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Show 1886.] RHOPALOCERA FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. 349 few minute yellowish atoms : secondaries not tailed, margins scolloped ; a broad transverse outwardly-sinuated greenish creamy-white fascia, its inner margin touching, but not extending into, discoidal cell; a conspicuous orange-red oval spot at anal angle. Underside black: primaries with four white apical spots, and a whitish streak at base of cell: secondaries with a row of seven orange-red marginal spots, the one at anal angle being much the largest, and above these a series of six lunules composed of pale-bluish atoms; indentations pale yellowish. Exp. 144 millim. Hab. Ugi, Solomon Islands. This fine Butterfly belongs to the Erectheus group. It was tolerably common at Ugi in June 1883, but difficult to catch on account of its powerful flight, and its habit of keeping in the thick forest, where it could not be easily followed. I saw several of what I believe were the females of this insect; they were much larger than the males, of a dark brown, and with more white across the wings. I have named this species in honour of Admiral James E. Erskine, who commanded the Australian Squadron at the time I was on the Station. PAPILIO BRIDGEI, n. sp. (Plate XXXIV. fig. 2.) Male.- Upperside deep black, appearing greenish black in certain lights: primaries, a marginal band of eight somewhat square-shaped pale greenish-white spots curved inwards at the apex, the apical spots being small and indistinct; base of cell and apex dusted with a few whitish atoms : secondaries not tailed, scolloped; a broad transverse outwardiy-dentated pale greenish-white fascia, its inner margin enclosing lower part of cell, and its upper portion running between costa and subcostal nervure nearly to base. Underside black : primaries, subcostal nervure inwardly bordered by a narrow whitish streak from base to near middle of cell ; a few whitish atoms at apex : secondaries, a marginal row of seven pale pinkish-orange spots, the three nearest the apex small and obscure, the one at anal angle large and nearly square-shaped; above these a row of seven ill-defined lunules of pale-bluish atoms, the one at apex nearly obsolete ; indentations conspicuous, white, crescent-shaped. Exp. 118 millim. Hab. Treasury Island, Solomon Islands. This is another fine species, and also belongs to the Erectheus group. It was not uncommon, but, like P. erskinei, frequented the thick forest and was difficult to capture. I only obtained one, a very perfect example. I saw a larger insect, of a dark brownish-black hue and with larger spots and fascia, which was probably the female of this. I have named this species in honour of Captain Cyprian A. G. Bridge, who commanded H.M. ship ' Espiegle ' during her long and interesting Commission of nearly four years, a great portion of which time was spent among the islands of the Western Pacific. |