€56 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 



slightly under 45° to the longitudinal axis, it is a long segment, equalling iu 

 that respect segment 7 ; the thorax is large, the front slope at 45"^ or even 

 slightly more to the longitudinal axis, the apex behind the line joining 

 the shoulders, the posterior slope also considerable to segment 5, the 

 hinder margin somewhat broadly, triangularly produced backwards with 

 the apex rounded, meeting the wings in a very deep, broadly rounded 

 ungle of rather less than 30° ; segment 4 is quite long, segment 5 rather 

 short as is the manner of pupse of the genus ; segment 6 onwards nearly 

 twice the length ; the antennae reach the end of the wings and broaden out 

 there ; the proboscis reaching the middle of the wing-length. Head large, 

 the vertex showing in a thin hne beyond the front margin of segment 2, 

 the rest of the vertex is high, square and in a plane perpendicular to the 

 longitudinal axis, the frons is ventral. Surface of pupa minutely reticulate, 

 rugose ; the thorax also widely, transversely shallow-corrugated, segment 

 2 coarsely pitted ; covered sparsely with minute, translucent, white, erect, 

 blunt-topped hairs, especially plentiful at both ends and in the intraspi- 

 racular region of the abdomen ; some hairs just in front of the spiracles of 

 segment 2 are plumed ; otherwise the surface is shining. Spiracles of seg- 

 ment 2 linear, raised, pinkish-white ; others very small, oval light in 

 colour. Colour light pinkish-brown except on wings where it is yellowish- 

 livid ; a blotched, plentiful dorsal and supraspiracular band of black, the 

 dorsum of segment 2, a patch above each shoulder and another laterally 

 on segments 4 and 5 all black ; speckled with black dots besides. L : 

 6'25 mm.; B : 2-5 mm. 



Habits : — The eggs are laid on the little flower-heads before they 

 are open, the butterfly walking all over them gingerly while 

 looking for a safe place for each one. Each is deposited near the 

 base of a bud, well concealed from casual observation, the end of 

 the abdomen being thrust well dov/n between the heads. The 

 larva at first, when very small, bores into the flower-heads, later 

 on feeds, as far as been observed, exclusively on the flowers, lying- 

 curled round them. It is attended by small ants, but not con- • 

 tinuously. It is very difficult to see owing to its patchy colouration 

 which blends well with the interstices between the flowers and 

 the colours of the stalk, &c. The pupa is formed amongst the 

 flowers, or anywhere else, and is attached in the usual way by 

 the tail and a body-baud. The foodplant is Acacia cmda or Shembi 

 as it is called in the vernacular of the countr}-. It is more than 

 probable that it will also be foiind on Acacia concinna, the 

 Shige of the Kanarese people and others, as well. Both these 

 are scandent, climbing, large, excessively thorny plants that are 

 common all over India in suitable situations. Their leaves are bi- 

 partite and the leaflets small and feathery looking as in all Acaciit ; 

 the flowers are in little round heads, each composed of many florets, 

 arranged in large panicles and are yelloMish in colour with a 

 pleasant odour. The butterfly is generally verv plentifid where 

 the foodplant occurs and is fond of the sun and open, warm places 

 in the jungles — in fact the places where Acacia ca'sia. grows and 

 flourishes. It spreads, sometimes, over high trees. Tlie distribu- 

 tion of the species as given b}'^ Colonel Bingham is : Peninsular 



