NYMPHALINJj: (Group NYMPRALINA.) 93 



colour and forming obscure ocelli. In some specimens the ground-colour is uniformly 

 purpurescent ochi'eous-brown and striated with black. 



Female. Upperside as in the male, the greyish-blue bands somewhat broader. 

 Underside as in male. Body olivescent blue-black, beneath and forelegs dark grey ; 

 middle and hindlegs brownish-ochreous ; antennas black above, reddish-ochreous 

 beneath; eyes reddish. 



Expanse, <S 2^^ to 2i^o. ? Sj^^ to 3 inches. 



Larva. — " Segments alternately orange and white, with numerous black spots on 

 the orange segments, and black streaks on the white ; seven white branching black- 

 tipped spines on each orange segment. 



Pupa. — Variegated reddish-brown with frontal gold and silver spots ; head 

 produced and bifid." (G. F. Hampson, J. A. S. Beng. 1888, 355.) 



Habitat. — W. and E. Himalayas; Malda; Assam; S. India; Bui'ma. 



DisTRiBDTiON AND Habits. — " This Very beautiful insect occurs throughout the 

 Himalayas, Bholahat, Malda, in Assam, and in Burma. It is also found in the hills 

 of South India, It has a swift flight, and in the Simla Hills is often found in the 

 bed of a stream, up and down which it flies within a certain limited distance, often 

 settling on a stone with open wings. It frequents paths in forests, occasionally 

 settling on the ground with open wings ; if disturbed it settles with closed wings on 

 the bark of a tree, where its rich dark colouring completely hides it " (de Niceville, 

 I.e. p. 232). We possess specimens from Kashmir; Thundiani, taken in September 

 by Col. J. W. Yerbury ; Kasauli ; Nepal ; Khasias, Nilgiris ; AVynaad ; Shevaroy Hills, 

 and Travancore. Capt. A. M. Lang, in his MS. Notes on the butterflies of the 

 Western Himalayas, says, " This is a thorough forest insect, of swift flight. It is a 

 handsome butterfly on the wing, flashing past, now in the deep shade of the Oak and 

 Rhododendron, now in the broad sunlight, it gleams all blue as a sapphire." Capt. 

 H. B. Hellard took it in " August and September, in Masuri, the Buspa Valley, and 

 in Kashmir" (MS. Notes). "It is common at Murree in August and September; 

 found along this Hill as far as Thundiana, also at Dewal. It is fond of pitching on the 

 trunks of trees, particularly of the Ilex when the tree has been wounded and the sap 

 is exuding " (Col. J. W. Yerbury, P. Z. S. 1886, 361). It is " common in Masuri and 

 in the interior from May to December. A few also taken in the Dun in October " 

 (P. W. Mackinnon, J. Bombay I^. H. S. 1898, 37-5). Mr. W. Doherty obtained it in 

 " Kumaon generally from 2500 to 8000 feet elevation. Rather rare " (J. As. Soe. 

 Beng. 1886, 122). Mr. H. J. Elwes records it as occurring in " Sikkim, but never 

 commonly, up to 5000 to 6000 feet elevation, during the greater part of the year " (Tr. 

 Ent. Soc. 1888, 362). Mr. G. F. Hampson obtained it in the " Nilgiris, at 3000 to 

 7000 feet elevation," and describes both the larva and pupa (J. As. Soc. Bengal, 1888, 

 355). Col. C. H. E. Adamson records it as " common at Bhamo, LTpper Burma, 



