EUPLCEINJE. • 3 



NECTARIA JASONIA (Plate 1, Fig. 1). 

 Hestia Jasonia, Westwood, Cabinet of Oriental Entomology, p. 87, pi. 42, fig. 1 (1848). 



Male and female. Semihyaline, fuliginous-white, veins black : upperside, fore- 

 wing -with a black basal costal border, an oblique irregular bi^oad band across middle 

 of tbe cell, a sliort streak on middle of the costa, a streak through the discocellular 

 veins, a large spot between the base of the two lower median veins, a crutch-shaped 

 mark extending to the base above the submedian vein, a discal series of seven 

 angulated-oval spots, a submarginal series of duplex spots terminating in a thickened 

 streak at end of each vein, and a marginal row of spots : hindwing with a black 

 round spot in middle of the cell, two small spots below it, a discal series of eight 

 angulated-oval spots two of which are between the costal and subcostal veins, a sub- 

 marginal series of duplex spots terminating in a thickened streak at end of each 

 vein, and a marginal row of spots. Head and thorax spotted with white, thorax above, 

 palpi and femora beneath streaked with white, abdomen black above, white beneath. 

 Underside of both fore and hindwings marked as above. Some specimens are 

 darker coloured than that above described, being blackish-fuliginous ; others, again, 

 have a slight ferruginous tint pervading the wings. 



Expanse 4| to 5f inches. 



Larva unknown. 



This beautiful butterfly is called by Europeans in Ceylon, according to a state- 

 ment in Tennent's " Natural History of Ceylon," p. 426, " by the various names of 

 Floater, Spectre, and Silver-paper Fly, as indicative of its graceful flight. It is found 

 only in the deep shade of the damp forest, usually frequenting the vicinity of pools 

 of water and cascades, about which it sails heedless of the spray, the moisture of 

 which may even be beneficial in preserving the elasticity of its thin and delicate 

 wings, that bend and undulate in the act of flight." 



"In the forests and especially about waterfalls in the western, central, and 

 southern provinces this butterfly may be found all the year. It has a very slow 

 floating flight, often poising nearly motionless, and is very easily caught " {Hutchison). 



Genus RADENA. 



Forewing moderately long, triangular ; first subcostal branch emitted at about 

 one-third before end of the cell and anastomosed to the costal in the middle, second 

 branch emitted before end of the cell : hindwing broad, somewhat triangular ; costal 

 margin long, nearly straight, abdominal margin long ; costal vein very convex from 

 the base and then extending straight along edge of the margin ; cell broad, long ; 

 subcostal and median branches very wide apart. No scent-pouch in male. Antennae 



B 2 



