352 



curved ventrally and elongated, ending in a laterally flattened, somewhat rounded 

 point. On the dorsum of the live pupa there were longitudinal stripes of pale 

 and darker green showing through the transparent outer shell. Length, 29 mm. ; 

 breadth, 6 mm. 



LIST OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF GROOTE EYLANDT 



AND ADJACENT ISLANDS. 



Fifty-eight species and varieties were taken on Groote Eylandt during a 

 sojourn extending, with a short break, from June, 1921, to May, 1922. The 

 majority were taken during the rainy season, from November to March. 



The records are of interest geographically, for Groote Eylandt lies 

 half-way (measuring along the coastline) between the two main 

 channels of butterfly migration into Australia. Practically not one of 

 the typically New Guinea forms so abundant in Northern Queensland 

 and Cape York has found its way so far west. The prevailing winds in the 

 ''wet" season are north-west and west, while south of the Mitchell River in 

 Queensland, as far round the head of the Gulf as Roper River, scrub and rain 

 forests are absent, and the climate is very dry, except for the short rainy season ; 

 and these have been barriers to the western extension of the range of these 

 species. Comparatively few of the Timor migrants also have spread so far to 

 the east, so that the species taken in the dense scrubs and rain forests of the 

 island are the widespread, more ancient Australian forms, such as are found 

 over the whole of the northern part of Australia. One notable feature is that 

 specimens of many of the species are smaller than mainland ones. This dwarfing 

 has been noted also by Mr. A. M. Lea in a number of species of Coleoptera. 

 Two exceptions to this are the forms of Eurycus crcssida and Elodina perdita, 

 which are both larger than the usual Northern Territory forms. 



In the list, where no islands are specifically mentioned, the records are for 

 Groote Eylandt. The figures after the name indicate the months during which 

 specimens were taken : — 



Family NYMPHALIDAE. 



Danaida chrysippus petilia, Stoll — 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, 12. 

 D. affinis affinis, Fab. — 1, 2, 3, 12. 



D. melissa hamata, Macl. — 2, 3. 

 Enploea corinna corinna, Macl.^ — 2, 11, 12. 



E. Sylvester pelor, Doubld. and Hew. — 2. 



E. s. pelor, f. dardanoides, Waterhouse and Lyell — 2. 



Mycalesis sirius sirius, Fab. — 1, 2, 3, 11, 12. 



M. perseus perseus, Fab. — 6. 



M. p. perseus, f. infuscata, Macl. — Groote Eylandt 1, 2, 3, 12; Bickerton 



Island 4. 

 Melanitis leda bankia. Fab. — 3, 12. 

 M. I. bankia, f. barnardi, Lucas — 1. 

 Hypocysta adiante antirius, Butl. — Groote Eylandt 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12; 



Bickerton Island 4. 

 Precis villida villida, Fab. — Groote Eylandt 2, 3, 12; Woody Island, 4. 

 P. orithyra albicincta, Butl. — 1, 2, 12. 

 Hypolimnas bolina nerina. Fab. — 1, 3, 11. 

 H. alimena darzvinensis, Waterhouse and Lyell — 2, 12. 

 Cethosia penthesilea paksha, Fruhs. — 4, 7. 

 Acraea andromacha, Fab. — 8. 



