( xxiv ) 



suspended (as is invariably the case in other Nymphali7ia;), but in the light 

 raise themselves more or less. There are some which actually execute 

 lateral movements if a light is thrown upon them from the side. 



" Panther odes par dalaria was noticed in 'Nature' as drinking and 

 voiding large quantities of water. Herr Heczko, a good observer of living 

 insects, who has been residing here for the last year, has noticed the same 

 habit in Papilio Folydamas. He counted from twenty to twenty-six 

 (usually between twenty-three and twenty-six) evacuations in a minute, 

 and the sand behind the animals was completely soaked. Pantlierodes 

 jjardalaria was very scarce here last summer, although it is very common 

 in many seasons. I once saw a whole swarm of these moths sitting on 

 stones grown over with Podostomece in a rapidly-flowing rocky brook. They 

 were looking down just above the water, and were probably engaged in 

 drenching themselves with it." 



Mr. A. G. Butler did not know whether Dr. Fritz Miiller had proved 

 that Dione and Colccnis were not Nymphallna, as they were always classed 

 with them. 



The Secretary read the following: — 



Note on the Habitat of Platychile pallida^ Fabr. 

 By Roland Trimen, F.R.S., &c. 



" This curious Cicindelide, so long a rarity in collections, was two 

 years ago discovered close to Cape Town by Mr. L. Peringuey, who kindly 

 pointed out the locality to me, and went with me to examine it and search 

 for specimens of the beetle. So singular did the station prove to be that 

 I no longer felt any surprise at the insect being so very seldom met with 

 previously. 



" The haunt of Platychile tur)is out to be the sandy sea-beach about 

 three miles and a half north of Cape Town. On the day of our visit to 

 the spot we examined two low sand hummocks without success; but in a 

 third very low one, just above high-water mark at the highest tides, I at 

 length unearthed a Platychile, and, almost immediately afterwards, two 

 others. This little hummock and its immediate vicinity proved very rich 

 in the precious insect, yielding between forty and fifty examples. To obtain 

 them was a simple process ; we merely lay down on the beach, and slowly 

 turned over the loose drift-sand. The beetles were completely covered by 

 the sand, but were only from one to two inches below the surface ; when 

 uncovered they lay perfectly still, as if dazzled by the light, but with limbs 

 and (usually) jaws extended. When seized they bit energetically, and 

 usually exuded a dark liquid from the moutli. Wlien thoroughly roused, 

 or dropped after being seized, they ran with great rapidity in a true 

 Cicindela-\\\K(i fashion, and also for a little time displayed much activity in 

 the cyanide buttle. 



