RROPALOCERA MA LA \ \ I N I . 



distinguished from the imitated genera, as Mr. Kirby has remarked, * by their dentated and 

 often angulated wings. 



lu Eltjmnius also we tind a departure from the typical Stttijrintr in the partial or complete 

 elimination of the oeellated spots usually found on the wings beneath, to which there is a 

 generally corresponding increased brilliancy of eotoralion above. The sexual coloration and 

 markings of the few species which occur in this fauna afford several perplexing features to a 

 philosophical explanation. In E. disiirpfnis we have the male resembling the corresponding sex of 

 E. imdularis, and its female having a partial resemblance to the same sex of that species, thus 

 appearing as an imperfect mimic of a tawny Danaid. In E. nujrcscens both sexes considerably 

 resemble each other, and afford no clue to a mimicked species. In E. penamja, however, it is 

 the male which is a strong mimic of a species of Euphra, whilst the female closely resembles 

 nothing but its near ally E. mmatrtuia, both being almost unique in pattern and hue. But in 

 E. casiphonCt and probably E, saucri (of which only the male is at present described), both 

 sexes mimic the corresponding sexes of species belonging to the Mitltnnus group of Euplmt. 

 Consequently no theoretical conclusions seem at present possible, based on examination of 

 cabinet specimens alone, but the facts should prove suggestive to an enquiring and observing 

 naturalist who conld study the habits of the living species in connection with their natural 

 environment. 



With the exception of two African species, the members of this genus are found in the 

 Indo- and Austro-Malayan Regions, and, as Mr. Wallace has observed,! these last form two 

 somewhat distinct groups; those from iho Anstro-Mulayan Islands, being "distinguished by a 

 regular and somewhat rounded outline of wings, and resembling in coloration some of the 

 broad-winged Etipltm, or the genus DrusiUa ; while the species of India and the Indo-Malayau 

 Islands are almost always characterised by a more irregular outline, waved, toothed, or even 

 caudate, and generally coloured like species of Ihtmtis, or the more elongate forms of Eupttw." 

 Mr. Butler* subsequently divided the species of Eh/numis, as hitherto understood, into two 

 genera, which, with a few exceptions, agree in the main with Mr. Wallace's groups. 



The genus is of considerable extent, above forty species having been described, but 

 about half of these are now usually placed in the genus Ihjrtis. 



Of their life- history we know little. The larva and pupa of the Javan race of B* nmtuhtns 

 are figured by Horsfield, § who states || that the larva "feeds on the Oobbaug {Vunjpha nmhra- 

 cultfera), May."1T In Moore's ' Lepnloptera of Ceylon/ the larva and pupa of E. frahrmi are 

 figured, from drawings made by the Bros, de Alwis, and the larva is there described as feeding 

 on " Pulmaceat." 



Mr. Wallace describes these butterflies as "forest-haunting insects, frequenting chiefly 

 damp places, where there is a dense herbaceous vegetation. Their Bight is slow, resembling 

 that of the Saiijn'thr and Morphithr." * * 



I am at present able to enumerate seven species as belonging to this fauna. 



♦ * Entomolugirt/ vol. x. p, SBO* f Tntna. Em. Hoc. im\. p. 8*21. J Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 618. 



§ Horaf. & Moore, Cat. Lep. Ins. Muk. E. t C. I pj. vi. f. 7, 7 a. II Ibid. p. 2S7. 



IT Cniit. ile l&Clt&ttmette (Eat* Mo. Mag. ii. p. 3S| ik-scribes the perfect insect of tins species at Calcutta, as "settling 

 oil tbe trunks of the Corypha." 



** Trims. Eat. Soc. lSC9 f p. 321. 



