NEW RACES OF AUSTRALIAN BUTTERFLIES 87 



This race is considerably smaller than X. klugi klugi Guer. 

 and has been captured only by M. W. Mules at Wardang Island, 

 South Australia. It has not so far been taken on the mainland. 

 The main differences between this race and the typical klugi are 

 its smaller size ; paler markings on both upper and under sides ; 

 the orange brown areas more extensive ; the dark markings smoky 

 and not black: and the dorsum dark brownish black. Xenica 

 klugi Guer. is a butterfly which is normal] y found in grassy 

 forested country, usually associated with mountains. It is widely 

 distributed in Australia, ranging from southern Queensland, 

 through New South Wales, Victoria, at Wardang Island S.A., 

 and in south western Australia. It is common also in Tasmania. 

 In Queensland and New South Wales, it is confined to the coastal 

 mountains, but does not actually reach the coast ; in eastern Vic- 

 toria it is found on the mountains further inland as well as on the 

 coast, whilst in western Victoria it has been taken on the Gramp- 

 ians, and at Dimboola and Kiata, as well as nearer the coast. In 

 Western Australia, it frequents the open forest country on coastal 

 areas in the south-west corner of the State. 



The occurrence of a subspecies at Wardang Island is certainly 

 remarkable. 



A very closely related species, Xenica minyas Whs. and Lyell, 

 is common in many places in south western Australia, and it was 

 tli ought for a time that this species might be the West Australian 

 form of X. klugi; both species, however, have since been captured 

 together there. X . minyas appears on the wing earlier (October- 

 November) than klugi (late October to December), though both 

 occur together later in the season. 



Wardang Island is quite unlike any other locality where X. 

 klugi has been found. With the exception of very few Casuarinas 

 there are no trees on the island. The principal vegetation con- 

 sists of saltbushes, native hop, and a species of small bushy and 

 very prickly acacia. Sand dunes run along the western side of 

 the island, and it was in small grassy patches amongst these dunes 

 that Mules captured this subspecies. Its flight season is from 

 late October until December. The total area of Wardang Island 

 is about 5,000 acres. 



Specimens of klugi from the Grampians are smaller than those 

 from eastern Victoria; apart from size they do not differ very 

 much from eastern examples. From Kiata males only have been 

 seen by the author — these arc slightly smaller than the Grampians 

 specimens; the black markings of the upper side are not quite as 

 dark as klugi, but the underside is typical. These specimens were 



