138 Mr. G. F. Mathew’s life-histories of 
Samoa, the Friendly Islands, New Hebrides, New Cale- 
donia, Solomon Islands, Duke of York Islands, New 
Britain, New Guinea, Pelew Islands, and the Caroline 
Islands. ‘They vary considerably in size and markings 
from the different localities, but not sufficiently to form 
new species, except those from Ponapé, in the Caroline 
Islands, which are much smaller and much darker, and 
should perhaps be considered a distinct race. 
My observations upon the habits and life-history of 
this butterfly were made chiefly in Fiji, where it was 
very abundant. It was principally to be found in shady 
spots in the forest, particularly by the sides of path- 
ways where there was plenty of coarse grass, or by the 
edges of clearings where sugar had been planted. It 
has an uncertain, jerky, manner of flight, rising sud- 
denly from under one’s feet, flying for a short distance, 
and pitching abruptly, usually selecting a spot covered 
with dead leaves, where, with it wings closed over its 
back, it defies detection, as the colourings and markings 
of the underside harmonise so completely with its sur- 
roundings that it is very difficult to see, and it will not 
take flight again until one nearly treads upon it. It 
does not care to fly much during the day, except when 
the weather is dull, or when it is raining. I have seen 
them flying gaily in the midst of a tropical shower. 
Towards sunset they begin to get more lively, and may 
then be seen flitting across the pathways or sporting in 
forest glades; and long after sunset I have seen them 
flying wildly, and at a considerable elevation. They are 
decidedly crepuscular in their habits. It is rather a 
difficult butterfly to catch notwithstanding its appa- 
rently weak style of flight; but this may be accounted 
for by the fact that when disturbed it generally flies low 
among the herbage, and flits in and out between the 
bushes where it is not easy to follow it with one’s net. 
It soon becomes worn, and not one half of those netted 
are fit for the cabinet. Indeed bred specimens very 
often look slightly worn although they may not have 
once flapped their wings. ‘The least touch marks them, 
their wing-scales are so loose and delicate. 
The eggs are deposited, five or six in a row, upon the 
terminal blades of sugar-cane, and upon various coarse 
erasses, Cladium, &c. It is difficult to understand what 
method is adopted by the parent butterfly in her selection 
