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II. — On a Melanic Specimen of Hestina nama, Doubleday. By Percy Hall 

 Grimshaw, F.E.S. Communicated by Dr R. H. Traquair, F.R.S. (With 

 figure on Plate of previous Paper.) 



(Read 17th May 1897.) 



In a collection of Indian butterflies purchased by the Edinburgh Museum in the 

 year 1890, I found a specimen of Hestina which is of some interest. After carefully 

 examining it, and comparing it with a figure by Oberthur of a form which he regards 

 as a melanic aberration of the well-known Hestina nama, Doubleday, I have come to 

 the conclusion that our example is another and more melanic form of the same species. 

 From Oberthur's figure, which he calls ab. melanina [Etudes d' Entomologie, xx., 1896, 

 p. 30, pi. 10, no. 177), the present specimen differs in the fore wing, in the absence of 

 the inner row of whitish spots, in the size and position of the upper spots in the outer 

 series, and in the spot at the anal angle being nearer to the base of the wing. At the 

 base of the cell there is a rich cream-coloured sub-triangular spot, instead of the slender 

 greenish streak. There is no ferruginous border to the hind wing, and the whitish 

 streaks are more elongated, and in the anal half of the wing only very faintly in- 

 dicated. 



For the reference to the figure of melanina, I am indebted to the kindness of Mr F. 

 A. Heron, of the British Museum. As the under side is neither described by Oberthur 

 nor represented in his plate, I have thought it advisable to figure the Edinburgh speci- 

 men, and to write the following more detailed description : — 



Upper side: Fore wing entirely purplish-black, with the exception of a marginal 

 series of whitish spots, the uppermost of which is elongated into the form of a streak, 

 the four next lower becoming shorter and more crescentic towards the anal angle, the 

 lowermost (between the sub-median and the first median nervures) more quadrate, and 

 followed by a short streak at the anal angle, which is, however, further removed from 

 the margin. At the apex of the wing are two much smaller and less distinct whitish 

 streaks. Inner margin dusted for about two-thirds of its length with bluish-grey. A 

 pale streak at base of costal area and a cream-coloured spot at base of cell. Hind wing 

 more reddish in colour, but much darker in the discal area. Light markings confined 

 to a gradually disappearing marginal series of streaks beginning at the costa and extend- 

 ing to the anal angle, only the first three, however, being distinct. Inner margin 

 broadly whitish. Under side : Fore wing lighter than upper side, with a greater extension 

 of the whitish markings, those near the apex being especially more distinct. Inner 

 margin paler than on upper side, with an additional bluish-white streak at the anal 



VOL. XXXIX. PART I. (NO. 2). C 



