THE BUTTERFLIES OF CEYLON. 79 



41. Huphina remba. 



42. Nepheronia ceylunica. 



43. Troides darius. 



44. Papilio jophon. 



45. Papilio mooreanus. 



46. Uiades parinda. 

 47. Parata butleri. 



With regard to those species which show relationship to Malayan 

 or Chinese species, it appears to me possible that all may have been 

 introduced indirectly by man's agency, for the following considerations, 

 which if sound, show that the butterfly fauna of Ceylon has no real 

 connection with the Malay peninsula or countries adjoining thereto. 



Elymnias ( Dyctis) Singhala is undoubtedy a local race of E. lutes- 

 cens, a variable Malayan species, and was, until a few years ago, almost 

 entirely confined to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradenia near 

 Kandy, and even now is confined to the immediate neighbourhood. 

 The larva feeds on various species of Palmacece and it appears to me 

 possible, if not probable, that the Malayan species was introduced into 

 the Island with some species of Palm from Singapore or its neigh- 

 bourhood. If this should have been the case it gives us some guidance 

 as to the length of time it has taken to produce a local race of 

 Elymnias. 



The Peradenia Gardens were started about the year 1820. E. Sin- 

 ghala was described in 1874, so we may say, that it has taken less than 

 46 years to produce this new distinct species. 



The other species Danais exprompta and Euploea corus have much 

 in common ; the distribution of both is identical, and both are capable 

 of surviving very rough usage ; they are entirely confined to the 

 coast and twenty miles or so inland, that is to say, the foothills extend- 

 ing from Galle in the south to about ten miles beyond Colombo on 

 the north. The food plant of D. exprompta is unknown, but that of 

 E. corus is a common jungle tree. 



D. exprompta is one of the numerous local races of D. simik's, a 

 Chinese species, which is called D. vulgaris in Burma, D. persimilis 

 in Siam, and so on. Euploea corus is probably most nearly allied to 

 E. castelnaui, a Malayan species. Neither D. exprompta nor E. corus 

 have any relation to the Indian species of the Danaince. Galle was, 

 until some thirty years ago, the first port in the Island, Colombo at 

 that time being in a very inferior position^ but, with the completion of 



