MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 153 
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Norse spy Mr. pE NICEVILLE. 
Argynnis nizhe in its various forms is one of the most interesting of 
butterflies. Of all the species of the genus it has the widest geographical 
range—from Abyssinia, throughout Southern Asia, to Australia. A more exact 
list of localities where it is found may be of interest. 
Africa—A byssinia. 
Continental Asia—Throughout the Himalayas, Assam, Shan States, Northern 
Burma, Punjab (Campbellpore and Rawal Pindi), North-Western 
Provinces (Agra), Oudh, Western Bengal (Bankipore and Durbungha), 
throughout Southern India (Bombay, Nilgiri and Pulni Hills, Trichino- 
poly, Travancore), China (Omei-shan, Wa-shan, Moupin, Chia- -kou-ho, 
Chia-ting-fu, Chang-yang, Ichang, Ningpo). 
Ceylon. 
Sumatra. 
Java. 
Formosa. 
Japan. 
Australia—Hunter River, Nerang River, Moreton Bay. 
‘Mr. H. J. Elwes remarks that, except Argynnis hanningtoni, Elwes, from 
Central Africa, A. niphe is the only species inthe whole genus which has a 
tropical habitat. It may also be noted that though it appears to thrive in the 
tropics, itis equally happy in temperate climates, where at one stage of its 
existence, at any rate, it is annually exposed to severe frosts and snow. 
Another most interesting feature is the fact of the great divergence usually 
found in the coloration and markings of the opposite sexes. The male is not 
strikingly different from other species of the genus Argynnis, but the female 
with the apical half of the forewing on the upperside deep purple crossed by 
a broad white band is an entirely unique animal. There is no doubt that this 
distinctive type of coloration has been acquired by the female as a protection 
against its enemies, as, on the wing, that sex passes very well for a Danais 
(Limnas) chrysippus, Linnzus, which is a highly protected butterfly. In Java 
the female has assumed a slightly different dress, the ground-color of the 
upperside being considerably deeper and richer than the Indian form, the 
butterfly mimicking Danais (Limnas) bataviana, Moore, which is a dark red 
geographical race of D. chrysippus. This geographical race of A. niphe has 
been named javanica by Monsieur C. Oberthiir.* 
But the most wonderful feature of all with regard to A. niphe is the 
occurrence in South India (Trichinopoly and the high range of bills in 
Travancore) and in Australia (Hunter and Nerang Rivers and Moreton Bay) 
of two geographical races which have females, to all intents and purposes, 
similar to their respective males, the distinctive purple ground and white band 
* Bull. Soc, Ent. France, sixth series, vol. ix, p. ccxxxv (1889), 
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