280 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1890. 



colour. It is fond of hedges and ditches, and is a very sprightly aaxK 

 pugnacious little creature. 



31. Jtmmiia hierta, Fabrieius (349). This species has h&em 

 known as J. mnone,. but Mr. de Niceville points out that the latter 

 name belongs to an African insect which was known as J. clelia. It 

 is a beautiful little insect with its bright yellow and blue markings,. 

 The female- lacks the blue, and is somewhat larger than the male. 

 This butterfly and the next may be seen resting m the middle of the 

 most exposed parts of roads and paths, and rising in front ©3 one,, 

 it skims swif ty along and settles again on the road perhaps- after si 

 battle in the air with one of its own kiud or J. famamm,. J. mierie or 

 J. vrithfia ; all of which hare the same habit and lo^re the fall aiad 

 hot sitnshine. 



32. Junoiu'a orithpm, Linnseus (350). This is & dark blue but- 

 terfly of similar habits to the two last mentioned. They all love the 

 hot sunshine, and this and the last are to be found in the most open 

 and exposed situations; open grass plains being about the most 

 favourite spots. It has a brilliant blue spot like the last on the 

 hindwing, but whereas the prevailing colour of J, hierfa is yellow, in 

 J. m*ithjia it is blue. The larva of all the Jwo&nies are dark m colour 

 with numerous branched spines all over them : gruesome creatures to 

 look at, but perfectly harmless. The females lay their eggs on ox 

 near the ground. 



33. Neptis h&rdonia, StoII (352), As far as I can jradge, this and 

 the next N. phgiom, Moore (353), areoneand the same species. There 

 is very little difference between them, and the gradations from the 

 one to the other form are very gradual. The markings are disposed 

 in bands, which are black alternating with tawny. The flight of the 

 butterflies of this genus is peculiar. They seem to float and sail along, 

 so that when on a level with the eye they disappear and re-appear ; 

 when settled on leaves as is their habit, they rest with wide expanded 

 wings. 



31/.. N&ptis varmona, Moore (379). This and JY. hamarupa, Moore 

 (384), with N. eurymene, Butler (385), are only, there is little 

 doubt, varieties, or better, seasonal forms, of one and the same 

 species. The chief difference is in the depth of colour in the yellow 

 of the markings of the underside, which varies from a pale yellow to 



