LIBYTH^IN^. 
5 
I liave not seen any of these butterflies alive, but from tlie notes of 
various collectors they are evidently very active insects, resembling in 
their flight and habits the smaller Nyniplialince. The Cingalese L, 
Rama, Moore, is noted by Messrs. Hutchison and Mackwood (Moore's 
Lepicloptera of Ceylon, p. 68) as frequenting forest lands and the 
vicinity of jungle, and darting about and settling on the ground ; while 
the Natalian L. Laius, Trim., seems only to settle on the stems and 
twigs of trees. 
The larva of the European species feeds on the " Nettle Tree " 
(Celtis australis), but I am not aware that the food-plant of any other 
Libythca has been recorded. 
118. (1.) Libythea Laius, Trimen. 
Plate YII. fig. 3 ( ? )• 
Lihijtliea Laius, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1879, P- 337- 
Exp. aL, I in. io-| lin. — 2 in. 2 lin. 
$ Dark-hroivn, glossed ivith hroiizy-yellovj reflections; until ^-^a/e 
fulvouS'Ochreous hars and spots. Fore-ioing : a longitudinal bar from 
base occupies lower half of discoidal cell, widening gradually to its 
abrupt extremity just above origin of first median nervule ; immediately 
beyond bar (sometimes touching or even merged in it) a large, roughly 
subquadrate spot, which is widest interiorly, and anteriorly reaches to 
end of discoidal cell ; a little beyond and below this spot, a larger paler 
subovate spot, the upper part of which is traversed by the second 
median nervule ; on outer portion of inner margin a very faint j)ale- 
ochreous cloud ; an irregular, oblique, subapical row of three white 
spots, of which the first is nearest middle, largest, exteriorly elongated 
and crossed in its upper part by the subcostal nervure, and the others 
are together apart, of about equal size, one above and the other below 
the second radial nervule. Hind-wing : costal margin rather broadly 
dull-whitish from base as far as a quadrate, pale, whitish- ochreous spot 
about middle, lying between costal nervure and first subcostal nervule ; 
below and beyond this spot, just above second subcostal nervule, a 
small ochreous spot ; beyond middle, a straight transverse bar formed 
of four contiguous spots (of which the first is largest and the fourth 
smallest and less distinct than the rest), extending from just below 
second subcostal nervule, not far from apex, to first median nervule, not 
far from its origin. Under side. — Hind-wing and apex of fore-wing 
very variable in tint and clouding, the prevalent ground-colour being 
glossy-grey irrorated and hatclied with hlack and fuscous. Fore-wing : 
paler than on upper side, the bars and spots larger ; discoidal cell filled 
by much enlarged and united bar and spot ; a small whitish spot 
immediately beyond upper part of extremity of cell ; second and third 
spots of subapical row united in one crescent-shaped marking. Hind- 
wing : in two specimens the upper side costal spot and discal bar 
VOL. ir. . | B 
