( xxviii ) 



Stephens, from my collection, which 1 found floating in a 

 cup of coffee." — West wood, lut. Mod. Classif. Insects, I., 

 p. 278 (1839). 



Professor E. B. Poulton, F.R.S., read the following note 

 on " Heliotropism in Paranje and Pyrcuneis," communicated 

 by Dr. G. B. Longstaff, M.D.: — "Following up my observa- 

 tions on the attitude at rest of Pararye schakra, Koll., made 

 near Simla in October 1903,* I paid a good deal of attention in 

 February and March of the present year to P. meone, Cram., a 

 butterfly that I found in varying numbers in all the parts of 

 Algeria that I visited. This is either a southern form of P. 

 A'tjeria, L., or a closely allied species in which the yellowish 

 spots are replaced by fulvous. It is fond of settling on sandy 

 roads, rocks, walls, or the leaves of trees or shrubs, compara- 

 tively rarely visiting flowers. It first pitches, invariably I 

 might say, with its wings about three-quarters expanded, and 

 in the vast majority of cases with its back to the sun, the axis 

 of the body being rarely more than 45° to either side ; im- 

 mediately after settling it more often than not adjusts itself, 

 by a quick movement, so as to make its tail point fairly 

 accurately to the sun. After this adjustment, if at all, it closes 

 its wings over its back, and as a necessary result its shadow 

 is reduced to, or approximates to, a mere line. There can, I 

 think, be no doubt that this habit is a great protection to the 

 insect, since when resting on fairly flat surfaces the shadow of 

 a Satyrine or Nymphaline butterfly with cryptic under-side is 

 often more conspicuous than the fly itself. 



" I quote two cases from my notes : — 



"Feb. 8, Guyotville. Watched a specimen settle about 

 twenty times. The wings were always at first expanded about 

 three-fourths, an adjustment of its position was in most cases 

 made immediately, and after that the wings were raised over 

 the back. In about twelve cases the orientation was perfect 

 and the shadow a minimum ; in seven or eight cases the orien- 

 tation was imperfect, with a maximum error of about 45°, but 

 usually much less. 



" Feb. 25, Biskra. Watched one settle three or four times, 

 always with a shadow near the minimum. 



* See Trans. Ent, Soc. Loud., 1905, p. 07 and 136. 



