OCR Text |
Show 1890.] NEW MOTHS FROM INDIA. 387 is a synonym (Plate X X X I V . fig. 5). It is also closely allied to Chalcosia caudata, Brem.1 (Plate X X X I V . fig. 6), which I have from the island of Askold ; but though there is nothing very marked in the coloration to separate it from either of them, yet the difference in venation affords a sufficient character. It may be described as resembling E. westwoodi in size, shape, and colour, but the fore wings more smoky, and the second discocellular vein of the hind wing forked close to, instead of some distance from, the end of the cell. From E. caudata it differs in its larger size, much darker colour of both fore and hind wings, and in the recurrent vein in the cell of the fore wing being simple as it is in E. westwoodi, and not forked. From both the other species it differs in having the costal vein of the hind wing forked near the base, the two branches being connected by a short transverse vein near the middle of the cell (cf. fig. 4, a). All three species have a yellow patch edged with a dark line at the base of the fore wing. The antennae, head, legs, and abdomen are black. In E. caudata and E. westwoodi the abdomen is much paler. The antennae of the female in E. caudata, and probably in the other species, are much more finely pectinate than in the male. The claspers of the male and the ovipositor of the female are of the same character as those of Cadphises, Chelura, and Aglaope, to which genera Elcysma seems to me to be most nearly allied. The only specimen I have seen was taken by Mr. W . Doherty in the Naga Hills, at an elevation of about 5000 feet, in August 1889. Expanse of fore wing 66 mm.; length of hind wing 41 mm.; length of antennae 12 m m. CHIONOMERA PULCHELLA, n. sp. (Plate XXXII. fig. 15.) This species is a near ally of Tyana superba, Moore, and belongs to the genus Chionomera, Butl. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1881, p. 18, in which he placed C. superba and C. argentea from Japan. It belongs to the Nycteolidae and would come near Earias, but has no other near allies in Asia as far as I know. It is easily distinguished from C. superba by the green instead of yellow bands of the fore wing and by the much greater breadth of these bands, and these characters do not vary in the five specimens I have seen. It is rare in Sikkim ; one specimen in Moller's collection was taken at about 5000 feet in April. I have received others taken near Tonglo at about 7000 feet. Of C. superba I have only two-one from Bhutan taken in September, the other by myself at Darjeeling in July2. Fore wings silvery above, with rich olive-green markings as shown in the Plate; below, only an indistinct olive-green patch on the middle of the costa; hind wings pure silvery white on both sides. Legs olive-green, with white joints and tarsi; two pairs of strong spurs on the hind legs. Palpi long, extending beyond the head. The sexes do not appear to differ. Expanse 23-27 m m. 1 Chalcosia caudata, Brem. Lep. Ost.-Sib. p. 97, t. viii. fig. 8. J There are several specimens of C. pulchella, from Sikkim, unnamed, in the Atkinson collection which agree with mine. |