406 



LYCiENID^. 



Ilerda brahama. 



Ilerda brahama, Moore, Horsfield & Moore, Cat. Lep. Mus. E. I. C. i. p. 29. pi. 1 a. 

 fig. 4, S (1857) ; Staurlinger, Exot. Schmett. p. 274, pi. xcv. ^ (1888) ; de Nice- 

 ville. Butt. Iiid. ili. p. 330 (1890). 



" Differs from the two preceding species [/. tamu, Koll., and /. androcles, Doubl. & Hew.] in 

 having the patches of the wings glittering coppery-gold colour, and a broader and longer 

 exterior red band on the hind wings." {Moore, 1. c.) 



" Female. Upperside differs only from that sex of /. epicles, Godart, in the orange patch on the 

 fore wing and the lunulated fascia on the hind wing being rather paler or more yellow in shade. 

 On the underside it may at once be known by the absence of the marginal reddish-orange 

 baud on tlie fore wing, and by the presence of a discal continuous dark line across both wings, 

 in /. epicles there is occasionally a discal series of disconnected short black lines forming a 

 fascia ; the groiind-colour of both wings, and the marginal band on the hind wing also paler." 

 (de Aicei'ille, I. c.) 



Occurs at Wa-ssu-kow, Chow-pin-sa, Chia-ting-fu and Omei-shan in 

 Western China. 



In India, this species seems to be found throughout the season. De Nice- 

 ville states that it is common in Sikkim in February, March, September, 

 October, and November. Mr. Elwes says that in Sikkim " this lovely insect is 

 common at about 3000 to 6000 feet from June to December, but most 

 abundant in July and August. I found it on forest-paths in sunny places." 



Distribution. Sikkim, Naini-tal ; Loharkhet ; Kumaon [Himalayas] ; 

 Western China. 



Ilerda saphir. (Plate XXX. figs. 2 ^ , 5 $ , 1 var. c? , 4 var. ^ .) 

 Thecla saphir, 151aiicliard, Compt. Rend. Ixxii. p. 811 (note) (1871). 



" Apparticnt au type dcs Thecla quercus, T. spini, etc. ; les ailes d'un beau bleu motallique en 

 dcssus, avec les bords noira, les posterieures ayant une raie marginale denteo rougeatre ; en 

 dcHsous les f]tiatro ailes d'un fauve terne, avec le bord dcs postc'ricures d'un rouge pale et une 

 raie dent elce l)laMche." (Blaiichanl, I. c.) 



Male. lirilliant blue, brighter than in /. tamu and without any purple in its composition. The 

 ouler margins of primaries are 1)roadly bordered witli black, tlie inner edge toothed along the 

 ncrvules. Secondaries have the costa and inner margin l)roa(lly black, a briglit red submar- 

 pinal lunulated line and a bluish-white marginal lino interruplcd by the points of the red 

 lunulcs. Tail tipped with wliite. 



Female. Dark brown. The broad orange jxitch on primaries is very similar to that of female 

 J. laiiin; discoidal sjiot black; submarginal band of secondaries as in tlic male but rather 

 paler. 



Under Hurfacc of both sexes ochreous. I'l inuirics have a largo velvety-black spot above tho 

 innfT angle and Hometimcs a smaller linear l)lack spot on tho inters))acc above, these are 

 inwardly bordered with wliitish ; tho discoidal bar is faintly indicated. Secondaries have a 



