498 L. de Niceville & Dr. L. Martin — Butterflies of Sumatra. [No. 3, 



them carefully in large numbers from eggs laid in captivity, so as to 

 ascertain if these varieties are seasonal forms, true species, or individual 

 variations only. Dr. Wallace notes that " The varieties of this species 

 are infinite over its extensive range, and cannot be profitably separated." 



544. Terias silhetana, "Wallace. 



This species has been figured by Snellen in Midden- Sumatra, 

 Lepidoptera, pi. ii, figs. 12, 13, male (1892) as T. Jiecabe, Linnaeus, 

 var. three. It seems to be rare in Sumatra, we possess but very few 

 specimens. It may be known by having three dark streaks or spots 

 (T. hecabe, Linnaeus, has never more than two) in the discoidal cell of 

 theforewing on the underside in addition to the reniform spot on the 

 disco-cellular nervules. All our specimens are of the rainy-season form, 

 which has the apex of the forewing on the underside unmarked with 

 brown. 



545. Terias tecmessa, de Niceville, n. sp. 



Terias sari, Horsfield, var. a, Distant, Rhop. Malay., p. 305, n. 3, pi. xxvi, fig. 3, 

 male (1885). 



Habitat : Penang, Malay Peninsula ; N.-E. Sumatra. 



Expanse: d\ 21 inches. 



Description : Male. Of large size and rich dark yellow color- 

 ation on both surfaces. Upperside, forewing exactly as in Sumatran 

 specimens of T. sari, Horsfield. Hindwing with the black margin 

 broad, but a little variable in breadth, its inner edge festooned between 

 the veins, dying away to nothing at the anal angle, the black border of 

 about the same width as in T. sari. Underside, forewing with a 

 W-shaped brown marking near the base of the discoidal cell, a promi- 

 nent zigzaged one across its middle, and a prominent double linear one 

 at its outer end ; a large brown apical patch as in T. sari, but always 

 bearing outwardly some suffused spots of the yellow ground-colour. 

 Hindwing marked as in T. sari, but the brown markings rather more 

 prominent. Cilia of both wings black throughout. 



The large apical brown patch on the underside of the forewing 

 will at once separate it from all the named forms of T. hecabe, Linnaeus, 

 known to me, but the patch is precisely similar to that found in India 

 in one of the dry-season forms of T. silhetana, Wallace, that species, 

 however, having four instead of three disco-cellular markings ; while 

 the presence of two markings in the discoidal cell besides the disco- 

 cellular one will distinguish it from T. sari. 



Described from six males from N.-E. Sumatra and one from 

 Penang. The female is unknown. 



