224 LEPIDOPTERA INDICA. 



12,000 feet to near top of the pass. Captain Lang obtained specimens of Melitea 

 Sindura at 16,000 feet elevation in North-Western Himalayas. 



GeOUPS of the NrSIPHALINiE AND THEIR ChAKACTEEISTICS. 



The Nymphalinre is the most extensive sub-family of butterflies, and embraces a 

 great variety of forms, not only in the caterpillar and chrysalis state, but also in that 

 of the imago. The assemblage of these various forms, as here embraced in this sub- 

 family, has, by most modern Lepidopterists who have studied their structure, been 

 divided into three or four, or more, limited natural groups,* and which, by some 

 authors, are mainly based upon the differences of form in their larval and pupal 

 stages. 



In the arrangement of the Nymphalinre, in this work, we have assigned the 

 various genera of the Indian fauna to named groups, into which they naturally 

 range themselves, in accordance with their special characteristics, and which are 

 here briefly indicated as follows : — 



Group I. Chaeaxina. 



Imago. — Very robust, thorax very stout. Forewings triangular, short, broad ; 

 apex produced to an obtuse or somewhat acuminate point. Hindwings short; 

 exterior margin scalloped, with a long narrow, or short, pointed tail at end of upper 

 and lower median veinlets. 



Caterpillar. — Slug-shaped (limaciform), with four lengthened processes on 

 the head, and two short processes on the anal segment. 



Chrijsalis. — Short, thick, almost oval; smooth; dorsum much arched, head 

 more or less obtusely pointed. 



Egg. — " Large ; few ; globular ; hard ; not so high as broad ; with obscure 

 ribs and cross lines at the base only, forming tetragons, with minute projecting 

 points at their intersection " (Doherty). 



Group II. Potamina [Apaturidae, auctorum]. 

 Imago. — Robust. Forewings more or less elongate and triangular ; apex obtuse ; 

 exterior margin sometimes slightly angulated below the apex. Hindwings short, 

 either triangular and somewhat prolonged at anal angle in male, or subquadrate ; 

 exterior margin slightly scalloped, or obtusely produced at end of the upper median 

 veinlet. 



• But have been ignored by Mr. Distant (Rhop. !Miilayana), Mr. do Nici'ville (Butt, of Lidia, etc.), 

 Mr. Elwes (P.Z.S., 1888, etc.), and Mr. Leech (Butt of China, etc.), although the life history of many 

 species of the various groups were then known, consequently their arrangement of the genera in this 

 sub-family is erroneous and entirely unnatural. 



