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FOUR NEW BUTTERFLIES FROM THE ISLANDS OF 

 MEFOR AND BIAK (NORTH DUTCH NEW GUINEA). 



By J. J. JOICEY and G. TALBOT. 



The Specimens were Collected by Messrs. Pratt. 



DANAIDAE. 



1. Danaida mytilene Feld. subnigra subsp. nov. 



This form was separated by Mr. P. I. Lathy when, some years ago, 

 he arranged the Danaidae of the Joicey collection. 



3 2 . Differs from mytilene in the reduced spots and more extended 

 black stripes on the veins. Upperside of fore wing with a narrow 

 black-brown marginal border, broader at the apex and narrowest on the 

 distal margin, sometimes not distinctly indicated. The black-brown 

 vein stripes run into the marginal border. The cell is dusted with 

 black and much darkened in the upper part. The subapical band of 

 spots is mostly reduced to dots and sometimes obsolete. The double 

 apical spot is reduced to two dots. Hind wing with darkened costal 

 area and mostly a basal dusting of black. Vein stripes prominent. 



Underside mostly darker than in the typical form, and spots smaller. 



Biak, Schouten Is., June, 1914 (A., C, and F. Pratt) ; a series of 

 both sexes. 



Typical mytilene occurs on Mefor, from which island we have 

 a series. One female is exactly like the Biak specimens. 



2. Danaida (Tirumala) melissa Cram, coarctata subsp. nov. 



Allied to the New Guinea race leucoptera, but is smaller with the 

 markings as large, i.e., the markings are not reduced in proportion to 

 the smaller size. 



S ? . Markings as large as in leucoptera, submarginal spot of fore 

 wing a little larger, subapical spots a little smaller. Hind wing with 

 stripes in 4 and 6 nearer the postdiscal spots than in leucoptera. Post- 

 discal and submarginal spots closer together, and the two submedian 

 streaks joined to the two posterior spots of the postdiscal series. 



Length of fore wing : 37 — 44 mm. 



