COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA . 851 



as the expansion on segment G, the top of which it approaches, that is, the tops 

 of the two are nearer each other than the bases; the thorax is carinated and the 

 doi-sal slope of pupa from its apex forward is gradual, falling suddenly at head- 

 vertex ; segment 2 flattened on dorsum ; head produced over each eye into a 

 sharp triangular ear-like process which curves outwards ; at each shoulder, on 

 the doi-soventral margin of pupa, is a two-toothed short process situated in the 

 plane joining the spii-acular lines of pupa, separated from the point where 

 wing-expansion commences by a rounded sinus ; that point also slightly pro- 

 duced and flattened. The spiracles are ordinary. Surface smooth, shiny ; a 

 semicircle of four small conical tubercles anteriorly ; a small tubercle on seg- 

 ment 5 ; segments 6. 7.8 somewhat carinated in dorsal line and with a small 

 lateral tubercle ; segments 9-12 with a minute subdorsal tubercle. Colour 

 red-brown, suffused with gold on the wing-cases and dorsum, L: 2.'3mm : 

 B : 10mm. 



Habits. — The habits of the larva in all stages are the same as for 

 Moduza procris. The larva turns yellow, with greenish blue blotches, 

 before pupating. The pupa is formed on the underside of a leaf, very 

 generally low down near the ground. The butterflies generally fly 

 near the ground in the underwood and these, when caught, are mostly 

 females. They are probably bent on laying eggs. They have the same 

 flight as Moduza, but are more deliberate in their movements ; and 

 they are not quite so fond of the sun. Like Moduza, the insect 

 rests with outspread wings, generally at the tip of a leaf. Neither 

 of the two species light on the ground, though they may do so 

 occasionally on a hot day to get moisture. It is not very common 

 anywhere to catch or see, but the larvae can be found in large numbers 

 in some localities. These, however, are very liable to be parasitised 

 by ichneumons when small. The butterfly, when resting at night, 

 closes the wmgs over the back as do all of its type. The distribution 

 is "throughout the Himalayas; the hills of Central, Eastern and 

 Western India, but not, as far as is known, in Ceylon ; Burma : 

 Tena&serim, extending; to Siam and the Malav Peninsula." The 

 food plants are belonging to the botanical family Euphorbiacecc which 

 includes many plants with milky juice. This insect confines itself 

 to the single genus Gloehidion and has been bred on G. velutinum, 

 Wight and G. la7iceolarium, Dalz., both undershrubs or small trees^ 

 the former with velvety long oval leaves, growing in the drier 

 localities at lower levels, the latter affecting the damper, higber parts 

 of the country, with longer, shiny, rather hard leaves, both with 

 inconspicuous greenish flowers in the axils of the leaves and round 



