298 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



The full length of this handsome medal is 5j inches. The 

 grantee was born May 8, 1719, was appointed Maha Mudahyar 

 March 8, 1785, and died on May 10, 1794. There were two Guards 

 of Lascarins under the Dutch Government, commanded by the 

 Maha Mudaliyar in Colombo and the Guard Mudaliyar at Galle. 

 They still survive in the Lascarin Guards of the Colombo Maha 

 Mudahyar and the Galle Atapattu Mudaliyar. The Maha Muda- 

 liyar's coffin was carried to the grave by sixteen Dutch sergeants, 

 escorted by forty-eight soldiers and the Lascarins of the Guard 

 and Attapattu. 



Notice the extraordinary variation in the form of the letters in 

 the three medals. The oldest has the most modem looking, and 

 vice versa. 



The translations of the inscriptions are by Mr. F. H. de Vos., and 

 the heraldic reading by Mr. R. G. Anthonisz. 



Kurunegala, September 23, 1912. P. E. PIERIS. 



29. On a Collection of Transfers of the Wings of Ceylon Btitter flies , 

 prepared by Mr. C. C. Gilbert of Eatnapura.* — The transfers shown 

 have been made by pressing the wings of butterflies between two 

 surfaces of gummed paper. On separating the paper an impression 

 of both upper and under surface of the wing adheres to the gummed 

 surface, while the wing membrane can be removed, devoid of scales. 

 The impressions are then carefully cut out and gummed on to cards. 



While this method is not quite an ideal one for a serious collection 

 of butterflies, it has certain advantages, and might be employed in 

 conjunction with a collection of specimens mounted in the more 

 usual manner. 



Amongst the advantages are economy, compactness, and port- 

 ability. The expense of store boxes and entomological pins is 

 avoided. A large number of specimens can be kept in a small space, 

 and can be carried about or submitted by post without danger of 

 injury. The transfers are permanent, and are not subject to the 

 attacks of insects. They are in a handy form for reference, and the 

 cards upon which they are mounted afford space for useful data and 

 notes. A complete named collection, mounted in this manner, 

 could be circulated by post to collectors in any part of the Island, 

 to assist them in the determination of their specimens. 



I should be sorry to see unique or rare specimens treated in this 

 manner, but it affords a useful and economic means of studying 

 our butterflies for such persons as are not in a position to undertake 

 the more elaborate method of forming a collection. 



Peradeniya, June, 1912. E. ERNEST GREEN. 



* Read before the Ceylon Natural History Society on June 7, 1912. 



