BUTTERFLIES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. 327 



that the strong nerve or rib of the costa of the {brewing was broken 

 completely across. The butterfly was going in the opposite 

 direction to that in which the swoop was made, and coming in 

 contact with th.3 cane of the net had been disabled in the manner 

 described. I have only obtained this butterfly in the Central 

 Provinces from the Sambalpur District, and from Kalahandi and 

 Bastar. An easy way to catch P. polymnestor and other quick- 

 flying, wandering, seldom-settling butterflies, is to place a captured 

 specimen (dead of course) on the ground with open wings in their 

 path of flight. Every specimen passing that way will stop an 

 instant or more to examine the specimen on the ground, and give 

 a chance of a shot. 



109. Papilio crino, Cramer. This is another glorious creature 

 resplendent in velvetty black and iridescent green. The colours are 

 disposed in somewhat the same manner as in P. polymnestor, but the 

 wings are deep and broad, and each hindwing is adorned with a 

 lobed tail bearing a brilliant green , spot. The green on the 

 wings of this butterfly changes according to the light in which it is 

 seen, from an intense brilliant emerald green to an equally intense 

 and brilliant sapphire blue. The black of the wings is more or less 

 irrorated or dusted over with green scales of the same colour. Un- 

 derneath the colours are very sober — a dull sooty-black being the 

 prevailing colour, relieved by a row of pinkish eyes on the hindwing. 

 It has very much the same habits as P. polymnestor, but the effect 

 of the changing colours on the wings as it flies along is indescribably 

 beautiful. The green and blue flash out with a radiance I have 

 never seen equalled, and the impression to the sense of sight is one 

 of overpowering beauty. It is from this very fact I have captured 

 so few, for when I have seen them I have been so absorbed 

 in admiring their loveliness and watching their movements that 

 most I have seen have been allowed to go free. Iu fact I have only 

 brought myself to catch the first I ever saw; the novelty was so 

 great, I could not resist the innate impulse of adding it to my collec- 

 tion. I have received one from Bastar, and these two are all I pos- 

 sess. One met with an unfortunate accident, but though shattered 

 and pieced together it still is an object of admiration. Its habitat 

 in the Central Provinces is the same as P. polymnestor. 



