40 



Moore, Lep. Ind., II, p. ii8, />/. 122, 123 (1894) . . Melanitis Ismene. 



KoBus, Tijdschr. v. En/., 39, /. 129, //. 6 (1896) . . Cyllo Leda. 



BiNGHA^r, Fauna Brit. India, A /. 158 (1905). . . . Melanitis Ismene. 

 Fruhstorfer, (Seitz, Grossschm. d. Erde), p. 362(1911). „ Leda. 



This species is extremely common in Java, where the food of the cater- 

 pillar is met with everywhere. It is, therefore, unnecessary to enumerate 

 specific habitats. Moreover, it has a very wide distribution, over the whole 

 Indo-Australian region as well as elsewhere, to the north as far as north China 

 and Japan, to Australia in the south, eastward on many of the South Sea islands, 

 and westward in tropical Africa. The butterfly during morning and evening 

 twilights flies low near the ground, in the day time only upon being disturbed 

 when it settles again at a short distance on the ground or on some object. 

 The peculiar coloration of the under side of the wings, which varies consider- 

 ably in individuals, makes it difficult to distinguish it from its environment, 

 which, of course, is considered mimicry although this theory fails to explain 

 how such great differences in colouring and marking originate. The butterfly 

 is frequently met with in dwellings, where, after the habit of many Heterocera 

 it seeks to evade strong daylight. Distant mentions that it greedily sucks 

 the sweet liquid tapped from palm trees, known as palm wine ; in Java this is 

 also the case. 



In certain individuals, which have been considered a distinct species under 

 the name of C. Ismene, a remnant of the original universal red colour is to 

 be observed in the bright orange on the upper side of the fore-wings near 

 the apex ; frequently this has even faded to yellow or is covered in great 

 part, if not entirely, by black. The unequal course of the process of colour 

 evolution, according to the individuals, explains this difference, which manifests 

 itself still more strongly on the under side of the wings where it causes the 

 great variation in colouring and marking already alluded to ; this variation has 

 been attributed to difference in sex or in time of occurrence by authors unac- 

 quainted with this process, some even considering these differences of specific 

 value. De Nickville and Moore have in this manner created several species ; 

 Bingham has, it is true, reduced the number somewhat but not sufficiently. 

 This is, indeed, unavoidable when one is unacquainted with the process of 

 colour evolution. For even if it be admitted that existing animal and vegetable 

 forms are not immutable but may vary through climatic or similar influences 

 and, therefore, especially in proportion as they inhabit different regions, the 

 fact that a species, apart from such influences, should be able to become 

 modified, so to speak of its own accord, appears incomprehensible. Unless it 



