metallic morpho like colouring of the patches of colour on the upper sur- 

 face. According to Moore these patches are metallic blue ; but it would be 

 more correct to call them green, as it is difficult to get them so placed as to 

 eliminate all yellow from the blue ; and when facing the light, the colouring is 

 glittering metallic green. On the under surface the differences are not strik- 

 ing between the two species, but the white discoidal markings are less silvery 

 in the Ceylonese insect and the discal white lunules on the primaries are 

 reversed, their concavities being directed towards the base instead of the 

 outer margin. Our examples, which are females, differ from the rich purple 

 females of timoleon in their longer secondaries and with more slender tails ; 

 indeed in their general aspect they more nearly resemble the male than the 

 female of /. timoleon." 



This insect was apparently described from specimens in Mr. Mackwood's 

 collection. 



In a small collection of the rarer Ceylon butterflies collected by Mr. Pole and 

 now in the Colombo Museum, I was interested to note two specimens of Iraota 

 and made the following notes on them. Both specimens are males. The first 

 specimen has the patch on the primaries brilliant metallic green in all lights. 

 Two small white markings on the disc beneath the lower one the larger 

 almost square, the upper consists of a few white scales. The white marking 

 on the costa touches the discoidal spot. 



The other specimen is a deep mettallic blue in nearly all lights sometimes 

 with a purplish tinge. The markings on the under-surf ace more distinct, the 

 lower and larger somewhat triangular with the base downwards, and almost 

 touching the upper one which is similar to the other specimen. The white 

 costal markings are much reduced and scarcely touch the discoidal spot. 

 These two specimens come from the Hambantotte district in the South of the 

 Island, Mr. Butler would , I presume, describe these specimens as /, Nictvillei $ 

 but it will be seen how much they differ from each other, both the upper and 

 under-siirfaces presenting many points of difference, I think before the 

 Ceylon insect receives specific rank, something more should be known about it. 



In the same number of the Annals Mr, Bulter describes Spindasis minima 

 sp. n. He states that it is probably nearest to Ulncina, a species so far as 

 I know that does not occur in Ceylon. But he goes on to say that it is 

 very distinct from all known species. He further says that the general 

 disposition of the markings of the under-surface is that^^of S, fusca. The 



