THE LARVAE AND PUPsE OF BUTTERFLIES. 263 



point. Then there is the question of broods, which can never be 



cleared up without rearing. Here again we have not collected 



sufficient evidence to speak with confidence, but we are satisfied that 



Mr. Doherty's theory of two wet-season and two dry-season broods 



is not the rule in this district : we doubt if it is even the exception. 



In the case of a great many, perhaps the majority, of species, larvae 



are found plentifully in June or July, that is, a short time after the 



monsoon bursts and vegetation starts into growth. These become pupae, 



and for a time not a larva is to be seen ; then the butterflies of that 



brood emerge and lay their eggs and larva begin to appear again, 



but this time they continue for two or three months, in some cases 



until the end of the year. Then they cease and the butterflies also 



disappear, but a number of pupae, and perhaps eggs, remain, to 



start into life when conditions are again favourable, which will be 



in March if the food-plant sprouts then, otherwise in June. Of these 



dormant pitpae a few come out at odd times, but the butterflies thus 



sent into the world out of season doubtless perish without offspring. 



This seems to be something like the order of events with many of the 



common species of PajnI/o,th.e Danaince, the Junonias, and others; but 



there are many species which do not follow this rule, and some seem to 



have only one short season in the year. Illustrations will be found in 



the notes. 



A few hints on collecting and keeping caterpillars may be useful 



to beginners. Lepidopterous larvae are, with few exceptions, purely 



herbivorous, and there is scarcely any form of growing vegetation 



which does not support one species or another, from the tough 



fronds of the palm to the lichen or moss on its trunk; but one who 



hunts among leaves promiscuously will not get much for his pains. 



There are several indications which guide the experienced hunter. 



The first is "eating:" a freshly eaten leaf soon catches the eye. 



Unfortunately many things besides butterfly caterpillars eat leaves, 



but by practice one soon learns to diagnose "eating" with some 



certainty. For instance, if half a leaf has been eaten in one place 



and half a leaf in another, it may safely be set down to one of the 



locust tribe, to which it is a light matter to hop from one branch to 



another: a caterpillar will eat in one place and w T ill generally be 



found not far away. If a leaf is riddled with holes we may conclude 

 35 



