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



Ceylon species. The specimen is labelled " flies fast : 

 rather common from 7400 ft. to 8400 ft." It is but too 

 evident that I had not recognized that I was catching 

 anything out of the common, and it is more than probable 

 that I confounded the females of Catophaga and Tacliyris 

 with Hiposeritia, so that I am not by any means disposed 

 to trust the statement that H. narendra was common then 

 and there. One necessary consequence of my complete 

 ignorance of the Indian fauna was that I did not know 

 what was most worth catching. These white butterflies 

 are as a rule by no means easy to catch and were often in 

 bad condition, but in each locality I used to endeavour to 

 secure one or two good samples. Doubtless the Hiposeritia 

 passed for a very fine Tacliyris. 



Amongst herbage Mecyna polygonalis, Hb., was often 

 kicked up, having much the habits and appearance of my 

 old Bermuda and Mortehoe friend Stenoptcryx hybridalis, 

 Hubn. (Nomophora noctuella, Schiff.), which too was fairly 

 common in exposed situations at about 8000 ft. ; at a 

 similar elevation a single example of the Danaid Badacara 

 nilgiriensis, Moore, was taken. 



Above the Botanic Garden on the road to Dodabetta, at 

 about 8000 ft., I several times saw, but missed, Vanessa 

 eharonia, Dru., a butterfly that looks dingy in the cabinet, 

 but on the wing looks much brighter and bluer than would 

 be expected. It is sometimes called the Blue Admiral 

 (completing the trio), though in truth it is much more 

 like a tortoise-shell. Argynnis niphe was common at the 

 higher elevations, and in exposed situations up to 8500 

 ft., reminding one of A. aglaia, L. It flew up and down 

 the roads, returning again and again to the same spot. 



The commonest and most characteristic butterfly of 

 LJtakamand was the pretty little Colias nilgiriensis, Feld., 

 which was seen coursing over the grassy downs from 7300 

 — 8600 ft. Its flight is moderately fast, but quite close 

 to the ground. It was somewhat startling, but in a way 

 refreshing, to come across this Arctic survival so far within 

 the tropics, associated moreover with species characteristic 

 of Ceylon. As it was especially abundant in the hotel 

 garden I took the opportunity of examining five males for 

 scent ; in two cases I suspected the existence of a slight 

 scent, but in the remaining three the result was negative. 



From Utakamand I moved to Koniir, which stands on 

 the southern edge of the plateau, overlooking the plain. 



