NYMPHALIN.E. iOzo.ip asgynnina. 231 



lower median branches and submedian rein from tlieir base for a portion of their 

 length slenderly branded n-itli raised androconial scales; costal vein extending to 

 two-tlairds the margin ; first and second subcostal branches emitted before end of 

 the cell, third branch at nearly one-half beyond, fourth and fifth at two-thirds 

 beyond ; upper discocellular very short, second deeply concave, lower slightly con- 

 cave; middle median branch emitted at nearly one-third before lower end of the 

 cell, lower median from two-thirds before its end; submedian vein recurved. 

 Hindwinij short, broad ; costal margin very broadly lobed at the base ; precostal 

 vein curved ; costal vein much arched from the base ; first subcostal branch 

 emitted at nearly one-half before upper end of the cell; discocellulars of equal 

 length, upper curved very obliquely outward, lower slightly curved; two upper 

 median branches from lower end of the cell, lower median from one-third before the 

 end; submedian and internal vein slightly I'ecurved at the base. Bodi/ robust; palpi 

 ascending, finely pilose, second joint long, extending to top of head, third joint short, 

 pointed, naked; legs slender; antenna? with a short spatular clul). 



Type. — A. Hyperbius [Niphe]. 



Note. — Mr. L. de Niceville writes, " The male of .4. Ni^die is not strikingly 

 different from other species of the genus Argi/nnis, but the female with the apical 

 half of the forewing on the upper side deep purple crossed by a broad white band is 

 an entirely unique animal. There is no doubt that this distinctive type of colora- 

 tion has been acquired by the female as a protection against its enemies, as, on the 

 wing, that sex passes very well for a Dancds (Limnas) Chrysippns, which is a highly 

 protected butterfly. In Java the female has assumed a slightly different dress, the 

 ground-colour of the upperside being considerably deeper and richer than the Indian 

 form, the butterfly mimicking 7J. {L.) 7)'(;f«r(V(//rt, which is a dark red geographical 

 race of D. Ghrijsipinis. This race has been named Jaranica, by Oberthiir. But the 

 most wonderful feature of all, with regard to A, Xiplie, is the occurrence in South 

 India (Trichinopoly and the high range of hills in Travancore) and iu Australia of 

 two geographical races which have females, to all intents and purposes, similar to 

 their respective males, the distinctive purple ground and white band of the fore- 

 wing having entirely disappeared. The two species (as they have been called) 

 though it is perhaps better to treat them as geographical races, may be distinguish- 

 able the one from the other. I have only seen the Indian form, which has been 

 named Castefsi by Oberthiir; the Australian form being called iuconstans, by Butler. 

 It is highly probable that this form represents the ancestral (atavistic) one of the 

 species, and the typical A, NIj^Ik' a more recent development. It is a matter for 

 interesting speculation, why in all Asia, the form found in a most limited area in 

 extreme Southern India should alone have remained unaltered, while the form 

 occurring over the immenselv wide area enclosed between extreme Eastern Africa 



