80 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



the breakwater at Colombo, Galle very rapidly fell from its high 

 estate and is now almost deserted. Taking into consideration the 

 tenacity of life exhibited by the Danaince, it does not appear to me 

 altogether improbable that the progenitors of these two species were 

 accidentally introduced into the Island at Galle, and have survived in a 

 restricted area and have there developed local races. 



I may mention that immediately to the south of Galle the dry 

 portion of the Island commences and is of quite a different character to 

 the country north of it. In the neighbourhood of Galle these two 

 species are fairly abundant, but they become scarcer as one approaches 

 Colombo, and possibly extended cultivation may have something to do 

 with this. The larva of E. corns is not infrequently brought in by 

 natives for sale, as it is very conspicuous and easily collected. It is 

 remarkable what a large proportion suffer from the attacks of parasitic 

 flies in spite of the warning colouration. 



With regard to the fifteen species confined to Ceylon and hitherto 

 recognised as distinct, it is quite possible that further knowledge of the 

 South Indian butterflies will prove that even this small number will be 

 still further reduced. Euthalia vasanta may be only a pronounced local 

 race of E. garuda which is somewhat scarce in Ceylon, and the local 

 race in this instance would appear to be gradually supplanting the 

 parent form. Aphnceus greeni is known by a single specimen only 

 and may not be distinct. It was captured by Mr. E. E. Green in an 

 open space in jungle on the summit of the Great Western Range at an 

 elevation of 5,000 feet, a locality very difficult of access and not visited 

 by an entomologist either before or since Mr. Green's visit. Aphnceus 

 minima was described by Butler from a Ceylon specimen, and the 

 type is now in the South Kensington Museum. I have a similar 

 specimen which I look at Trincomalee in company with a crowd of 

 the common A. vukanus, and I have no doubt that it is merely a 

 sport or occasional aberration of that species though it looks fairly 

 distinct. 



Lampides coruscans and L. lacteata are also to my mind doubtfully 

 distinct : they may be forms of L. elpis. 



Danais laprobana is a very distinct and handsome species unlike 

 any other of the genus known to me. It is entirely confined to 

 the Hills and rarely descends below 4,000 feet. Above this it is 



