NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAB XXIII. 1916. 263 



31. Theretra rhesus Boisd. (1S75) 



We have twenty-six specimens which we refer to this species. Bat we are 

 very uncertain about the number of subspecies they represent. We have no 

 examples from the Philippines, whence rhesus was originally described, nor from 

 the Moluccas, and our two specimens from the Solomon Islands are not in good 

 condition. Under such circumstances we abstain from naming any of the sub- 

 species which appear to stand out among our material. We must, however, revive 

 a name we sank into synonymy in the Revision. The specimens from the greater 

 Sunda Islands and Philippines have the abdomen and wings more strongly striped 

 than those from the islands farther east, and the underside of both wings and body 

 is on the whole more pink. The eastern race is Th. rhesus insularis Swinh. (1892). 

 The name was originally based on a ? from Cerani and a c? from Key. Both 

 specimens are designated " type " by Swinhoe ; we select the Ceram example as the 

 type. Provisionally the specimens of all the localities from the Moluccas to the 

 Solomons may be placed under insxdaris. 



32. Theretra radiosa spec. nov. 



Theretra rhesus Rothschild & Jord. (nee Boisd. 1875, err. determ), Nov. Zool. ix. Suppl. p. 766. 

 no. 718 (1903) (partim ; Fergussou). 



8 ? . Simillima speciei a celeberrimo Boisduval rhesus appellatae. Abdomine 

 fortiter striato, sed absque linea dorsali mediana ; alarum anticarum linea quarta 

 lata ad marginem posticum cum macula basali nigra coniuncta. 



Hab. A series from : Goodenough Island, 2500-4000 ft., May 1912 (A. S. 

 Meek), type; Fergusson, November 190-1 (A. S. Meek); Biagi, Mambare" R., 

 British North-east New Guinea, 5000 ft., April 1906 (A. S. Meek) ; Ekeikei, British 

 New Guinea, 1500 ft., March to April 1903 (A. E. Pratt); Mafulu, British New 

 Guinea, 6000 ft., September 1903 (A. E. Pratt); Mt. Goliath, Dutch South New 

 Guinea, 5000-7000 ft., January and February 1911 (A. S. Meek) ; Ninay Valley, 

 Arfak Mts., 3500 ft., November 1908 to January 1909. 



The two dorsal lines of the abdomen are strongly marked, but there is no 

 trace of a median line between them, as is the case in Th. rhesus ; the basal 

 greenish black lateral patch of the abdomen prolonged into a broad stripe, which 

 reaches at least to the fourth segment. 



Forewing, upperside : costal edge pale, a broadish diffuse costal stripe the 

 colour of the discal lines ; these lines as in Th. rhesus, but the fourth, which is very 

 broad, more oblique, reaching the hindmargin a little more proximally and being 

 continued to the base by a hindmarginal streak, which is anteriorly bordered by a 

 pale line ; black basal patch smaller than in Th. rhesus. 



Underside of wings and body more pink than in eastern specimens of Th. 

 rhesus ; the postdiscal black vein-dots of both wings strongly marked. 



We cannot find any difference in structure between Th. radiosa, rhesus, 

 boisduvali and clotho. 



18 



