ELYMNIIN^. 157 



with olivescent-brown ; on the hindwing is a submarginal series of small blackish 

 points and a bluish-white apical spot situated between the subcostals. 



Female brighter coloured, the marginal bands more prominent. Underside 

 as in the male. 



Expanse, 3 to Sj^g inches. 



Habitat. — Ceylon. 



This species is probably a mimic of the Euploeine butterfly Padeinma Sinhala. 



DiSTKiBUTiON. — "A scarce butterfly, except at the Peradeniya Gardens. The 

 larva feeds on a species of palm-tree " (Mackwood MS. Notes). 



MELYNIAS PEALII (Plate 138, figs. 2, 2a, b,cJ ?). 



Ehjmnias Pealii, "Wood-Mason, Annals of Nat. Hist. 1883, p. 62, pi. 2, figs. A, B, J'. 

 Dyctis Peali, Marshall and de Nictville, Butt, of India, etc. i. p. 276 (1883). Doherty, Journ. 

 Asiatic Soc. Bengal, 1889, p. 124, pi. x. fi^. 3, ? . 



iMAfio. — Male. Upperside purpuresceut black, darkest basally, with the mark- 

 ings deep lavender-blue ; cilia alternated with greyish- white. Fore wing with an 

 oblique subapical band and a continuous submarginal series of rather faint and 

 diffused blotches, and the extreme apex lavender-blue ; the costa also transversely 

 striated with lavender-blue. Hindwing with a curved submarginal lavender-blue 

 band, which is very prominent, and is composed of coarse strigas extending from 

 the apex to the lower median vein, and ends in a purple patch at the anal angle. 

 Underside much as in E. undularis and its allies, but more richly coloured. 



Female. " Upperside. Both wings tinted with blue instead of violet. Foreiviuq 

 with the subcostal band very obscure, the cell dark, the disc pale. Hindwing with a 

 conspicuous rufous-orange anal spot occupying the entire breadth of the submedian 

 interspace, the violet submarginal band of the male replaced by a broad bluish 

 fascia extending over the disc to before the apex. Underside with the entire fore- 

 wing, except the cell and outer margin clouded with large violet-blue strio-ge, and 

 so also is the apical and part of the discal area of the hindwing" (Doherty, I. c. 

 p. 124). 



Expanse, i '^^q, ? Si-q inches. 



Habitat. — Assam. 



Distribution. — The male type specimen was " captured by Mr. S. E. Peal at 

 Aideo, Sibsagar district, Assam " (W. Mason, I. c. p. 62). Mr. W. Doherty (J. A. S. 

 Bengal, 1889, 124), records it from " Sadiya and Margherita, Upper Assam, between 

 August and December." According to Mr. H. J. Elwes (P. Z. S. 1891, 269), Mr. 

 Doherty also took " a single specimen at Margherita in May." 



