PHASSUS. By R. Pfitzner f and M. Gaede. 
842 
nanus. H. nanus H.-Schdff. (77 b). The patria is stated to be “New Holland \ An insignificant brownish 
ochreous species exhibiting only 2 rows of fine black dots in the distal area of the forewing. Somewhat 
more distinct black dots behind them at the distal margin. A 28 mm. 
rufula. H. rufula Trnr. Thorax reddish, abdomen reddish-grey. Forewing reddish with several rows of pale 
brown spots of variable sizes. Hindwing dark brown, somewhat reddish. The $ has more longish wings. It 
is pale reddish ash-grey, without any marking. Hindwing grey. Separated from simulans (78 c) by the ab¬ 
sence of the silvery streaks and by the rounder apex of the forewing. 20—32 mm. Hobart (Tasmania). 
pelagia. H. pelagia Trnr. Body dark brown. Forewing almost oval, brownish ochreous; grey towards the 
inner and distal margins. Slightly strewn white between the veins. Hindwing grey. The forewing of the 
9 is also uniformly grey. 40—45 mm. Tasmania. 
noserodes. H. noserodes Meyr. A 30—35 mm. Head, antennae and abdomen dark brown, forewing oblong, distal 
margin very oblique, dark brown or whitish dark brown with longitudinal and transverse rows of darker, 
sometimes white-edged dots, sometimes a very thin straight longitudinal stripe which is intensely edged 
with dark above. Fringe blackish-brown. Hindwing dark brown or whitish dark brown. New South Wales, 
Sydney. May. 
polyspila. H. polyspila Meyr. A 31 mm. Head, antennae and thorax brownish ochreous. Abdomen lighter. Fore¬ 
wing oblong-triangular, dark brown, veins and a broad costal stripe pale ochreous. Costal margin dark brown 
at the base. This part with numerous irregular, somewhat oval white dots. Fringe whitish ochreous, feebly 
interrupted with dark brown. Hindwing pale brown, costal margin and the veins towards the costal margin 
ochreous. Fringe as on forewing. One specimen from Victoria (Wimmera). 
crocea. H. crocea Luc. A 26—28 mm. Mahogany-red, hindwing and abdomen more ochreous, a small black 
discal spot on the forewing. $ 36—38 mm, more vermilion, discal spot smoky brown, abdomen and hind¬ 
wing ochreous. Brisbane. The prettiest species of Hectomones. 
11. Genus: Phassus Wlcr. 
An extraordinarily characteristic genus. Antennae very short and thin. Palpi scarcely recognizable, 
proboscis absent. Abdomen very long, wings broad, the A forewing falcately extended with golden or- silvery 
stigmata. The habitus of the usually brown or grey marbled Pliassus recalls that of gigantic Phryganidae. 
The genus chiefly occurs in the tropical primeval forests; some of them reach the palaearctic zone; its greatest 
development in number aird size is to be found in the tropical regions of South America, where Ph. giganteus 
almost attains the Australian Leto stacyi. In the Indo-Australian region the genus inhabits Tropical India, 
China, and the Sunda Is. 
signifer. Ph. sigrtifer Wkr. (= chalybeatus Mr.) (Vol. II, pi. 54 a). This well-known, large, widely distributed 
species extends with its branches and subordinate forms into the expanded palaearctic region ( chalybeatus Mr., 
Darjeeling; herzi Fixs., Korea, sinensis Mr., Shanghai) as well as into the Indo-Australian region, where 
its form undulifer Wkr. occurs in North India (Benares), extending also farther to Borneo and Ceylon. Its 
colouring is extremely variable. Forewing yellowish, flesh-coloured, or light greyish-brown, the median area 
nut-brown and olive brown with 2 silvery stigmata, hindwing from flesh-coloured to red-brown. A darker, 
herzi. hindwing yellowish-brown. It has an expanse of up to 154 mm. The very closely allied form: herzi Fixs. 
belongs yet to this relation. On this occasion we must correct a wrong statement: the Hepialid form figured 
kosempo- as herzi in Vol. II (pi. 54 a) does not represent herzi, but excrescens Btlr. — kosemponis Strd. The $ is 
niS . smaller than signifer, the 6 dark spots at the costal margin are differently arranged. The shape and arrange¬ 
ment of the silvery spots resemble those of signifer, also the dark triangular area in which they are situate. 
9 86 mm. The G is darker instead of lighter, the distal band as indistinct as in purpurascens (78 d). The 
submarginal spots also correspond better with those of purpurascens. $ 67 mm. Both the types are slightly 
damaged. Formosa. 
sericeus. Ph* sericeus Swh. A head and abdomen brown. Forewing pale chocolate grey, costal margin marked 
chocolate brown, the spots arranged in pairs. A white dot at the end of the cell, a broad brown spot filling 
the cell, indented above, leaves a pale interspace below the costal margin and expands far hindward. Two 
bands of brown spots before the distal margin reach the inner margin before the anal angle. Hindwing 
and under surface grey. 75 mm. Java (Malang). Distinguished from sinensis by the absence of the short 
white ray on the inside of the white cellular spot and the absence of the white spots near the base of the cell. 
malabari- Ph* malabaricus Mr. differs from the likewise similar signifer (Vol. II, pi. 54 a) in the pale chestnut- 
cus. colour of the spots on the forewing, with small costal spots. Before the centre of the triangular area there 
is a yellowish-white spot or a longitudinal, not transverse, streak. The spots of the postmedian and submedian 
bands are rounded, not oblong. Hindwing reddish-brown, 9 forewing grey or reddish-brown. 102. 9 126 mm. 
Carrara, Nilgiri Plateau. 6—8000 ft. 
