li HO PA L 0 CERA MALA VAN A. 



245 



Affile. Wings above dark shining cuBmlefm-blue ; anterior wings with the costal margin and the 

 apical half of wing — inwardly angulated at median uervuro mid narrowed into a marginal fascia beneath 

 lower median nervule — blackish ; posterior wings with the costal margin and apex broadly and the 

 posterior margin narrowly blackish, tail-like appendages blackish, with their apices white: abdominal 

 margin greyish-brown. Wings beneath dark greyish ; anterior wings witb an outer discal series of linear 

 fuscous or blackish spots placed between the nervules and a subinarginal series of rather larger but much 

 paler spots — these are sometimes almost obsolete ; the outer margin also darker ; posterior wings with two 

 similar series of spots, the inner and darker series longer, more continuous and waved towards anal angle, 

 where it is duplex, a third marginal series of spots, two black marginal spots inwardly broadly margined 

 with ochraceouH, situate respectively between the second and third median nervules, and at anal angle ; 

 some scattered bluish scales between lower median nervule and submedian nervure ; the extreme outer 

 margin blackish ; fringe of both wings brownish-grey. Body and legs more or less coneolorous with 

 wings. 



Female. Wings above very pale violaceous-blue ; anterior wings with the costal and outer margins 

 (broadest at apex) dark fuscous; posterior wings with the basal third clotLmd with line long greyish hairs, 

 and with the costal margin broadly dark fuscous, a submarmnal row of fuscous spots (sometimes obsolete 

 toward* uhthminut margin, as in the specimen jiijnr*'d) t and a marginal row of larger fuscous spots [sometimes 

 fused and timahfamttted towards apex into a marginal fascia), apex of abdominal margin fuscous, the spot at 

 anal angle containing some scattered bluish scales, and more or less distinctly inwardly margined with 

 ochraceous. Wings beneath as in male. 



Exp. wings, i and ? , 85 to 38 millim, 



Hab.— Continental India; 41 N. India," sic. (Horsf. & Moore).— Ceylon (Thwaites— coll. Dist.).— 

 Burma; Moulmein (Brit. Mue.). — Malay Peninsula; Malacca (Pin will— Brit. Mus.), — Java (coll Horsf.). 



The larva and pupa of this species, as observed in Java, have been figured by HorsfieM/ 

 who thus describes the first:— "The larva is considerably distended anteriorly, excavated at 

 the sides, contracted behind and transversely swelled at the segments." It feeds " en a species 

 of Lormithm, which grows parasitically in great abundance on the mango and other fruit trees 

 surrounding the villages of the natives." Dr. Horsfkkl also remarks, " In the imago state the 

 peculiarity chiefly exhibits itself in the antennae, which are abruptly terminated by a short 

 point." I am unaware whether this may be a peculiarity confined to Javan specimens, but 

 have certainly been unable to see it in Ceylonese examples, at least as prominently as figured 

 by H or s field. 



2. Tajuria mantra, t (Tab, XXI., fig. 11 ? .) 



Ibetitinltfcana mantra, Felder, Wieu. Eut. Mou. iv. p. 39G, u. 9 (1800). 

 Mijrhta Mantra, Feld. Iteisc Nov. Lep, iu p. 238, n. 270, t. 3D, f. 14 (1865). 

 hlaut Martini (var. ?\, Hewits. HI. Diurn. Lep. p. -tt>, n. 20, t. 20, f. 24 1181)6). 



* Cat. Lep. E.LC.t, iv. t 5, 5a. 



f The name "mantra"' used by Felder for this species denotes Unit part of the " Veda" which lmn been defined by 

 Prof. Marie* Wilhama as "prayer and praise, embodied in texts imtl metrical hymns 11 {* Hinduism,' p. IB). It becomes a 

 question whether it is justifiable, either in good taste or as iv precedent lo be followed, that ecclesiastic terms belonging to 

 other religious systems than our own, should thus be used as Bpecifk names for insects. It cannot for h moment be believed 

 that those uloiie burn in Christian countries are to Le the iujologi&te in the future, and there can he little doubt of the reception 

 that would Ijc accorded in this country to specific names of injects, proposed by a Hindu, on ecclesiastical terms used by the 

 Christian Church. Kuglish entomologists, in particular, have not besituted to nuhlcsHly owe the most sacred nameH in both 

 Buddhism and Hinduism for this purpose (Islam has somewhat escaped], and the practice logically culminated, when au 

 American entomologist used in a similar manner the most sacred name in Judaism, lo the scandal of those who did not 

 lictdtate to employ, and cheerfully use T the terms of concepts in other religion* systems, 



Algcst, 1884. 3 it 



