64 Dr. G. B. Longstaffs Notes on the Butterflies 
excellent riding-path along the watershed of the Sutlej 
and Jumna, cut at one time on the hot and dusty southern 
side of the mighty ridge, where the terraced slopes are 
covered with crops of maize, or ruddy millet ; anon crossing 
to the northern side which is mostly clothed with fine 
forest of spruce, deodar, holm-oak and rhododendron—thus 
winding in and out, but for the 50 miles that we traversed 
always maintaining an altitude of from 7000 to 9000 ft. 
We went by way of Fagu, Theog, Matidna and Narkanda to 
Baghi, returning by the same route, except that from 
Baghi to Narkanda we walked over Mt. Huttu, 11,000 ft.* 
The expedition occupied eight days, but for simplicity 
of description I shall not distinguish between outward 
and return journeys. 
The general aspect was decidedly autumnal; the nights 
were chilly and most flowers had gone to seed. There 
was more cloud than usual, and there were occasional 
slight thunder-showers. Most of the butterflies seen 
appeared to have been out some time, and were much 
battered. Two circumstances tended to restrict the bag— 
one, the fact that collecting was for the most part confined 
to a narrow mountain road, bounded by a precipice on the 
lower, and a cliff upon the higher side ; the other, a limit- 
ation of wide application, that a tropical sun is not 
conducive to rapid pursuit. 
Simla, alt. 7200 ft., to Pagu, alt. 8200 ft. 
October 10th and 17th. 
Gonepteryx rhamni, L., var. nipalensis, Dbl., was abundant 
throughout the journey, and so was Aulocera swaha, Koll., 
though in very poor condition; both occurred in Simla 
itself. The last named is a Satyrid having on the upper- 
side a resemblance to our White Admiral, flying also with 
much of the grace of that favourite butterfly. It loves 
open spaces in woods, returning to the same spot when 
disturbed. When it settles on the ground, a rock, a 
flower, or a tree trunk, it often goes over on one 
side as much as 45° or even 50°. I saw one of these 
butterflies make three successive efforts, getting further 
over each time! On two distinct occasions I watched a 
butterfly settle twice, turning the first time over to the 
* In Indian names “di” is pronounced as “a” in father, “i” as 
00” in boot, “a” or “u” as “u” in but. 
