HR OPALOCERA MALA FAN A . 



Genus LEPTOCIBCUS, 



Is}>tocimt*, Swainson, Zoo). HI, Lie* u, p. 106 (1882-88); Boisd. Sp. Gen. i. p. 880 (1886); Doubl. Gen. 



Diurn. Lep. p. 22 (1647). 

 Umpivptem, Gray, Griff. Ann. Kingd, xv. fc. 102, f. 4 (1882). 



Tli in g«nus, as already pointed out {anti>a % p. 824), differ a from Ptipilio in all its sectional groups, by 

 having the third, fourth, and fifth subcostal nervulee of the auterior wings with a common origin. More 

 detailed diagnosis appears unnecessary here, as these characters are not only clearly defined, but the 

 general faeies of the species are almost indicative of the genus. 



Leptocircus seems well and naturally classified in a position intermediate between the 

 " Swallow-tail" Papilios and the Hespermke, many species of which — especially from Tropical 

 America — have more or less similar caudate prolongations to the posterior wings. 



The genus is not of large extent, and is purely Eastern in distribution. It appears to 

 be confined to the Indo-Malayan region, and other portions of tne Malayan Archipelago. 



Two species are here recorded as from the Malay Peninsula, 



I. Leptocircus meges. (Tab. XXXII., fig. 3.) 



i'r>!>itu> a&yit, Zinkeu-Soramer, Nova Acta Ac. Nat. Cur. xv. p. 101, t. 15, f. 8 (1881), 

 blnjrina Cttriu*. Godt. Enc. M&h. ii. SuppL p. 827 (1828). 

 Lam r rt'pUrtt Curim, Gray, Griff. Au. Kingd. xv. t. 102, f. 4 (1832), 



L*ptoare*$ Curiu*, Swatoa. 2ool. 111. Ins. ii. 1. 100 (1838) ; Boisd. Sp. Gen. i. p, 881, t. 7, f. 1 (1886). 



isi&mrcm Mtyt's, Doubl. Zool. i. pp. 110, 111, %. (1848); Gray, Cat. Lep, Papil. p. 78, a. 837 fl852); 

 Horsf. & Moore, Cat. Lep. Mus. E.I. C. vol. i, p. 85, n. 178 (ltfa7); Feld. Spec. Lepid. Papil. p, 1, 

 n. 2 (1864); Beak, (part), Proe. Eat. Soc. Phil, iii, p. 494, n. 20 (1864); Wall. Trans. Lion. Soo. 

 vol, ssv. p. 68, n. 120 (1865). 



Male and Female. Anterior wings above pale hyaline, the ne oration, the margins, and basal half 

 black, the black area being divided by a broad, pal© greenish fascia ; posterior wings black, a greenish fascia 

 parallel and similar to that on anterior wings, but attenuated posteriorly, and not extending beyond the 

 central area ; the anal-angular area and caudate appendages dusted with greenish scales, the lower half of * 

 fringe, inner margins and apices of caudate appendages greyish- white. Wings beneath as above, but 

 inner area of both wings pale greenish, thus giving the appearance of two greenish fasche, the central fascia 

 greyish on posterior wings, and the posterior wings with the abdominal margin above anal angle marked 

 with three oblique pale greenish stripes. Body above black; beneath, with legs, greyish - white ; legs 

 streaked with blackish. 



Exp. wings, 45 millim. 



Hab. — Continental India; Silhet, Assam (Feld.). — Malay Peninsula; Perak 'Kiinst. — Caic. Mus.); 

 Sungei Ujong (Durnford— coll. Uist j j Malacca (Feld. and Wall.). — Java ^Zink. and Wall.). 



In February, 1884, my friend Capt. Godfery sent me some interesting observations on 

 this species. He wrote: — "In Perak .... I invariably found this butterfly over running 

 water, and its appearance was so peculiar that, had I not known what to expect, I might 

 almost have passed it by, thinking it was not one. The transparent wings and long streaming 

 tails give it a certain resemblance to a dragon-fly, and since its haunts are by the water-side, 

 this mfiy be of service to the insect. Its flight, however, hardly bears out this resemblance, 

 consisting of a kind of dancing motion, — a series of mid-air jumps, so to speak, — very different 

 to the direct swift flight or the steady hovering motion of the LibelMidw* Still the rapid 



Apml 30, 1886. 5 a 



