INTRODUCTION. lxvii 



in the neighbourhood of their nests, in a precisely similar 

 manner : they fly above the great enemy and suddenly drop 

 down upon him, or peck him till he tires of the rapid and re- 

 peated attacks (against which his size and consequent lesser 

 rapidity of flight hinder him from defending himself), and is 

 forced to seek safety in flight, when his little enemies do not 

 neglect to pursue him for a short distance. This reminds me 

 that I have also read of similar attacks of Humming-birds upon 

 American Sphinges, arising from jealousy about their food ; 

 but in the present instance, the assailants and victors were not 

 birds provided with sharp-pointed beaks, but were apparently 

 defenceless Butterflies.* 



" Is it then, perhaps, throughout the insect world, " everyone 

 for himself" ; and are so many of the lovely winged beautifully 

 clothed creatures, apparently so mild and defenceless, really 

 vicious ? It cannot be denied that this very rational behaviour 

 leads us to think that Butterflies have more understanding 

 than is generally supposed. I think the following incident 

 will show that they are not deficient in memory. One even- 

 ing I saw, in the open verandah of the Harmonic Society, at 

 Manghasar, a specimen of a Butterfly which is very common 

 there, Precis iphita, Linn. Notwithstanding the very strong 

 illumination, this little creature remained sitting quietly in the 

 same place on the ceiling during the whole evening. When I 

 came to the Society next day I did not see it, but in the even- 

 ing it was again sitting quietly in the same place. And as 

 civilisation has not advanced so far in Manghasar that it 

 is there considered necessary mercilessly to destroy or drive 

 away every harmless creature which ventures into or near a 

 human dwelling, I had the pleasure of admiring the memory 

 of this P. iphita for six days. It was not to be found in the 



* Some of the small European Lycanidce will drive away larger Butter- 

 flies, which approach their favourite resting-places, in a similar manner. 



E 2 



