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Show 1878.] ON LEPIDOPTERA FROM BILLITON. 637 2. Catalogue of Lepidoptera collected by Mr. S. N. Walter in the Island of Billiton. Rhopalocera by F. D. G O D M A N and O S B E R T SALVIN; Heterocera by H. D R U C E. [Received May 17, 1878.] (Plate XL.) RHOPALOCERA. That the Rhopalocerous fauna of Billiton should largely partake of the character of that of the surrounding islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, and of the peninsula of Malacca was to be anticipated. Of the thirty-three species represented in this collection (which was made in Billiton by Mr. S. N. Walter, and has been sent to us by Lord Tweeddale for examination), all but one are well-known forms from one or all of these islands. The single exception, the Myrina, described below, has, so far as is at present known, its sole representative in a nearly allied species from Tenasserim, also described in the present paper. The differential elements of the Butterfly faunas of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Malacca have not yet been traced with sufficient precision to enable us to say to which of the four localities the island of Billiton has most affinity. With Borneo it is certainly very closely allied ; but it possesses several species in common with Java, and others with Malacca. Unfortunately our series of Sumatran Butterflies is not very complete; but, so far as we can see, many species are also found in that island, geographically its nearest neighbour. Fam. NYMPHALIDiE. Subfam. DANAINAE. 1. HESTIA CLARA. Hestia clara, Butl. Trans. Ent. Soc. ser. 3, v. p. 469. ? Hestia leuconoe, Druce, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 337. A single female specimen, agreeing with Mr. Butler's types in the British Museum. The species also occurs in Borneo, whence we have an example of the same sex. Its occurrence in Java is doubtful. 2, DANAIS PHILOMELA. Euploea philomela, Zink. Nov. Act. Ac. Nat.-Cur. xv. p. 184, pl. 16. f. 17; Druce, P.Z.S. 1873, p. 337. Agrees with Malaccan and Bornean examples. 3. DANAIS SIMILIS. Papilio similis, Linn. Syst. Nat. Danais similis, Druce, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 338. Identical with Malaccan and Javan examples. 4. DANAIS JUVENTA. Papilio juventa, Cr. Pap. Ex. pl. 188. f. B. Danais juventa, Druce, P.Z.S. 1873, p. 337. Agrees with Bornean specimens. |