536 L. de Niceville — Description of Neptis praslini. [No. 2, 



the specimens collected in the first two localities [Kordo and Ansus] (on 

 the islands Mysore and Jobi) the white marking is excessive, as the 

 outermost of the three existing spots of the elongated band [i. e., the 

 large triangular spot at the end of the discoidal cell of the forewing] is 

 lengthened towards the outer margin, and runs into the [submarginal] 

 row of spots. In the single specimen taken in Rubi on the mainland of 

 New Guinea the white markings are, on the other hand, reduced to 

 such an extent that the linear row of marginal spots on the underside of 

 the hindwing is altogether wanting, and the inner row is formed of much 

 smaller spots." Messrs. Godman and Salvin record A T . praslini from 

 New Ireland without remark. M. Oberthiir records N. praslini from 

 Vaigheu and Mount Epa in southern New Guinea. He notes that the 

 description of the species by Boisduval is very short, and would apply 

 equally well to many closely-allied species of the same group, and that 

 he considers it better to sink the Neptis papua described by himself to 

 N. praslini. Mr. Henry Tryon records N. praslini as Athyma praslina 

 from Milne Bay in British New Guinea. M. Oberthiir again des- 

 cribed the species as Neptis papua, Boisduval MS., from Dorei in New 

 Guinea and from Ceram. As noted above, he has sunk this name under 

 N. praslini. Mr. Grose Smith records a long series of both sexes of 

 N. papua from Mansinam and Humboldt Bay, N.-W. New Guinea, and 

 says that " The white band which crosses the hindwing is of variable 

 width, especially in the male." 



Of iV". lactaria, as identified by me, I possess three pairs from the 

 Ke Isles, two females from Stephansort, and one pair from Constantin- 

 hafen, both in German New Guinea, and two females from Waigiou. 

 They are characterised by having the discal white band of the hind- 

 wing broad, occupying seven interspaces on the upperside, eight on 

 the underside, broadest in the discoidal interspace, regularly tapering 

 from thence to the abdominal margin, which it does not quite reach. 

 The additional portion on the underside lies in the subcostal interspace. 

 On the underside of the hindwing there are two marginal series of 

 white spots, the anterior one consisting of eight large rounded spots, the 

 posterior one of a similar number of smaller linear spots. 



This species mimics Tellervo zoilus, Fabricius. The specimen figured 

 is a female from New Guinea. 



