1862.] MR. W. C. HEWITSON ON NEW BUTTERFLIES. 87 



in fact, more like Mai. inornata of the Vera Paz, from which, how- 

 ever, it appears likewise distinguishable on comparison, the latter 

 having a rufescent tail, the breast of a less decided fulvous, and the 

 fulvous colour more equably distributed over the lower surface. 



2. Descriptions of Butterflies from the Collections of 

 A. R.Wallace and W. C. Hewitson. By W. C. Hewitson. 



(Plates IX., X.) 



Nymphalid^. 

 Mynes leucis, Boisduval. (PI. IX.) 



This species was first described by Dr. Boisduval, in the ' Voyage 

 of the Astrolabe,' under the name it bears above. It was also de- 

 scribed by Guerin Meneville, in the * Voyage of the Coquille,' under 

 the same name, but is figured in the plates which accompany the 

 work as Nymphalis australis. The figure there given is a very good 

 one ; but as it only represents the upper side, I have thought that a 

 figure of its remarkable under side, together with some of the strange 

 varieties into which it runs, from the rich collection of Mr. Wallace, 

 may be of interest to those who make the Lepidoptera their study. 



Greatly as the varieties of this insect differ above, they bear a 

 much closer resemblance to each other on the under side, and do not 

 wander very far from the accompanying figure. 



The examples figured in the plate are all females. A male in my 

 own collection, from My sol, is entirely black, with the exception of 

 the central spot of the posterior wing. 1 have described below all 

 the varieties which I have with me, for the whole of which we are 

 indebted to Mr. Wallace. They were all collected in the New 

 Guinea group of islands. I have indicated each variety by a sepa- 

 rate letter, following the good example of Dr. Boisduval in his 

 ' Species General,' not being myself able to see that any good what- 

 ever can arise from the modern custom of giving names to varieties 

 and thus elevating them to the same importance as the typical species, 

 from which they are sometimes scarcely to be known. On the con- 

 trary, I believe that it will produce great and endless confusion. 



Var. A. S • Anterior wing black, spotless. Posterior wing black, 

 with a large central bifid white spot, and two smaller spots between 

 it and the inner margin bordered with grey. 



Hab. My sol. 



Var. B. $ (PI. IX. fig. 1). Anterior wing black, with a spot 

 near the middle of the costal margin, two spots beyond the middle 

 of the wing, and a submarginal band of eight spots all white. Poste- 

 rior wing vdth the central spot qiiinquefid. 



Hab. Dorey. 



Var. C (Voyage Coquille, pi. 14 bis). Anterior wing black, with a 

 small spot near the middle of the costal margin, followed by two 



