AMBLTPODIA GEO UP OF THE LYOENID-E. 27 



and the Malay region ; species occur, however, in China and Japan, also in Australia 

 and some of the small islands of the Pacific, such as New Britain and the Solomon 

 Group. In colour the species are nearly all blue or purple, though a few are of a 

 brilliant lustrous metallic green, whilst one or two are almost brown. In the case of the 

 green species, however, the females are all blue or purple, and were it not for the 

 pattern below coinciding precisely (as it does in every case) they would be, and occasion- 

 ally have been, looked upon as distinct species. Distant remarks upon the shade of 

 the blue varying considerably in the same species, whilst de Niceville disagrees with the 

 assertion. I think that now the latter author would probably have qualified this had 

 he been alive. I have found decided differences in the colour of the same species, but 

 how that difference has arisen I am not prepared to say. I think it is quite possible 

 that it is a chemical change, for the specimens look quite fresh, so that it is not unlikely 

 that it may have been thus produced. The colours of the whole of the group are 

 aniline — that is to say, they can only be compared to aniline colours, — and I believe 

 the majority of them could not be made up from the colours of the spectrum ; they 

 may therefore be more liable to change than otherwise. 



I have not found the difficulty in recognising Hewitson's species that some have, and 

 I believe I have been successful in nearly every case ; all that I found necessary was 

 time and care. 



De Niceville and Martin say (J. A. S. B. vol. lxiv. pt. ii. p. 470): — " This genus is one 

 of the most largely represented in Sumatra, which may perhaps be its headquarters, 

 though the Malay Peninsula may possibly possess quite as many species. All are 

 found in forests, but, nevertheless, their more or less metallic-blue, purple, and green 

 colours are not at all conspicuous, and they do little to enliven the sombre depths of 

 the forest, as the restless species of Lampides do. Arhopalas never come to small 

 streams or damp spots on roads to suck up the moistm - e, or to flowers ; they hardly 

 ever fly unless disturbed, and as they always settle with folded wings, of which the 

 undersides present only dull brown, grey, or dull purple colour, little is seen of them. 

 They rest on leaves of shrubs of moderate height, and never fly for any length of time 

 to a distance, feeling themselves much more secure when at rest. There is therefore 

 only one way to see and capture them, and that is to walk through the underwood 

 and disturb them by beating the bushes and low trees, and thus to cause them to fly." 

 And, again, de Niceville says (Butt. Ind. 1. c.) : " Many species seem to be common 

 where they occur, others, again, appear to be very rare. Owing to their skulking 

 habits, there is a good deal of difficulty in collecting them." 



The genitalia follow one pattern very closely, having the tegumen composed of an 

 ample hood with strong muscular hooks straightish, i. e. not elbowed, the clasps 

 decidedly small, and the penis of a medium size. 



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