LARVJ3 AND VlJVM OF BUTTERFLIES 3«1 



^omethnes a very broad, black, lateral stripe, sometimes wants it 

 itireby. The pupa has the snout longer than it is in pyranthe We 

 have found this abundantly at the beginning and end 6i the rainy 

 season, and also in April. 



63. Catopsilia catilla, Cramer. 



We have found this with the last, and cannot distinguish either 



larva or pupa. 



Subfamily Paptlionin^:. 



It will save much repetition and facilitate description if we divide 

 this subfamily into groups based on the form of the larva and pupa. 



The Ornithoptera Group. 



The three species of this group feed in this district on Aristolochia 

 indica, a very common creeper, with bitter leaves, called by the 

 natives Sarpan-bcl, or ball, from the notion that it is a cure for 

 snake-bites. It withers soon after the rains, except in very moist 

 situations. The larva?, like those of "protected" butterflies generally, 

 are very easy to rear, eating freely in any situation and growing fast. 

 They are much preyed on by small hymenopterous parasites, which 

 emerge from the living larvae and form white cocoons on their sides. 

 We counted 67 from one P. hector. The larva dies soon after. 

 There can be little doubt that the forked tentacle which all Ornithop- 

 tera and Papitio larvae extrude from the neck when annoyed, is 

 designed for defence against such parasites. It emits a reddish, 

 possibly corrosive, fluid, with an offensive smell, and we have noticed 

 one of these larvae, when disturbed by ants, drive them off by swinging 

 its head round with the tentacle extruded. 



64. Ornithoptera initios, Cramer, 



This butterfly almost disappears from the end of the 3 r ear until the 

 beginning of June, at least on the coast. The first rain brings a few 

 out at the beginning of June, and larvae are found in Jul}-, becoming 

 increasingly common till October. The egg, which we have often 

 found, is of a reddish colour, and under a strong lens looks very liko 

 a rough red orange. It is hatched on the eighth day. The larva is 

 roughly cylindrical, tapering a little to each end, and carries two 

 dorsal rows of fleshy processes, somewhat curved forwards, and a 



