on the Bionomics of Southern Nigerian Insects. 349 
abdomen flexed as: before. I was still waiting for the 
egg-laying marvel. I thought I was to see it to some 
purpose, when “she,” if that really was the sex, let the 
abdomen rest on the twig. But Lamborn used to swear 
that females that really wanted to oviposit and knew that 
one wanted to know the food-plant, really did that to 
annoy the onlooker: so I kept on hoping, till “she” 
suddenly stopped over the Coccids, unrolled a very slender 
proboscis and proceeded to absorb the secretion so much 
prized by the ants. Occasionally an ant would venture 
along, but retreated without attacking. In a short time 
the butterfly flew away, circled round for a bit and came 
back to another twig, where the same performance was 
repeated. By this time I had formed the conclusion that 
she was deliberately hustling the ants off what they doubt- 
less regard as their own particular prey. What exactly is 
the “force majeure” to which the ants yield I do not 
know; the flapping of the wings isn’t a very formidable 
thing, but it seemed to act and the ants did keep their 
distance. [The movements described and the position of 
the abdomen suggest strongly that the butterfly produces 
and fans towards the ants some odour disliked by them. | 
I tried the effect of interfering with their lawful preserve 
by “ tickling ”’ the Coccids with a thin grass stalk. Soldiers 
and workers immediately seized it and held it fast enough 
to let it be suspended in their jaws when I let go. They 
had all the appearance of being most justly indignant. 
I saw the butterfly repeat the performance three times. 
The performers were only about one foot from my eyes 
and were not the least bit shy. I failed to catch the 
leading performer. It was one with the light, predomi- 
nantly red, underwmg. Now I know that nearly every 
twig of the big trees has Coccids and ants on it, for I got 
a ladder and looked at some of the lower branches. This 
evening, about 6.15 p.m., from the ground I counted on 
the nearest branch of one of the big trees eight butterflies, 
all busy on the ends of twigs.* Yesterday evening I saw 
several, and with the aid of the ladder satisfied myself 
that they weren’t merely hung up for the night. I won- 
* Dec. 24, 1917.—Teratoneura nearly always settles on branches 
well above the ground, and these branches are always scale-infested. 
I have never seen them alight on low herbaceous plants, or on the 
ground—and I’m sure I could see a dozen any day I like—rather 
luxurious entomology, is it not ?—C.O.F. 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1921.—PARTS III, Iv. (JAN.’22) AA 
