126 



W. Dolierty — Noles on Assam Butterflies. 



[No. 1, 



tlie female tarns out to have two parallel raised processes on the under- 

 side of the abdomen, as in that species, it might be classed with it. 

 But it seems nearer the European iris, though so differently coloured. 

 The border is loss serrate, the forewing moi'e falcate, and its costa longer 

 than in any other Apatura. The abdominal margin of the hindwing 

 is long and the outer margin not much rounded. The radial veins of 

 the forewing are unusually approximate basally, and the last bifurcation 

 of the subcostal is unusually near the margin. It is remarkable 

 that the vai-ieties of Apatura namouna and Vilipa morgiana found in 

 the Naga Hills, judging from the specimens in the Indian Museum, 

 differ from Sikkim specimens and somewhat resemble this species in 

 their smooth-bordered elongate wings, weak bodies, and dull colouring.* 

 Pbothoe regalis, Butler, var. One ragged male taken near 



* In a paper which appeared in this Journal in May, 1886, the oorreotions to which 

 arrived too late for publication, Potamia (Apatura) namouna was by a olerioal en-or 

 placed among the Ni/mphaUdce, instead of among the Euripince at the top of the 

 precpdmg page. This group, like the Dolesclinllinm and Charaxidai (which by a 

 similar error wore placed between the Apaturidm and Nt/mpfialidm) seem iiiter- 

 modiato between t\\e Apat\iHd(S. and Satiji ida;. As Charaxes is partially connected 

 with the Knripiniv by ProflioS and Iff/ n as it had bettor be placed as a sub-family 

 at the end of the Apaturidm, The name Bijhliadce must be substituted for EuryteHdai. 

 KalUma it seems, is a true apaturid, near RhMtopalpa and Hypolimnas. There 

 is no important difference between the Junonia and Apahtra groups, though the 

 Vanessa group seems distinct enough. So much confusion arises from the use of the 

 names Nymphalis and Apatura, that it is a pity that they cannot be dropped 

 altogthcr. The Apaturidai might then stand as the Tanessid<e, the Nymphalidte 

 as the Neptida. The latter including Limenitis, Adelpha, Nepth, Euthalia, Parthenos 

 and their allies is a well separated group j the former can only bo separated from the 

 Salyridee and MorpJdda^ by an artificial line. The long series of genera from the 

 most primitive morphid to the lughest apaturid {Cynthia or Oethosia for instance) 

 forms almost an unbroken chain. The anomixlous genus Pse.udeniolis, in which tlie 

 forelegs of the female, though small, are quite perfect, might be formed into a sepa- 

 rate family, or subfamily. The undescribod female of P. avesta, which exliibits this 

 peculiarity, has but little re.somblaaoe to the male, but is a close mimio of Precis 

 iphita. 



Lihythea seems more allied to Bamadryas and the Neotropidm than to the 

 Pierid<B. Of the Ertjcinidte, the American Lemomnre (with their reticulate eggs) seem 

 very much nearer the Lycainidm than their Eastern allies are, though no doubt all 

 thi-ee are related. The arrangement adopted with the Hespcriadm cannot stand, 

 and I have altogether remodelled it. The statement that the enclosed spaces (later- 

 ally) on the eggs of Lycwnido! were tetragonal was inadvertent. They are trigonal, 

 tetragonal, hctagonal, or wholly irregular, according to the genus and sub-family. 

 My work on eggs and yonng larvfB still progresses, and on account of the great 

 number of genera covered, it may, I hope, prove a useful supplement to the l,-<)7onrs 

 of Scaddor and Kdwards, 



