98 Dr. G. B. Longstaff's Notes on the Butterflies 



abundance in a very limited locality, it was in fact 

 decidedly gregarious. By the way, pinching and cyanide 

 nre both but very imperfect ways of slaying these tough- 

 skinned Danaids. 



Mymnias undularis, both sexes, was common, but I did 

 not see any L. genutia for its female to mimic ; although 

 the under-side of this butterfly is " leaf-like," it is, as a fact, 

 usually conspicuous when settled. 



I caught distant glimpses of two Papilios and I missed 

 my first Hebomoia, in fact the things that I missed that 

 day would have made quite a good collection ! 



The following were all common : Huphina naclina and 

 H. nerissa, both males ; Ixias pyrene, large ; Neptis aceris, 

 Or. ; Precis iphita, spreading out like a Eupithecia when 

 settled ; Symbrenthia hyppoclus, and Lampicles celeno, Ci\, 

 while Terias hecabe was very abundant and large. 



Other things taken were Yphthima marshalli and 

 Mycalesis runeka, Moore, this last a very dingy species. 

 In marked contrast was Jamicles bochus, Cr., the male 

 iridescent dark-blue above, quite gem-like, beneath dull 

 grey with a metallic ocellus at the anal angle of the hind- 

 wing ; the female comparatively dull in colour. 



For some reason I that day missed a larger proportion 

 than usual but managed to catch the following : — Prioneris 

 thestylis, a male ; Girrochroa aoris, looking on the wing like 

 a big Argynnis, but settling with wings half-expanded, 

 several seen, but only one netted ; a Charaxes athamas 

 taken on a flower was the only individual of the genus 

 that I got in all my travels. Another specimen of this 

 very distinct and beautiful species was soon after seen 

 feeding upon human ordure ! Fear of fouling my net 

 prevented me from striking down upon it, and it suddenly 

 darted up, went twice round with a swift jerky flight and 

 then disappeared. Mr. Moller had indeed told me that 

 Charaxes was a very foul feeder. 



The elegant day-flying moth Trypheromera plagifera, 

 Walk., must be added to n y list, as well as the little 

 Geometer Psilocambogia memorata, Walk., which I found 

 dead, caught and set out upon a burr (of some composite 

 flower). Lastly a beetle, Mimela horsjieldi, Hope, of 

 brilliant green with coppery tinge. 



The extraordinary abundance of dragon-flies of many 

 kinds at the Ranjit River was remarkable, yet I did not 

 once see a butterfly attacked by any of them. 



