RHOPALOCERA MALAY AN A. 91 



•wings where it is narrowest ; on the outer margin of this fascia in both wings are a series of more 

 or less obscure ocellated spots placed between the ucrvules ; two submarginal lines as on upper surface, 

 but inner one much waved and sinuatod. On some specimens there are two distinct whitish spots on 

 the underside of posterior wings, separated by the first subcostal nervule, the upper of which is largest. 

 (These are absent in the specimens here figured, though found in some IMalay varieties.) Body and legs 

 more or less concolorous with wings. 



Exp. wings, J* & 2 , 60 to 70 millim. 



H.iB.— Continental India ; Nepaul ; Khasia Hills ; Silhet ; Cashmere ; Neilgherries ; Bombay (colls. 

 Moore and Brit. Mus.)— Ceylon (colls. Moore and Brit. Mus.)— Upper Tenasserim ; Moolai (Moore).— Malay 

 Peninsula; Peuang; Province Wellesley (colls. Dist. & Sauer) ; Malacca (Pinwill, Brit. Mus.)— Java (coll. 

 Moore); Batavia (Snellen); Bantam (coll. DiHt.)—Borneo.*— Celebes (Snellen).- New Guinea (Godm. and 

 Salv.) — New Britain (Godm. & Salv.) 



This is a variable species, both in size and hue, the specimen (Tab. XL, f. 9) being 

 a melanic form, whilst that represented by fig. 5 on Tab. IX. is the pale variety described by 

 Felder as a distinct species under the name of P. intcniiedia. The larva and pupa are figured 

 in Moore's Lep. Ceyl.f from drawings made by the Bros, de Alwis, and they are thus described 

 in that work : + — "Larva cyhndrical, dark brown, with dorsal and lateral rows of short delicate 

 branched spines. Pupa short, with tubercular points on dorsal segments ; thorax broad." 



Some observations on the habits of this insect have been recorded. In the N.W. Himalaya 

 Mr. Hocking states that it "always pitches on the ground." § As witnessed in Celebes, that 

 inimitable lepidopteral observer Piepers has given some interesting facts. It appears to be 

 pugnacious. Piepers thus describes his observation: — "Around and over the blossoms of a 

 flowering shrub flew several butterflies (Precis iphita and some Pier Ida), when a butterfly of 

 gigantic size, in comparison with them {Papilio Remus, Cram.), came flying, apparently with 

 the object of sharing tlieir repast. Whether the others were desirous of the company of a 

 guest among them whose appetite would be enormous, or not, it is certain that I saw them 

 attack the P. Peiiius, drive it away, and pursue it for a short distance, till it was evident that it 

 had really taken to flight, when they returned to their flowers." || 



The same author adds an observation bearing on the constancy of habits or memory in 

 this species. 1i He one evening observed a specimen of this butterfly sitting quietly on the 

 ceiling of the open verandah of the Harmonic Society, at Manghasar, which remained the 

 whole evening, despite the strong illumination of the place. For six consecutive evenings he 

 found this insect return faithfully to the same sleeping-place, though absent during the day.** 



* Cat. Diurn. Lep., formed by Hewitsou, p. Tl. 



f PL -21. L 1 b. I VoL i. p. 4U. j I'yoc. Zoul. Soc, 1882, p. 289. 



!J Tijd. Ent. xis., pp. xviii to xxiv, and Eng. transl. by Kirby, 'Entomologist,' x. p. 209.— lu X. America Mr. W. H. 

 Edwards rebates seeiflg an introduced Pajjilio machaon pursued by P. ajax, "as if it was regarded as au intruder" (Canad. 

 EntomoL vol. xiv. p. 22 (1882). 



H Ibid. p. 270. 



** It is probable tbat many butterflies are constant and regular to fixed spots for tlie uigbt's repose. Long since 

 Mr. P. H. Gosse (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 2, vol. ii., pp. 170 — 78 (1848) ) gave au exceedingly grapbic account of the habits 

 of Hcliconius charithonia as observed in Jamaica. Butterflies of this species assembled in a little swarm just befoi-e sunset, 

 and settled closely packed together on some leafless stems of a creeping plant, and Mr. Gosse was assured by an " observant 

 young friend" that they assembled in this manner every evening. 



Jlr. A. W. Bennett (I'roc. Brit. Ass., York, 1881), in a paper "On the Constancy of Insects in \isiting Flowers," stated 

 that he had observed thi-ee flights of the "painted lady" butterfly {I'yraincis carduij, and that it settled six, three, and ten 

 times respectivelj-, always confining itself to the same species of flower. The result of his observations on the common 

 English buttei-flies was that P. cardui and the "small tortoise-shell" (Vanessa urtica-) were very consistent in theii- floral 

 tastes. Mr. Powell, however ('Nature,' vol. xxiv., p. 509), observed a specimen of the last-named butterfly wliich exhibited 

 no constancy in this respect. 



