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 Catophaya and Tachyris 
with Hiposcritia, so that Iam not by any means disposed 
to trust the statement that A. 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 Hiposcritia 
passed for a very fine Zachyris. 
Amongst herbage Mecyna polygonalis, Hb., was often 
kicked up, having much the habits and appearance of my 
old Bermuda and Mortehoe friend Stenopteryx 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 
charonia, 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 
Utakamand 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, “put in the remaining three the result was negative. 
From Utakamand I moved to Kontr, which stands on 
the southern edge of the plateau, overlooking the plain, 
