(Yer) 
T now have a scarlet one of, I believe, the same species. The 
pupae are sometimes green and sometimes perfectly grey- 
coloured.” 
3.—Oboronia punctata, Dew. 
The observations on this remarkable species are of special 
interest— 
Sept. 10th, 1911. 
“T made a little discovery to-day which has much delighted 
me. In accordance with your suggestion I have been investi- 
gating the contents of ants’ nests and to-day found two 
Lycaenid larvae. I must write about this when I get perfect 
insects. The particular nest of ants was constructed on the 
head of a plant [Costus afer] which had borne numerous bell- 
shaped flowers. These were eaten down more or less level, 
and then the ants had piled up earthy-looking vegetable 
débris over the mouths of the remaining parts of the flowers. 
I found the larvae each thus sealed up loosely in the base of 
what had been a flower. I removed the débris and carefully 
brought the flower-head home, and the ants are now again 
moving quietly to and fro on it. I think these larvae may 
be Oboronias, for these are the flowers which seem to have a 
special attraction for them, as I think I have mentioned.” 
Sept. 19th, 1911. 
** You will have received my first Oboronia punctata from a 
pupa. This was found in the calyx of one of the flowers 
which I have mentioned, the opening of which was sealed by 
débris deposited by ants. I will not attempt to describe the 
flowering head, for I intend to send one; but, roughly, there 
are a number of bell-shaped flowers springing from a common 
dome-shaped base. Only one or two of the flowers come into 
bloom at once, and over the other immature buds ants build 
up a covering of the débris, themselves occupying the inter- 
stices between the buds and keeping their larvae and eggs 
there. I have now found several Oboronia larvae, some with 
the ants in the interstices, and others in calices from which the 
flowers have fallen out or the flower-buds been eaten away, 
