182 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
of Mutilla. In both the thorax is of the dull red so common 
in the genus Mutilla, but the abdomen of the male has two median 
white spots on a black ground, while that of the female is black, 
partially banded with golden yellow. Neither Mr. O. Wickwar 
nor Colonel Bingham, to whom coloured drawings of the spiders 
were submitted, have been able to match them accurately with 
any known species of Indian Mutillids. The latter writes: ‘‘ I 
believe myself the resemblance is general, ¢.e., that the spiders are 
Mutilloid and do not mimic any precise form of Mutilla. I do not 
think there is in such cases any real necessity for an exact model.” 
Colonel Yerbury also considers “that the resemblance is general 
and not special.” 
There was an agreeable absence of mosquitoes at this resthouse 
also. 
During the journey from Nalanda to Habarane the coach was 
invaded by Tabanid flies (Ha@matopota, sp.) which bit and worried 
the horses. One of them bit me on the wrist, causing very sharp 
pain at the moment. The bite has resulted in a hard red lump. 
Trincomalee, November 3: The butterflies here also are dis- 
appointing. Everything is very worn owing to recent high winds. 
Papilio hector is the commonest species and is extraordinarily 
abundant. There are always some half dozen in sight at any 
moment. I found eggs and larvee—presumably of this species—on 
a plant of Aristolochia elegans in one of the gardens. A stroll 
on the jungle-covered ridge above the Admiralty buildings pro- 
duced only the following species: Ornithoptera darsius, Papilio 
hector, Rathinda amor, Catochrysops Strabo, Aphneus ae 
and Mycalesis patnia. 
November 4: Spent the night on Sober Island and worked 
the moth trap in a glade in the jungle. A heavy shower of rain 
fell just before dark. An early moon interfered with the work. 
A fair number of moths was captured, including an undetermined 
species of Gargetta and a Limacodid new to me. Pterophorids 
were rather plentiful, and my companion (Mr. T. B. Fletcher, 
who is specializing in this group) added several species to his 
collection. 
There is a colony of flying foxes on the island. 
Oopah estate (near the mouth of the Mahaweli-ganga), Novem- 
ber 5: One of the gregarious spiders covers whole bushes with its 
closely woven webs. It is a species of Stegodyphus.* An allied 
species from Africa has been found to harbour a commensal 
Tineid in its nests (vide Ent. Mo. Mag., 2nd ser., vol. IV., July, 
1903, p. 167), and it is quite probable that our Ceylon species 

* [Very probably the same species as occurs in the Cinnamon Gardens 
of Colombo, namely, Stegodyphus sarasinorum, described on p. 209 of 
Mr. R. I. Pocock’s volume on Indian Arachnida. | 
