1 899.] L, de Niceville — TAst of the BnftcrffiPR of Ceylon . 209 



Is it really distinct from B. varuna, Horsfield (=72. orseis, Hewitson) ? 

 It has never been bred. 



140. Rapala melampus, Cramer. 



Not given by Moore in Lep. Cey. Mr. F. Fairlie writes " I have 

 taken only males of this species at Manipai near Jaffna, about half a 

 dozen, on a windy day on the sheltered side of some tree, tamarind for 

 choice, which is in full flower in July, and attracts a great number of 

 butterflies." The northern parts of the Island have by no means been 

 so thoroughly explored for butterflies as the other portions, and Mr, 

 Fairlie has added several species to the Ceylon list from thence. A 

 more extended and prolonged tour -would probably result in further 

 additions, most of which would probably be closely allied to or identical 

 Tvith South Indian species. R. melampus may at once be distinguished 

 from the other species of the genus found in Ceylon by the wings 

 of the male on the upperside being scarlet instead of blue ; those 

 of the female are dull brick red. It has a wide range in India, and 

 occurs also in Burma, Sumatra, Nias, and Java. The larva feeds on 

 Ougeinea and ZizypJms. 



141. Bindahara sugriva, Horsfield. 



Moore as B, pJiocides, Fabricius. Uncommon in the low country, 

 particularly about Kandy, where Capt. Wade states, however, that 

 he found the male plentiful in the Botanical Gardens. It is found 

 occasionally as high as 4,000 feet elevation, and is rare at Haldum- 

 mulle. Mr. W. H. Miskin in "A Syn. Cat. of the Lep. Rhop. of 

 Australia," p. 69 (1891), placed under B. sugriva, Horsfield, the 

 Myrina isahella of Felder, the B. pJiocides of Moore 7iec Fabricius, 

 and the M. jolcus of Felder as synonyms, and makes the following 

 remarks :—" With great regard for tlie opinions of Messrs. Distant 

 and de Niceville, I have little doubt this, with B. phocides, Fabri- 

 cius, and B. areca, Felder, all represent one rather variable species. 

 In one specimen I have, from Ceylon, the blue colour in the apical 

 region of the hindwing is restricted to a mere marginal line, only 

 just perceptible ; in a Cape York [North Australia] example the 

 blue patch is as broad as long, and nearly touches the apical angle, 

 the underside of both being exactly alike, and nearly as dark as in 

 Horsfield's figure. The development of the white area in the hindwing 

 of the female, and the lighter or darker shading of the underside, is so 

 variable as to be quite unreliable for specific distinction." It would be 

 interesting to know if the males of B. sugriva in Ceylon are often as vari- 

 able as Mr. Miskin would appear to consider the species to be throughout 



