CEYLON BUTTERFLIES. 15 
specimens with exceptionally Jarge ocelli at Kottawa (wet 
zone) and Jafina (dry zone). They vary slightly, according 
to the season, at Haldummulla. 
I have noticed swallows eating them. I have a variety of 
the female in which the ground colour is very pale ochreous 
brown. 
25. Mu.anitis ismenn, M. & B.; Melanitis leda ismene, 
E.—Also found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. 
Moore divides ismene and Jeda as two species. Bingham 
says tsmene is the dry and leda the wet season form ; leda 
I have found commonest in growing paddy ; elsewhere ismene 
is far more plentiful, at any rate in Uva. 
As regards the under side, this is the most variable butterfly 
in Ceylon, and the variations, in the ismene form, do not seem 
to be dependent on climate or elevation. 
Flies very little in the day time, but starts at dusk, when it 
has-a very jerky and fairly rapid flight, and is not easy to 
catch. .The bad light, of course, is against success. Comes 
very readily to sugar after dark: till, at any rate, 9 p.m. It 
also. comes in the day time:in shady places, but is very shy 
then. | 
Very common, and: flies: all the year round. I have taken 
a few specimens in the Jafina peninsula (all ismene form): 
26. MELANITIS TAMBRA, M.; Melanitis bela tambra, B.; 
Melanitis phedima tambra, .—Peculiar to Ceylon. 
Much more a jungle butterfly than the last, especially the 
black, or wet season, form. The red, or dry season, form 
seems particularly fond of the shade of jak trees, and its under 
side, when settled, matches thesdead leaves well. The black 
form is much the rarer here, and always settles on the ground 
in the thickest undergrowth, so is difficult to capture, except 
at sugar. 
In habits otherwise they are similar to ismene, flying little 
by day, but coming out at dusk. They come to sugar in the 
same manner, but are, perhaps, even more shy in the day time. 
I have not yet succeeded in getting the female to lay eggs in 
captivity. I have. specimens from Haldummulla, Kandy, 
Ratnapura, and Kottawa. 
“ Caught also at Hambantota ” (F. M. Mackwood). 
