SURENDRA. By Dr. A. Seitz. 
043 
The Theclini are not only exteriorly characterized by the tails of the hindwings often exhibiting a 
monstrous length and by the long distal margin of the forewing, but there are also some evident differences in 
the habits of the Theclini from those of the Lycaenini and Chrysophanini. First of all, the Theclini do not 
occur in masses as e. g. the Zizera and Polyommatu-s do in India and many Lycaena in European meadows or 
clover-fields. The Thecla, Zephyrus, Rapala, Deudorix, Bindahara are partly also common lepidoptera; but 
I had never any occasion of observing that the air above the sunny roads seemed to scintillate with them as 
in India of the great number of Zizera dashing along above the-soil, that the Thecla or their allies were crowding 
in great numbers round the pools on the roads, as for instance in the Alps the Lycaena, that all the bushes 
on sunny slopes are alive with male lepidoptera as in China the Catochrysops strabo and in many places of Southern 
Europe and of Asia the Polyommatus baeticus. On the contrary, many Theclini are of a very rare occurrence, 
and even of genera being rich in species, such as Poritia, Camena etc., sometimes hardly one specimen is to 
be seen for years. The hypothesis frequently heard that all the species of insects are common if only one succeeds 
in advancing to their right habitats, certainly does not come true in many Theclini, as little as in the notoriously 
rare Erycinida, or some Agrias in America, of which in fact only a limited number of specimens seem to exist. 
36. Genus: Surendra Mr. 
This genus initiates the Arhopala- group with which it has been frequently united. 12 forms are reckoned 
hereto, all of which inhabit the Indian Continent and the Sunda Islands. Forewing with a bent costa and a 
straight, in the d even often somewhat concave distal margin which makes the apex appear very pointed. 
Hindwing partly tailless, at the margin dentate, or also with 3 tail-appendages. The distinct separation from 
the genus Arhopala is rather difficult; but the shape of the egg of Surendra is said to be quite different from 
Arhopala, more than in Thecla. 
S. quercetorum Mr. (= vivarna Hew. nec Hsj.) (149 a). The upper surface of the d may be quite querceto- 
monotonously dark brown, without any blue; such specimens are known from the Khasia Hills for which, ruw 
however, they are not characteristic. In most of the cases, however, the dd are above suffused with blue (in a 
similar way as the figured d of vivarna) but with a more violet reflection. Discernible from vivarna Hsj. by 
the under surface being without any white bands or small spots; the under surface of the d is almost just as 
unmarked dark brown as that of our figured $ which is above invariably of a dull dark brown, almost as beneath. 
British India, particularly in the Himalaya. — In ab. discalis Mr., described from Ceylon, though not characte- discalis. 
ristic for that district, the blue colour in the d above is confined to the centre of the wing, whilst the $ is above 
tinted with ochreous. — ab. biplagiata Mr., described from Madras, has a greyer under surface, which may Uplagiata. 
be due to the dryness of the habitat. — neritos Fruhst. is the form from Tonkin (Chiem-hoa), described as a neritos. 
form of quercetorum, but presumably it is more correctly reckoned to vivarna. Shape of the wings more roundish 
than in Indian forms, hindwing above black without any blue. Both wings beneath in the d and $ more uniform, 
lighter grey, without the brown bands through the hindwing, the black dentate lines hazy and their white proximal 
bordering faded. -— The imagines fly all the year round in hot districts, they are common at their habitats 
and like to rest on low bushes. 
S. vivarna Hsj. (149 a). According to Bethune-Baker, chiefly distinguished from the preceding vivarna. 
by the white markings beneath which are absent in quercetorum. This species represents the latter in the south. 
The typical form originates from Java. — amisena Heiv. (149 a), from Sumatra and the part of Malacca opposite amisena. 
it. The d shows instead of the small tail of the hindwing very short small dents which are sometimes indicated 
also in the $ though only traceably. Here the wings above show a slight lilac lustre duller in the $ than in 
the d; i n many $$ it has disappeared altogether, so that the upper surface appears to be uni-coloured dark 
brown. -— agdistis Fruhst., from Nias, has a more distinct white median band on the hindwing beneath than agdistis. 
Sumatran specimens, and the verdigris scaling at the anal angle of the hindwing is more extensive. — polowna polowna. 
Stgr., from Borneo and Palawan, is said to differ in the small tails being replaced by minute knobs, which, 
however, may vary at the same locality; but polowna is said to lack entirely the metallic greenish scales at 
the anal angle of the hindwing beneath. —- latimargo Mr., from the Andamans, is smaller, with shorter wings, latimargo. 
and the blue of the d above is very much reduced, on the hindwing there are only traces of it. This form 
represents the natural bridge to the preceding form. — samina Fruhst., from Celebes, on the contrary, is some- samina. 
what larger than vivarna, similar to latimargo, on the d hindwing without blue, on the forewing with reduced 
blue; beneath light grey, the white marking of the hindwing distinct, but without the verdigris scales at the 
anal angle of the hindwing. ■— The species is not rare. 
S. florimel Doh. (150 a) is very similar to the preceding, recognizable by the hindwing being rather florimel. 
sharply angled in the centre of the margin and being beneath almost entirely uni-coloured dark brown, but 
in the centre with a bent chain of whitish spots, and before the margin with a series of light spots being at the 
anal angle metallic scaled and dark-centred. — stimula Nic. is said to be merely founded upon an especially stinuda. 
