1888.] G. F. Hampson — Butterflies of the Nilgiri District. 351 



30. Melanites leda, Linngeus. 

 Form ismene, Cramer. 



On the Nilgiris the specimens of the wet-season form, M. leda, 

 mostly have the fulvous markings of M. ismene, the dry-season form, on 

 the upperside. 



31. Melanitis aculeata, n. sp. 



Habitat : Nilgiris N. slopes and Mysore forests, 3000 ft. 

 Expanse : 3-1 inches. 



Dry-season form. 

 Description : Male. Upperside, hoth wings uniform dark brown. 

 Forewing with the outer margin very strongly falcated ; a large black 

 spot between the second and third median nervules, in the interspace 

 above it another black spot with an indistinct whitish one on its outer 

 edge, between this uppermost black spot and the costa a dusky ferru- 

 ginous patch. Hindwing with three sharp-pointed angulations on the 

 outer margin, two small white spots between the median nervules, and 

 one between the upper median and lower discoidal nervules. Under- 

 side, both wings ferruginous-brown, suffused with grey and ochreous 

 near the base and costa of forewing and in some specimens mottled 

 with black patches. Forewing with a brown fascia outside the cell 

 from the costa to near the hinder angle. Hindwing with a fascia 

 outside the cell from the costa to the abdominal margin ; some speci- 

 mens with a series of small white submarginal spots varying in number. 

 Female. Rather smaller than the male. Upperside, forewing with two 

 white subapical spots. Underside, hoth wings more variegated and the 

 ocellation more distinct. 



Wet-season form. 



Differs only in having the outer margin of the forewing nearly 

 straight and the ferruginous subapical patch more obscure. 



This species is the South Indian representative of M. ziteneus^ being 

 slightly smaller than that species and with the subapical ferruginous 

 patch obscure. Described from six males and one female' of the dry- 

 season brood and two males of the wet-season brood. 



Subfamily Eltmniinji. 



32. Elymnias caudata, Butler. 



1000 ft. Bamboo jungle at the foot of the southern and western 

 slopes, rare. 



Subfamily Morphine. 



33. DiscoPHORA lepida, Moore. 

 One female seen on the western slopes in October, 1888, at 300 ft. 



