THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 953 



Pupa. — Very similar to that of V. isocrates. Head ventral, the front 

 margin of segment '2 starting from the resting-surface, absolutely semicir- 

 cular in outline, convex transversely, dorsal slope of segment '2 and the 

 front ascent of thorax in a plane at about 60" to the longitudinal axis of 

 pupa ; thorax convex and even with segment 2 but broader ; shoulders 

 rounded ; greatest breadth at segments 7/8 ; the construction very slight ; 

 transverse section of abdomen a slightly depressed circle. Surface of pupa 

 finely aciculate-reticulate on segments 2, 3 ; with semi-erect, fine, white 

 hairs on the whole surface except wings and sides ; also covered with 

 minute, brown tubercles. Spiracles of segment 2 nearly linear, longly 

 oval, slightly raised and facing forwards ; others longish oval, brown in 

 colour. Colour : lightish yellow-brown ; blotched darker on sides of seg- 

 ments 2, 8. L : 11.75 mm ; B : 5 mm. H. 4-75 mm. 



Habits. — The habits are nearly the same, for the larva and pupa, 

 as those of Yirachola isocrates. The larva is only intermittent!}^ visit- 

 ed by ants ; not reall}^ attended by them. The eggs are laid on the 

 fruits, whether ripe or green but always when fairly well-grown ; on 

 the branches, twigs, leaves, &c. The larva, however, does not fix 

 the fruits up with a web and change into the pupa sometimes when 

 they have fallen to the ground ; ordinaril}^ however, they leave them 

 and pupate anywhere else. Neither do the larvse spin a hinged 

 door to the entrance of the fruit when they pupate inside it. The 

 pupa is attached by the tail and a body-band in the usual way. 

 The butterfly is a strong flier but not so quick or active as Betidorix 

 or Viraeloola. The male is much oftener seen than the female as 

 the latter does not visit flowers nearly as much. She probably 

 attends to business while the other, as usual, prefers leading an idle, 

 luxurious existence. The flower that seems to attract the males most 

 is that of Leea sambucina in Kanara. They are easy to catch when 

 sitting on the flower-heads but it is not usual to get a good specimen 

 for they seem to batter themselves about a good deal, especially their 

 long, feathery tails. It is rare to get a perfect specimen except a 

 cage-bred one. Ordinarily the insect must live amongst the upper 

 stories of the forests for, except at flowers, it is rarely seen. It 

 certainly does not go to the summits of the hills to bask on the tops 

 of trees for the writer has never seen one in such places although 

 other butterflies go up in numbers for the purpose. The foodplant 

 of the larva is Salacia macrosperma of the order Rhamneoe, a somewhat 

 extensive creeper of common occurrence in the heavy evergreen and 

 semi-evergreen forests of Kanara. The fruits, which are the only part 

 eaten, are round, about T'-l'S" in diameter, wrinkled-rough on 

 the surface and bright orange in colour. They ripen in the mon- 

 soon months and may then be found strewn about on the ground in 

 the iungles, most of them having the insides eaten out of them by 

 monkeys. It is an easy matter to climb up and get as many as are 

 wanted from the branches and nearly every fourth or fifth one is sure 

 to contain a larva or two, if not even three. Sometimes as many 

 as five eo-CTs will be found on the stalks and fruit-surface and these 



