GENUS. HIPPARCHIA, _Fabr. Stephens_. Satyrus, _Latr. et God._ Argus p.
_Scop._ Orcades, _Hubn._ Papilio (Nymphales Gemmati), _Drury_.
HIPPARCHIA LEDA. Alis angulatis supra corticino-fuscis; anticis ocello
apicis sesquialtero in plagâ magnâ luteâ, posticis ocellis duobus;
omnibus subtus griseo-reticulatis strigâ ocellorum. (Expans. Alar. 3
unc.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Gemm.) Leda, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 773. _No._ 151.
_Drury_, _App. v._ 2. _Fabricius, Ent. Syst._ 3. 1. _p._ 108. 333.
_Cramer, Pap. pl._ 196. C. D. _and pl._ 292. _fig._ A. _Encycl. Méth._
ix. 478. _No._ 4. (Satyrus L.)
Papilio Solandra (var.?) _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III.1. 106. 328. _Donovan
Ins. New Holl. pl._ 23. _f._ 1.
HABITAT: China (_Drury_). Ind. orient. (_Weber MSS._). Sierra Leone
(_Fabr._ ??). Mauritius (_Encycl. Méth._). Otaheite and New Holland
(_Fabr. and Donovan_, P. Solandra).
{29}_Upper Side._ Antennæ, thorax, and abdomen of a dark brown colour.
All the wings dark olive brown. On the anterior wings, near the tips, are
two black circular spots united together: the lower one being the
largest, each having a small white one in its centre. On the posterior
wings are two black circular eyes, towards the anal angle; their irides
being of a gold colour, and the pupils white. The superior wings are a
little dentated, the inferior ones being angulated.
_Under Side._ All the wings, on this side, are of a very pale brown,
marked all over with short, crooked, wave-like stripes, of a dark brown
colour, almost black. On the anterior wings are four eyes, the largest,
situated near the middle of the wing, is encircled with yellow, its
centre being white; below this is a small one, and two other small ones
are placed near the tips. Posterior wings, with a row of six black eyes
near the external edge, whereof two are much larger than the rest; the
irides of all being yellow, and the pupils white. That next the anal
angle is sesquialterate. In some specimens these eyes are less distinct
than in others; in some there are not more than five to be discerned, and
only one on each superior wing; in others not more than three can be
distinguished, the small ones being entirely wanting.
Drury observes (Introd. to vol. iii. p. 16.) that this insect very much
resembles a species sent by Mr. Smeathman from Africa, which comes out only
about sunset, and is then to be found in dark shades, wavering about
amongst the early flying noctuæ, and other nocturnal species. In some
manuscripts of the late Professor Weber of Kiel, in my possession, the East
Indies are given as the habitat of this species.