30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



hairs, the use of which it is difficult to guess if they do not serve 

 for signals to the ants. These organs, curiously enough, are perma- 

 nently exserted in Curetis [vide PI. 11. fig. 28) where they undoubtedly 

 serve to frighten enemies: for the larva can, at will, push out of the 

 top of the cylinder, a long bunch of soft hairs which it whirls around 

 rapidly several times when alarmed or irritated and then withdraws. 

 Ants recognise the sources of the sweet juice so well that they attend 

 not only the larva but also the Qgg, pupa and imago of the species 

 yielding it. They will keep the larvae in their nests to which they guide 

 them ; and these often turn to pupee in the nests. It is not a very uncom- 

 mon sight to see ants escorting a newly-born butterfly to a spot where 

 it can develop its wings in safety and comfort. While it is probably true 

 that most larvae have acquired the habit of secreting the juice for 

 the sake of the occasional protection the presence of ants afi'ords 

 them — for undoubtedly it is a protection — and can quite well live 

 without the attentions of these insects, yet it is an undoubted fact that 

 certain species require these attentions and will not live in health in 

 their absence ; so much so indeed that the first requisite seems to be 

 the presence of their protectors : and this may explain the fact 

 that such larvae have various foodplants, often botanically widely 

 separated. Tarucus, Arhopala, Surendra, Zesius, Aphnceus are some 

 of the genera whose larvce are always attended by ants; Neopithecops, 

 Castalius (_ananda always), Lycaenesthes, Polyommatvs, Lampides, 

 more intermittently ; Cheritra, Camena, Curetis and nearly all 

 Rapala not at all or hardly ever. 



While on this subject of protection it may be of interest to 

 mention that all the caterpillars of the Swallowtails (some of which 

 by the way have no tails ) have the power of throwing out two long 

 conical processes, variously coloured red, blue, orange, according to 

 the species, from the back of the neck just behind the head. These 

 emit a rather pungent, somewhat peculiar odour of lemon or lime-fruit, 

 due no doubt to the essential juices of the foodplant which is, with 

 few exceptions, belonging to the botanical families Rutacece, 

 Anonacece or Loravthacece, all of an aromatic nature. These organs 

 are really one, called'an Osmeterium, being joined at their base into a 

 single stem ; they are stowed away by being withdrawn inside them- 

 selves and into the main stem. Their sudden protrusion is probably 

 often sufficient to frighten intending aggressors, such as the Ichneumon 



