NEPTIS. By H. FRimSTORFER. 
613 
N. cartica displays above the ordinary Neptis character, agreeing in its design so closely with nandina 
etc. that it is frequently mistaken for it. But the markings of the under surface of the hindwing are so charac¬ 
teristic that I am surprised that Moore subordinated it to his Genus ‘ Bimbisara ’ rather than founding a 
new Genus on it. For cartica is the only white Neptis lacking on the under surface of hindwing the whitish 
subbasal band, a characteristic shared by anjana Moore and ananta Moore belonging to the yellow Neptis. 
Moreover, the hindwing has the white basal spot broader and more conspicuous than in any other species. This 
fundamental characteristic which unites cartica with anjana-autara , has hitherto not been mentioned by any 
of the authorities on Indian Lepidoptera. cartica may be subdivided into three subspecies: cartica Moore cartica. 
(125 e), representing the form of the dry-season, only slightly differing from the rainy-season form carticoides carticoidex. 
Moore , which is somewhat larger, with narrower, slightly diffuse white bands, and the brown bands on under 
surface more prominent. Sikkim, Nepal. — nashona Swinh. has the white markings greatly obscured, reduced nashona. 
and richly suffused with violet beneath. Assam, hitherto only known from the Khasi Hills. - — burmana De burmana. 
Nicer. the very reverse of the preceding form, with luxuriant white markings. Burmah, Tenasserim. 
i- ggj We now bring a group of Neptidi which is strictly confined to the Papuan Region; its species have 
always, on account of their great similarity to Tellervo (Hamadryas ), kept awake the interest of collectors 
of Lepidoptera; they were until lately very scarce and, being greatly subject to local variation, have often 
been mistaken for others and given wrong names. 
Before describing the different species, a general table will be found useful to assist in the determina¬ 
tion of the Papuan Neptis, since neither De Niceville nor Moore recognized or defined their fundamental 
differential characteristics. 
Group I: Apex of forewing acuminate. 
A. Submarginal spots beneath white: brebissom Bsd. 
B. Submarginal spots beneath violet: satina Sm. 
Group II: Apex of forewing rounded. 
A. Hindwing beneath with only one white basal spot: nausicaa de Nicer. 
B. Hindwing beneath with three white basal spots: praslini Bsd. 
Of N. brebissoni four forms have been described: brebissoni Bsd. resembles above damarete and brebissoni. 
satina, but has the white spots before the apex of fore wings smaller. Dutch New Guinea, very scarce. — sim- simbanga. 
banga Hag. replaces brebissoni in German New Guinea. According to Hagen the upper surface resembles that 
of satina (125 g), but the under surface offers the following differences: On the forewing the cell does not have 
a bluish longitudinal dash, divided by two fine lines which may occasionally be absent, but three sharply defined, 
steel-blue spots separated from each other by broad interspaces, the inner, basal one being a mere streak, the middle 
one quadrate, the outer one acute triangular; on the hindwing the white median band does not reach the costa 
as in satina ; the two bluish antemarginal bands are composed of rather small spots separated from one another 
by larger interspaces. Hagen knew only of two <$$ from Simbang; 1 possess two $<$, one from Stephansort 
and another from Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen, differing from satina Sm. in their inferior size; moreover the hind¬ 
wing has the lower white median spot placed somewhat nearer the outer margin and the subanal spots smaller; 
the forewing the subapical dots more delicate. Under surface has on forewing the cellular streak always divided, 
the median spot greatly enlarged, the antemarginal dots etc. clear white instead of violet; on hindwing the 
median band much broader, oblong and shorter, the submarginal dots smaller and white instead of violet. -—- 
metioche Fruhst. differs from brebissoni in the larger white spots on forewing, the broader clear white band on metioche. 
hindwing and especially in the greatly enlarged white spots on the under surface of both wings. Island of Waigiu, 
very scarce. -—- dulcinea Sm. displays its pronounced insular character in the reduction of the white band on dulcinea. 
hindwing which strongly tapers anally. Island of Mafor, in Geelvink Bay, discovered by W. Doherty in May 
or June 1897. 
(A| N. satina shows among all members of this group the plainest and at the same time most characteristic 
markings. The upper surface is very well shown in our figures (125 g); the under surface is distinguished on 
forewing by the undivided cellular streak of blue or greenish bronze-colour, the broadly diffuse intramedian 
spots and two nearly complete rows of white antemarginal dots; hindwing with two conspicuous subbasal 
stripes and a sharply defined median band. Before the terminal margin two series of whitish spots united into 
a sort of band and suffused with blue or violet. — satina Sm. ( 1 25g) discovered by Doherty on Humboldt Bay, satina. 
Dutch New Guinea, is the larger of the two known forms, distinguished by the large white band on hindwing. 
— - damarete Fruhst. (125 g) has all white markings greatly reduced, the white bands being as a rule conside- damarete. 
rably narrower than shown in our figure. German New-Guinea, according to Hagen not scarce from June till 
December. 
