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NEPTIS. By H. Frtjhstorfer. 
N. nausicaa is a distinct species, easily distinguished from praslini and praslini papua by the presence 
on the under surface of hindwing of only one basal spot, whereas praslini and its allies have invariably three. 
Moreover the white median band on hindwing almost touches, especially on under surface, the submarginal 
dots, being always longer and, in the forms from Dutch and German New Guinea, uniformly broad. Of nausicaa 
nausicaa. I know four distinct forms: nausicaa Nicev. (125f), according to Hagen very common in Kaiser-Wilhelmsland 
and greatly subject to variation. Within the limits of the German Colony two local varieties appear to exist, 
namely the typical nausicaa, with very small submarginal dots on the hindwings, as it was figured by Niceville 
(Stephansort) and the other one with larger spots (Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen). From the Schoenberg Collection 
1 have received in addition some specimens in which the white distal band on hindwing reaches the costa and 
is on either side suffused with greenish instead of blue. Dr. Strand reports that nausicaa has been discovered 
sy.vosa. by Prof. L. Schultze also on the Upper Kaiserin-Augusta River. — syxosa Fruhst., a dwarfed form of the 
preceding subspecies, from Dorey, north-western Dutch New Guinea, forewing measuring 28 mm against 32 in 
nausicaa. Wings more rounded, white markings reduced, median band on hindwing broken up anally, being 
deeply invaded by the black ground-colour. The submarginal spots, altough individually smaller, are arranged 
in more complete rows. Median spot on under surface of hindwing costally and distally narrower, rather 
sparagmata. more oval than in nausicaa. —■ sparagmata Frulist. $ somewhat smaller than $ of nausicaa, approaching 
symbiosa and syxosa. sparagmata differs from all the other forms in having the white spots greatly reduced 
on either wing and the whitish-blue median band on hindwing finger-shaped and distally much narrower. The 
reduction of the white markings is evident also on under surface. Submarginal dots on forewing and median 
band on hindwing at their periphery richly suffused with blue. South-western Dutch New-Guinea, Tanah-Merah, 
symbiosa. July 1905, type 1 $ in Roeber’s Collection. — symbiosa Fruhst. has the wings still rounder than syxosa, 
recalling praslini. Forewing with clearer white and more sharply defined spots, those within and particularly 
at the apex of the cell much shorter. Hindwing with discal spot nearly as round as in praslini, broader than in 
nausicaa, but considerably shorter. Under surface: Median spots on forewing larger than in nausicaa ; at the 
costal margin of hindwing a very long white streak, only very rarely met with in nausicaa in the shape of an 
obsolete dash. I presume that symbiosa has, on account of the round shape of the median spot on hindwing, 
been frequently mistaken by previous authors with praslini from British New-Guinea. Milne Bay, British 
lyria. New Guinea. — lyria Fruhst. has the band on hindwing still more completely rounded and, at the same time, 
all white spots enlarged, particularly the triangular patch at the apex of the cell on forewing, whereas 
on hindwing the submarginal dots have almost disappeared. In the luxuriant white markings of the upper 
surface lyria approaches Phaedyma eleuthera Sm. from Stephansort, praslini terentia from Wetter and praslini 
connexa Sm. from Key. Island of Waigiu. 
N. praslini. This much disputed species has developed the greatest number of forms in the entire 
Group. Above it differs from nausicaa in the shorter, nearly circular median area on hindwing. Beneath the 
hindwing is adorned with three white basal dots, and the white median area is, in contradistinction to the pre¬ 
ceding species, invariably of an oval or oblong shape, not shawl or band-like as in nausicaa, brebissoni and 
praslini. satina, even when on the upper surface in appears long-stretched. — praslini Bsd. (125 f) is found exclusively 
in Neu-Mecklenburg (called New-Ireland by the English), or rather, Boisduval’s type came from that island. 
nemeus. — nemeus de Nicev. shows, although larger than praslini, in its markings much less white; the median spots on 
forewing smaller, distally diffuse; distal spot on hindwing at a greater distance from the base, more rounded; 
saloe. the submarginal streaks thinner, more delicate, but longer. Neu-Pommern. — saloe Fruhst. is distinguished 
maionia. beneath by the submarginal spots being bluish instead of white. Neu-Hannover. — rnaionia Fruhst. represents 
a local form from German New Guinea, differing from that found in the Dutch part of the island in the greatly 
reduced white median spots on forewing, from standingeriana in its superior size and the narrower discal spot on 
hindwing. The $ found in my collection has the median spots on forewing smaller and more roundish than 
papua. they appear in De Niceville’s figure of $. German New-Guinea. — papua Oberth. closely allied to mes- 
sogis Fruhst. (125 f), but with diminished white spots. So far only known from Dorey and Rubi in the Nortli- 
messogis. West of Dutch New Guinea and from Mt. Epa in the south-western part of the Dutch colony. -— messogis 
Fruhst. (125 1) differs from papua Oberth. in the larger white spots, from lactaria Btlr. in the reduction of all 
dorcas. white markings. For the rest I refer the reader to the figure. Waigiu. -—■ dorcas Sm. an excellent insular 
form; hindwing with greatly divided white discal spot and uncommonly large submarginal dots. Island of 
Biak, Mysore, Korrido and from Ansus in Jobi, in which latter localities it differs according to Kirsch in the 
ronensis. increase of the white markings. —- ronensis Sm. characterized by having the white band on hindwing strongly 
lactaria. contracted basally. Island of Ron, in German New Guinea, collected by Meek. ■—- lactaria Btlr. from the 
Aru Islands, a very rare form of which no figure exists so far. It resembles connexa Sm., but with larger white 
connexa. spots. ■—■ connexa Sm. is a relatively small-sized form with exceedingly narrow discal spot on hindwing and 
terentia. uncommonly large white spot at apex of cell on forewing. Key Islands, scarce. — terentia Fruhst. deviates 
