284 Mr. G. T. Bethune-Baker on 



side agrees, however, fairly closely. I have no doubt that 

 the two insects are the same species, but that Hewitson's 

 type may have undergone some change (possibly chemical) 

 which has effected the difference in colour. In my study 

 of the genus Arhopala I became convinced that the blues 

 of that genus, hitherto considered so very constant and 

 unchangeable in colour, are liable to alteration, this being 

 especially so where the colours are apparently aniline, and 

 further experience tends to confirm that opinion, though I 

 am not prepared to say in what manner the change of 

 tone is effected, but it apparently does not affect the scales 

 themselves. 



Anderson and Spry describe the ova as of a pearly lustre 

 and flattened at the poles ; they are laid on the edges of 

 loose bark, or on the stems of Loranthus pendidus and some- 

 times on the galls which furnish hiding-places for the 

 larvae ; these closely resemble the larvae of 0. abrota, Hew., 

 but have a small black patch on the anal plate ; they are 

 at times great wanderers, and are strictly nocturnal feeders 

 and have to travel long distances from their hiding-places 

 to their food, which in the summer months is often scarce, 

 as the Loranthus loses most of its leaves then ; they appear 

 to be able however to withstand prolonged abstinence 

 and yet to undergo safely their metamorphoses, in these 

 cases however the imagines are of course smaller than 

 usual. The larvae are also greatly subject to parasites, their 

 worst enemies being two species of Diptera, one of which 

 lays its eggs in its host, whilst in the case of the other fly, 

 apparently the larvae is not a parasite, but is furnished 

 with pointed mandibles and is said to suck its victims dry. 

 This dipterous caterpillar being very active and voracious 

 works serious destruction amongst the larvae of olane. 

 The pupa is somewhat delicate and suffers from the rays 

 of the sun if in too exposed a situation ; it remains about 

 a month in this state before emerging as the perfect insect. 



Isolated specimens may be caught throughout the year, 

 but October and November, and February and March are, 

 according to Anderson and Spry, the months when they 

 usually fly, though it is difficult to take, owing to its habit 

 of flying around the topmost branches of the gum trees. 



Mr. Spry informs me that he has never once seen this 

 caterpillar attended by ants, though he has studied it and 

 known it for years, the fact also that it is subject to the 

 attacks of parasites no doubt corroborates his observations. 



