24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1890. 



silvery fish dart away in terror at our approach, and scores of exqui- 

 sitely coloured dragon-flies, their wings and bodies glittering like 

 living gems, rise from the weeds and rushes at the edge of and in the 

 water, and rustle away with quivering wings. The shores of the stream 

 are sandy, and our way winds along it under the shade of graceful 

 forest trees. Our favourite hunting ground is near. The stream 

 turns at a sharp angle and plunges through dark rocks into chasms 

 of unknown depth. At the entrance of the glen we are now explor- 

 ing are some magnificent old mango trees, their roots entwined 

 amongst the rocks, their boughs o'ershadowing the stream and the 

 path along which we are wandering. The glen is full of small 

 trees, growing between boulders, and is covered with vai'ious 

 plants bearing flowers of sweet odour, and of every imaginable hue. 

 Beyond the glen or glade the ground goes suddenly away to a 

 ravine, running towards the direction of the setting sun, and as we 

 approach the edge we are aware of a strong breeze coming fresh 

 over the hills and up from the ravine, bringing from its depths the 

 sound of falling waters far below and the sweet and mellow whistle 

 of the Malabar Whistling Thrush (Myiophonus horsfieldi), or the 

 " Schoolboy" as it is popularly called. Under the mango trees, at 

 the entrance of the glen, where the air is still, are seen floating 

 along those very common but most exquisitely graceful of all butter- 

 flies, the several kinds of Danaince, Danais limniace, pale blue, 

 veined with black ; D. chrysijppus, tawny red, relieved by pure white 

 and black ; D. genutia of the same colouring, with the addition of 

 black veins ;andJ5Jtip/cea core, velvety black embroidered with white. 

 They sail and float along in the most aerial yet lazy way, as much 

 as to say, " Oh, yes ! we know we are handsome, but it's no matter, 

 for no one will touch us." They settle in scores on the plants around 

 without an attempt at concealment; they seem to know that nothing 

 will dare touch them, they are so tough, so leathery and by no 

 means savoury morsels to judge from the unpleasant odour they all 

 exhale— a protection afforded them by Nature to keep off the attacks 

 of all enemies of the Butterfly tribe, except those of the human race, 

 alack ! This natural protection seems to have been taken advantage 

 of by other butterflies, who mimic the shape and color of the com- 

 moner kinds ; but of this more in its proper place. Each step we 



