24 
SATYRINiE. 
Melanitis leda, Linn . 
On the wing throughout the year, and the two seasonal forms, though overlapping, differ 
greatly in the colouring of the underside and form of apex of the forewing; the winter or d.s.f. 
used formerly to be distinguished as M. ismene , Cram. It is a very common butterfly here, 
frequenting shady localities, especially the dead leaves under trees, where it rests with closed wings, 
often inclining at a noticeable angle to the surface it rests on, as also does Mycaiesis. It flies 
chiefly at sunset, erratically and swiftly, suddenly dropping on the ground in a manner very 
difficult to follow with the eye. In the evening it is very fond of an avenue of large trees, flying 
swiftly but unsteadily and every now and then settling or rather dropping in the dust of the road. 
Melanitis is not a flower-lover, but may occasionally be seen feeding on sap of plants or overripe 
fruits. A very full account of the seasonal dimorphism of this butterfly at Hongkong is given in 
a paper by the late Jenner-Weir, F.L.S. (Proc. South Lond. Ent. Soc. 1892-3). In the d.s.f. 
the ocelli on the underside become nearly or quite obsolete or merely indicated by a small dot; the 
under surface exhibiting instead a remarkable range of colour and marking, some specimens being 
clouded and marbled with various shades of purple, red, brown and yellow—in fact all the tints of 
decaying leaves—whilst others are almost uniform ochreous, or with one or two conspicuous black 
spots or markings. Perhaps, as Walker in his List hints, the soil of certain localities has some 
influence on their colouration, communicated, it may be, through the foodplant of the larva; since 
specimens from special places, though varying individually, generally exhibit some predominant 
colour in common. The d.s.f. has the apex of the forewings much produced, almost hooked, the 
median angle of the hind wing largely accentuated, in a few individuals developed into a real “tail,” 
as large as that of many specimens of Papilio agamemnon; the upperside scarcely changes, 
except that the ocellus in the forewings is often largely developed. The sexes are similar, but the 
? is usually larger and has the ocelli better marked, especially that on the upperside of the forewing. 
The d.s.f. of both sexes is generally much larger than the other form. This butterfly, like many 
Satyrids, is often very light-coloured on the upperside, inclining to ochreous. 
Fig. 2, PI. Ill is from a S taken in June, Fig. 3 a £ taken in January. 
The larva is figured on PI. ia, Fig. 9, pupa Fig. 10. The larva feeds on Rottboellia 
exaltata , Linn, fi, Nat. Ord. Graminece, widely distributed in the tropics, but it probably feeds 
also on other grasses. The sp. mentioned is a stout plant growing upwards of three feet and is 
armed on the stem and leaf-sheaths with stiff siliceous hairs. The leaves have a white mid-rib. 
When young the larvae are to some extent gregarious. 
Melanitis aswa, Moore. 
Commander Walker saw but one specimen of this sp., taken in the autumn at Kowloon. 
I have not come across it. 
