1895,] Mtt. H. a. DBUCE ON BOEKBAN LTC^NID^. 607 



down the middle and having much the appearance of a grain of 

 wheat inverted ; at the upper (basal) end of this patch is, attached 

 to the membrane of the wing, a tuft of long pale brown hairs 

 which can apparently stand erect, he flat over the patch, or be so 

 enclosed by the two halves of the patch as to be visible only at 

 the base. The submedian nervure is much affected by the patch 

 and is bent towards the inner margin where it passes it. 



Type, SitJwn scopula, Druce. 



This remarkable genus is, so far as I can ascertain, monotypic, 

 and with Thrix, Doherty ', presents the pecuharity of having the 

 glandular patch as well ass the tuft of hairs on the fore wing on 

 the upperside. The scaly patch is very curious and causes a 

 considerable erection on the underside. It seems possible that 

 the insect has the power of sheathing the long tuft of hairs, at 

 any rate I have before me specimens which show it individually 

 in the three positions described above. I notice also that all 

 around the patch the scales are rubbed away as if from the 

 continued friction caused by the whisking of these hairs. It is a 

 very interesting insect, and when some one is able to observe it in 

 nature we shall doubtless learn more of its peculiarities. 



• VlEGAEINA SCOPULA. 



SitJion scopula, Druce, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 353, pi. xxxiii. fig. 2. 

 S . Upperside — fore wing rich purplish brown, with all the 

 margins lighter, the outer margin being more broadly so. Hind 

 wing : upper half, including apex, dark brown ; lower half light 

 cseruleau blue, sprinkled with whitish towards the anal angle. A 

 series of three indistinct whitish spots in the interspaces, two 

 between the median nervules and one between the submedian ner- 

 vure and the 1st median nervule, and crowning these whitish spots 

 are three indistinct small patches of scattered black scales. Lobe 

 but slightly developed, white, with a marginal black spot on its 

 upper edge. Cilia of fore wing brown ; of hind wing brown, down 

 to the edge of the blue, when it becomes pure white and is so con- 

 tinued to the anal angle ; tails pure white. Underside yellowish 

 buff-colour, corresponding with the bro^vu of the upperside on 

 both wings; lower half of hind wing white, with a somewhat 

 irregular brown band composed of confluent lunules placed about 

 halfway between the middle of the wing and the mai'gin. A series 

 of four distinct black spots towards the anal angle, situated as 

 follows : the first, and smallest, close to the margin between the 

 median nervure and the second median 'nervule ; the second, 

 large, between the first and second median nervules ; the third 

 intermediate in size between these two, placed much farther from 

 the margin and consequently out of line, and in that respect 

 corresponding with the portion of the brown band which is 

 immediately over it ; the fourth spot, which is small, is placed on 

 the margin over the lobe and is in line with the first two. There 



'^ Thrix, J. A. S. B. vol. Ix. pt. 2, p. 35 (1891), described as having four 

 subcostal nervules to fore wing. 



