320 NYMPHALID.E. 



paratively slender ; tibiae and tarsi beneath of intermediate and 

 posterior legs spined. 



The forms of Neptis are in the minor details of shades of ground- 

 colour and markings extremely variable, in consequence of which 

 the number of so-called " species " has been enormously multiplied. 

 Races of N, eurynome, the most widely distributed form of the 

 genus, have in India alone received about a dozen names. The 

 coloration on the upperside in the majority of the forms is black 

 with white markings. These latter on the fore wing consist of a 

 prominent discoidal streak with or without a separate spot beyond, 

 and a discal curved series of spots ; those on the posterior portion 

 of the wing in a line directed obliquely outwards from the middle 

 of the dorsum, those on the anterior portion of the wing in a line 

 directed obliquely outwards from beyond the middle of the costa ; 

 beyond the discal spots the markings are smaller and less clearly 

 defined. On the hind Aving there is always a subbasal more or 

 less continuous transverse band in continuation of the discal series 

 of spots on the fore wing, and a postdiscal series of spots with 

 generally faint ill-defined discal and subterminal lines. In many 

 forms the white is replaced by orange-yellow, in a few the white 

 markings are strongly suffused with fuliginous brown. 



Key to the forms of Neptis. 



A. Upperside fore wing : discoidal streak with 

 a more or less well-separated triangular 

 spot beyond. 



a. Underside hind wing : transverse subbasal 



band and postdiscal series of spots always 

 more or less margined by black lines. 

 a'. Underside hind wing : transverse sub- 

 basal band nearly of even width 

 throughout, not broadest in middle : 

 ground-colour ochraceous. 

 a 2 . Upperside hind wing : spots in post- 

 discal series quadrate, often longer 



than broad N. eurynome, p. 323. 



b 2 . Upperside hind wing : spots in post- 

 discal series transverse not quadrate, 



always broader than long Race andamana, p. 325. 



b'. Underside hind wing : transverse sub- 

 basal band not of even width, narrower 

 at either end, broadest in middle ; 

 ground-colour always darker Race nicobarica, p. 325. 



b. Underside hind wing : transverse subbasal 



band and postdiscal series of spots not 

 margined by black lines. 

 a'. Hind wing: subbasal band not extend- 

 ing to costal margin. 

 ar. Underside ground-colour ochraceous 

 brown. 

 a 3 . Underside fore wing: interspaces 

 between veins without dark chest- 

 nut-brown markings iV T . columella, p. 326. 



