BUTTERFLIES. 283 



barrel. When in this semi-intoxicated condition it 

 is easily captured ; at other times it is of exception- 

 ally strong and rapid flight. " It also feeds on moist 

 decaying vegetable matter. 



Hypolimnas bolina is perhaps one of our most 

 beautiful butterflies : it is confined to northern New 

 South Wales. The male and female differ widely in 

 colouring. The male is a rich purplish-black, with 

 a central patch of pale heliotrope in each wing: 

 there are markings of heliotrope and white. The 

 female has ground colour of rich brownish-black 

 Avith patches of orange-brown and white. But the 

 colouring of the female is very variable, especially 

 in the north. ^ '|1'^ 



The larva is dark, with clusters of branched 

 spines. 



Food plant : Sida retusa (paddy's lucerne). 



The pupa is suspended by the tail and ornamented 

 with short tubercles. 



