Butterflies of Mauritius and Bourbon. 435 
median interspace. Some specimens have the wings 
entirely unspotted and others with an additional spot in 
the first median interspace, and I have one specimen with 
faint but decided indications of a submarginal row; the 
number and size of the spots also vary on the underside. 
Melanitis leda, L. 
16. Cyllo Leda, Linn. 
Abundant everywhere, particularly at sunset in leafy 
lanes and at the corner of cane-fields. The peculiar habit 
of its near Indian ally JZ. ismene, of tilting to one side after 
settling and thus reducing the tell-tale shadow was, if I 
remember correctly, first brought to notice by Mr. Ernest 
Green. The same habit is also adopted by this insect, but 
it is by no means confined to the hours of sunshine, it 
frequently performs thus after sunset. The transforma- 
tions are in all respects similar to those of JZ. ismene, and, 
judging by a written description of the larva, it would 
. appear that the two are indistinguishable. I have given 
an account of its seasonal changes as they occur in Mauri- 
tius. (Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., Feb, 1905.) Flies I-XIL. 
Bourson. The same remarks apply. It is described 
by Vinson as C. fulvescens, Guenée. 
Mycalesis (Henotesia) narcissus, Fabr. 
17. Mycalesis Narcissus, Fabr. 
Abundant everywhere, and perhaps the commonest 
butterfly in the island. It is very partial to shady lanes 
and bamboo hedges, and is on the wing, fluttering close to 
the ground, even in the drenching rain and heavy squalls 
which are the forerunners of a cyclone. Seasonal dimor- 
phism is decidedly noticeable in the colour of the under 
surface of both fore and hind wings, which changes from 
the light yellowish-brown of the hot and dry weather to a 
deep purplish-grey in the cold and wet; the size of the 
ocelli are not markedly affected. The species is equally 
abundant in Bourbon. Fles I-XII. The life history has 
not, so far as I can ascertain, been recorded. The female 
I observed ovipositing was in cabinet condition; she 
basked for a few minutes in the sun, and then fluttered on 
to the smaller leaves of the bamboo growing close to the 
ground; on the under-surface of these she deposited a 
