1P16.] ' 11 



observed in 1905 by Dr. Longstaff and myself in So\ith Africa, were 

 of a umcli darker colour, their hue beiu<;' perhaps best described as 

 mahogany red. 



On July 25th we ha<l a day ashore at Colombo. In the early 

 morning the rain came down in torrents, but this soon cleared off and 

 tlie heat became intense. I walked southwards along the sea-front, 

 admiring the immense breakers raised by the S.W. monsoon which we 

 had experienced on the way from Aden. At Galle Face, where there is a 

 picturesque grove of coco-nut palms on the very verge of the sea, I 

 turned inland and continued my walk along the side of a lagoon edged 

 with palm trees and reflecting the lines of a Buddhist Temple. The 

 shallows were tlu-onged with water-tortoises, which sank as one 

 approached. Impudent crows were everywhere, looking out keenly 

 for anything dropped. Halting beside an enclosure between the 

 lagoon and the beach, I made a few captures. They would have been 

 more numerous but for the tiresome attentions of importunate natives, 

 mostly children. 



Dragon-flies, especially Brachytheniis rnniaminata Fabr., were 

 abundant, as also were great dark- blue bees of the genus Xylocopa; one 

 brought home is X. fenestrata Linn. (^ . Terias hecabe Linn, was present 

 in large numbers ; the only one taken is a wet-season male. Telchinia 

 violae Fabr. was fairly common; two males had a slight odour of 

 straw, in two others no scent was detected. Many males of Hypolimnas 

 holina Linn, were observed ; no female put ia an appearance. Catopsilia 

 pyranthe Linn, frequented the sunny sides of the enclosure. The 

 males were noted to possess a strong odour like that of jasmine. In 

 one of these, a somewhat worn specimen, the scent was easily per- 

 ceptible on the following day, when the observation was confirmed by 

 a lady fellow-passenger. A somewhat ragged male of Zizera gaika 

 Trim., noted as " odourless," and a small green Hemipteron completed 

 the bag. 



On July 30th we passed the Cocos or Keeling Islands. The 

 Commander of R.M.S. Orvieto obligingly brought the ship in near 

 enough for us to see men on the beach, and to appreciate the striking 

 contrast between the blue waters of the outer ocean and the vivid 

 green expanse within the encircling coral-reef. A white-sailed yacht 

 made its way slowly across the calm lagoon, and with the yellow sands 

 and verdant palm-trees of the island shores, made a charming picture. 

 We little thought that this peaceful spot was shortly to become the 

 scene of tlie discomfiture of the famous crviiser Eiaden, with its 

 attendant fire and slauahter. 



