ELYMNIINJ3. 143 



they are mimics — tlie species of Ehjmnias and of Melynias, agreeing with certain 

 species of Limnaina and Euploeina — those of Bntasa also with certain Blplceina — 

 those of MimadeUas with certain Pierinae — those oiAgnma with certain Nymphalin^, 

 and the typical species of the Malayan genus, Dyctis, with certain Morphinee. 



Food plants of Caterpillar. — So far as yet known, the caterpillar of only two 

 of the genera, here described, have been discovered, and these are recorded as 

 feeding upon plants of different Orders, namely — the caterpillar of Ehjmnias 

 (undularis, etc.), upon PALMAOEiE, and those of MimadeUas (Godferyi) upon 

 Orchidacej?. 



Habits op Imago. — " The Elmniinge are forest-loving insects, with a weak flight, 

 frequenting dense undergrowth or bush jungle, and usually avoiding the open 

 sunshine ; they are all tropical or subtropical insects" (Butt, of India, 264). 



The Species of Elymniin^ are all Mimetic. — The species of this sub-family 

 possess a highly mimetic character, and are, I believe, without exception, mimics, 

 both in general form of their wings, and in the colours and marlcings of the 

 upferside, of certain ' protected ' or ' inedible ' species of butterflies common to the 

 district they inhabit. 



Of the commonly known species, the female of Ehjmnias undularis, and of its 

 immediate allies, the species which they mimic is the Limnaine butterfly, Salatura 

 genutia,^ the Malayan Ehjm. discrepans, in both sexes, mimic the Euploeine 

 butterfly, Galliploea Ledereri, and. the Elym. panthera (Dusara Horsf.), the Euplceine 

 butterfly, Vadebra sepulchralis. In the genus Melynias {Timandra, and its Malayan 

 allies, Lais, Geryx, etc., both sexes mimic the Limnaine genera Paralitica,^ and. 

 Gaduga ; the Melynias Malelas, in both sexes, mimic the corresponding differently- 

 marked sexes of the Euploeine butterfly, Trepsiclirois Linnoii,^ and in the allied 

 Melynias Saueri the male mimics the same sex of Trepsiclirois, but the female 

 mimics quite a different butterfly, namely the Limnaine genus Hestia (probably 

 H. Agamarschana,* or E. Donovani) ; the Melynias Patna, both sexes mimic the 

 Euploeine butterfly, Stictoploea binotata^ or Isamia splendens ; and the Melynias 

 Singala probably mimics the Euploeine butterfly, Pademma Sinhala.^ In the genus 

 Bruasa, the male of B. Penanga and probably also that of B. Ghelensis mimics the 

 Euploeine butterfly, Galliploea LedereriJ In the genus MimadeUas, the M. Vasudeva, 

 in both sexes, mimic the Pierine butterfly, Delias pasitlwse, and the allied Malayan 

 If. Godferyi the Delias Dione. In the genus Agrusia, the A. Andersonii, A. Esaca, 

 and its allies, the males are excellent mimics of the ' protected ' section of the 



' See vol. i. pi. 10, figs. 1, b, c. ^ See vol. i. plates 13 and 14. 



2 See vol. i. pi. 35. ■* See vol. i. pi. 4, fig. 1. 



5 See vol. i. pi. 53, figs. 2, 2a. s See voL i. pi. 47, figs. 3, 3a. 



' See vol. i. pi, 36, figs, 1, la. 



