128 NATURAL HISTORY. 



dash of white on the hind wings which is common in specimens of chrysip- 

 pus from Kurrachee (Moore's D. alcippoides) and of clorippus from Aden. 

 The collection contains also a very remarkable specimen caught at Matheran 

 by Mr. Moscardi in December, 1884, in which the ground-colour through- 

 out is a dull lavender. The markings are normal. 



4. D. limniace, — This is common too, especially on the hills. I 

 found the larva at Lanowlie in October, feeding en Hoya viridiflora. 

 The offensive smell which makes reptiles and birds — if birds eat butterflies 

 at all — reject tlrs family, is particularly strong in this species, and is certainly 

 connected with the extrusion of the yellow plume?. It is also a very 

 difficult insect to kill. Pinching the thorax has a temporary effect, but it 

 soon revives. Even when killed past reviving and pinned, it will conti- 

 nue to wag his head and antennas satirically for some days. This or any 

 of the last will serve very well to illustrate the intimate connection which 

 there is between colour and habit, not where the protection of the insect, 

 by mimicry or otherwise, is. concerned, but simply fronj an aesthetic 

 point of view. On the underside the greater part of the forewing differs 

 from the hindwing, but a well-defined area at the apex is of the same 

 shade. Now in the Danais attitude of rest the forewings drop between 

 the hindwings until precisely this portion and no more projects and is 

 visible. For those who like to. theorise I would suggest that the action 

 of light has produced this effect, the warmer tint of the covered portion 

 of the forewing representing the original unbleached colour of the 

 butterfly countless generations ago. A KhaJcce coat often illustrates the 

 same thing ! 



5. D. gi'ammica.—Thh is very common on the hills, but comparatively 

 rare in Bombay. It comes out a little later than the foregoing species, 

 being very abundant about Christmas time. I found the larva at 

 Lanowlie in October last year, feeding on Tylophora camosa, also one 

 of the Asclepiadeacece. It was, I think, the most beautiful larva I have 

 seen. The ground-colour was a rich reddish brown, or claret colour, and 

 on each segment there was a pair of round yellow spots with numerous 

 small bluish-white spots between. On the sides these spots gathered into 

 a conspicuous longitudinal band. The under surface was black. There 

 were only two pairs of filaments, which were nearly straight. 



G. Enplota core.— -In Bombay this feeds on oleander, but on the hills 

 I have found the larva? on the wild fig, Ficus glomerata. The larva, 

 like those of all the Danaince, rests on the underside of the leaf, a 

 position which exposes it to the notice of birds ; but it affects no conceal- 

 ment, and is evidently not edible. The pupa, like a nugget of burnished 

 silver, seems designed to attract attention. Perhaps it acts on the 

 superstition of its enemies. The natural feeling which forms the basis 



