154 THE entomologist's record. 



me. On Januuiy 28tli, 1911, it was particularly numerous round 

 three or four suriya trees, they were freshly emerged and quite possibly 

 belonged to one or two broods. I noticed that the amount of j'ellow 

 was not always constant, it fills a variable number of interspaces, the 

 upper ones being those most liable to vary ; the spaces are easily 

 counted as the veins are well marked with black. I found the 

 following variation in the thirty-seven males captured: — 



Forewing, apex underside tinged with yellow (usually white), 9 ; 

 cell entirely or almost entirely yellow, 26 ; cell upper part white, 10 ; 

 Gth interspace tinged yellow (usually white), 5 ; 7th interspace tinged 

 white (usually yellow), 13 ; with eight red post-discal spots, 27 ; with 

 seven red post-discal spots (upper spot white or pink), 9. Females, 5 : 

 No variation ; apex yellow, all interspaces yellow, and eight red post- 

 discal spots. 



There is therefore more variation than is generally thought, and 

 it would seem that if any change occurred in its environment it 

 would be ready to suit itself to its changed conditions. Assuming 

 that as an unpalatable butterfly it is endeavouring to form an 

 unpalatable group with other somewhat similarly coloured butterflies, 

 it is fairly obvious that such slight variations (assuming that they are 

 the ones needed) would scarcely be taken account of by an enemy 

 making an attack. As a matter of fact, the only specimen I have 

 seen captured was seized on the wing by a lizard, which made quite 

 a respectable jump at it. 



There is little doubt that if this insect occurred in England the 

 variations noted above would receive distinctive names. There is a 

 fine field open to collectors and " aberrationists " among the butterflies 

 of the tropics, and it is a matter of surprise to me that they have 

 hitherto in a large measure escaped, when for a few shillings a large 

 number could be purchased and the " aberrationist " make himself 

 happy during the winter months in naming their infinite variety. If 

 he did so it would perhaps relieve the pressure on our own small 

 numbers of persecuted butterflies. I have always experienced a 

 difficulty in understanding the standard by which these small 

 aberrations are estimated. To ordinary eyesight one specimen may 

 appear precisely like its neighbour, yet a pocket lens will show a 

 difference, and others which seem alike under these conditions are 

 obviously dift'erent under a microscope and so on ; where is the line to 

 be drawn ? Take the case of Teracolits liinhaiKs — a white butterfly' 

 with an orange tip to the forewing — I find the following aberrations 

 in the cell of hindwing underside only: — -Ab. 1. Cell pure white, 

 unspotted. Ab. 2. Small brown spot at apex of cell. Ab. 3. This 

 spot is green. Ab. 4. Frequently yellow. Ab. 5. Sometimes orange. 

 Ab. 6. By no means seldom this yellow spot is surroucded with brown. 

 Ab. 7. Often again with green. Ab 8. Under a hand lens the scales 

 are mixed brown and green. Ab. 9. Under h" objective the scales are 

 seen to be orange at the apex and yellow at the base ; and so on 

 ad in/i)iiti()ii. And may I ask, can absurdity go further ? T. linibatns 

 may congratulate itself on not being an English butterfly ! 



Resting Habit of Cupha placida at Night. — In the depth of 

 the jungle, on the underside of a dark green leaf, about fifteen feet 

 from the ground, fairly conspicuous. 



Resting Habit of Precis lemonias at Night. — On upperside of 

 leaf close to a clay bank ; most conspicuous with this background. 



