SOME NOTES ON COLLECTING IN SOUTHERN INDIA. teas 
their sweet repast. It was about 5 p.m. My negro pen-keeper 
joined me at this moment; and, while conversing with him, my 
attention was suddenly attracted to a mango branch that was 
hanging not more than six feet from the ground, laden with 
blossom, and literally alive with some beautiful insect-life. 
I could not believe my eyes. ‘'houghnot ten yards from the spot, 
I thought I must be mistaken. I said to the negro at my side, 
‘Look there, my man. What are those ?’ 
“*Heigh, parson! Dem is soso-bugs!’ he replied, looking 
astonished. 
““* Soso-bugs !’ I said, ‘why, man, these are the very things I 
have been looking for day after day.’ * 
“Sure enough, on closer inspection, they proved to be Uranie 
in the most perfect condition, evidently just emerged from pupa. — 
There were above fifty of them together, in a space of two yards 
square, flying round and round the branch, some alighting on the 
leaves and spreading their gorgeous wings, in which the rich 
velvet-black, the bright emerald bands, and the notch of ruddy 
gold blend and harmonise so beautifully ; others contending play- 
fully in the air for a moment, to return again presently to their 
evening meal. I had seen Uranieé on high trees disporting them- 
selves, but never before saw them so near to the ground. Unfor- 
tunately I had no net with me. I might have returned for one, 
but duty urged me away. Within an hour I passed the same 
spot on my return. Not an Urania wasto be seen! And though, 
on the next day, we caught several in the same clump of trees, 
yet I never saw another on the branch I have described.” 
I will not risk the spoiling of these delightful pictures by 
adding a single touch of my own, but leave them in their native 
beauty. 
SOME NOTES ON COLLECTING IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 
By Epwin Lesrer ARNOLD. 
To the enthusiastic collector India offers a wide and enticing 
field of operations, especially if he should be a beginner and 
fortunate enough to be pleased with everything that comes to his 
* IT have described (loc. cit.) the suddenness and the brevity of the seasonal 
appearance of Urania.—P. H. G. 
