PJIOPALOCEllA MALAY AN A. 



Genus MELANITIS. 



Melamris, Fabricius, IlHgor'a Mag. vi. p. 282 (1807) ; Moore, Lep. CeyL i. p. 14 (1881). 

 ffipfc, Hulra., Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 56* (1816). 



Cylfo, BoistL, Voy. Astiol. Lep. p. 140 (1882); Fauna Mad. p. 57 (1888) ; Weatw., Gen. Diurn. Lep, p. 3G0 

 (1851); Trimen, Rhop. Afr. Austr, p. 186 (1866). 



Anterior wings short and broad, with the costa strongly arched and convex, and with the apex produced 

 and usually augulated about lowor iliseoidal uervule, beneath which the outer margin is distinctly 

 excavated; inner margin nearly straight; lirst nnd seemid Mihcostal nervules emitted before the end 

 of cell ; upper disco-cellular nervulc strongly produced and directed outwardly, abruptly deflexcd and 

 convexly bent at apex; lower disco-cellular abruptly curved inwards near commencement, and then, 

 and for its greatest length, slightly directed outwardly. Posterior wings irregularly subovate, with the 

 outer margin waved and produced into an obtuse angle or tail near first median uervule ; nervules all well 

 separated at their origins; lower disco-cellular uervule distinctly longer than the upper. Eyes naked. 

 Palpi clothed beneath with short scaly hairs placed close together — souamose. Antenme more or less 

 in eras sated at apex. 



This genus is widely distributed, being found in Western, Southern, and Eastern Africa, 

 throughout Continental India, and extending eastward through the whole of the Southern 

 Oriental Begion, including the Malay Archipelago ; it is also extensively spread amongst the 

 Pacific Islands, and as far south as Australia* 



It is, however, difficult to assess the number of known "species" oiMdmitis t owing to 

 the very conflicting views of different authorities, and the empirical condition of our knowledge 

 on that point. Forms which a few years ago were estimated as varieties only, have since, on 

 further con si deration by the same authors, been promoted to specific rank. Thus, in 1807, 

 Mr. Butler published * short diagnoses and references to forty-one different forms of Jl/. t&tu 

 contained in the British Museum, of which he summarised the habitats as "Java ; Oceania ; 

 Australia; Africa/' and stated that the variation was so gradual that it was impossible to 

 determine the exact limits of the two extreme forms* In 1868 1 he formulated these into nine 

 distinct varietal forms, but since that time has had reason to treat most, if not all, of these 

 once- considered varieties as distinct species, in which he is in agreement with several modern 

 authors. 



The question, however, is far from solved, and the two species here included as such, 

 in accordance with good suithorith'.s lunr mmv oftm been considered as varietal forms, and 

 should still be so if the following is accepted as conclusive* 



Mr. Darwin, in discussing the variability and formation of the ocelli or egg- like spots on 

 the plumage of birds, has made great use of these " varieties " of M, hda? from drawings 

 made by Mr. Trim en and reproduced by him. J, From an examination of the figures and a 

 consideration of Mr, Trhnen's remarks on the subject, § Mr. Darwin states that " in some 

 specimens large spaces on the upper surface of the wings are coloured black, and include 

 irregular white marks ; and from this state a complete gradation can be traced into a tolerably 

 perfect ocellus, and this results from the contraction of the irregular blotches of colour. In 



* Ann. & Mag. NaL Hint scr. 8, vol. xix, p. 51 (1867), I Cat. Satyridte, pp. 1 — 3. 



[ ' Tin- Decent of Man,' rd. H r pp. Jua-U. [ Ithup. Afr. Auslr. p. 18<V. 



