AMATHUSIIN^. 



171 



except when disturbed by another of the same species. In that case they fly with 

 lightning rapidity, and in a most erratic way, and once I saw a Discophora dash 

 himself to pieces upon an obstructive bough, through which he was apparently 

 trying to fly. This is quite true, though it sounds improbable. They fly so fast 

 that they generally get broken in the net by the force of impact ; you may strike at 

 them a dozen times as they pass you without inducing them to change their route " 

 (Journ. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 1890, 60). Mr. L. de Niceville states that : "All 

 of them affect shade, flying but little unless disturbed, and resting near the ground 

 with closed wings, usually amongst dead leaves " (J. A. S. Beng. 1885, 43). As 

 observed in N. Borneo, by Mr. W. B. Pryer, " One or two species of not common 

 Morphinse are almost the only butterflies found in the deep gloomy forest which 

 covers by far the great bulk of the country. Thaumantis comes next, perhaps, in its 

 preference for heavy forest" (Ann. Nat. Hist. 1887, 45). 



Food Plants of Caterpillae. — The caterpillar of Discophora Gelinde feeds upon 

 the leaves of the Cocoanut Palm tree, and that of Disc, indica upon the Bamboo. 

 The larva of Amathusia phidippus also feeds upon the Cocoanut Palm tree. 



Chaeacteeistics of the Amathusiin^. 



The differential characteristics, between the Amathusiinse and the American 

 Morphinse, are as follows : — 



Amathusiin^. 



FoREWiNG. — First subcostal veinlet only emitted 

 before end of the cell. 



Second subcostal veinlet four-branched. 



Cell short, very broad, not extending to 

 half length of the wing. 



No median vein spur, but the median and 

 submedian with a slightly projected, approxi- 

 mating tumid angle, that of the submedian 

 in Zeuxidia developed into a slight spur. 



Hind WING. — Cell either partially closed or entirely open . 



Cell area rather narrow. 



Male furnished with glandular patches of 

 scales and tufts of hairs on various parts of 

 this wing. 



Body. — Kobust, thorax woolly. 



Antennffi long. 



Abdomen sometimes with a glandular patch 

 of scales on the base beneath, or with lateral 

 tufts. 



Anal claspers of male elongate, narrow. 



Morphine. 



FoREWiNO. — First and second subcostal veinlets free 

 and both emitted before end of the cell. 



Third subcostal veinlet three-branched. 



Cell very long, narrow, extending to nearly 

 two-thirds the length of the wing. 



Median vein with a basal spur. Submedian 

 slender, no basal tumid angle. 



HiNDWiNG. — Cell entirely open. 

 Cell area rather broad. 

 Male. Glandular patches or tufts not 

 present. 



Body. — Somewhat slender, smoothly scaled. 

 Antennae short. 



Abdomen. Glandular patch or tuft not 

 present. 



Anal claspers of male broad, thick. 



