136 Dr. G. B. Longstaff's Notes on the Butterflies 
I have satisfied myself from observations on English 
Satyrids that the attitude is more often adopted by the 
butterflies when sitting in sunshine than in shade. Now 
if the list be away from the sun the shadow would be 
increased, but if towards the sun it would be diminished, 
in some cases even to extinction. Numerous observations 
are required to determine whether the list has any relation 
to the sun’s position. I would however remark that in the 
case of a butterfly with cryptic colouring on the under-side 
the shadow is in many cases far more conspicuous than 
the butterfly itself, as I frequently observed in India. 
Obviously, therefore, economy of shadow might be a 
considerable protection. Now, near Simla in October, 
1903, in the case of Pararge shakra, a butterfly closely re- 
sembling P. megewra, I noted three individuals in succession 
settled with their backs to the sun so as to reduce the 
shadow to a mere line. This was unfortunately just as I 
was leaving the locality where the species occurred, but I 
did not observe any instances to the contrary. I should add 
that in P. shakra I looked for, but did not find any list.* 
Scents in Butterflies. 
Owing to the imperfections of the human nose these are 
very difficult to detect and to describe, nevertheless certain 
definite results were obtained. 
* Since the reading ofthe paper Prof. Poulton has called my 
attention to the following interesting observation by Mr. E. E. 
Green. “ M. ismene is an adept at concealing itself. It usually 
pitches amongst fallen leaves where its form and coloration are 
sufficient concealment. But even on bare ground the insect is often 
extremely difficult to localize, though the approximate spot may have 
been carefully noted. I have watched the fly, immediately after 
pitching, alter its position so that its axis is directed towards the 
sun, thus casting no shadow.”—“ Notes on some Ceylon Butterflies, 
Spolia zeylanica,” vol. ii, pt. vi, Aug. 1904, p. 76. 
For the following reference I am also indebted to Prof. Poulton :— 
Prof. G. H. Parker has clearly established that in the United States 
when Vanessa antiopa, L., after a flight settles in full sunshine with 
wings expanded, it speedily so adjusts its position as to place the axis 
of the body as near as may be parallel to the sun’s rays, with its head 
turned away from the sun. Some of the genus Grapta have the 
same habit. He thinks they do this to display their colouring to the 
best advantage. The bearing of his interesting observations on the 
cryptic attitude of Satyrids is that they prove decisively that a 
butterfly can acquire the habit of definitely orienting itself. If one 
can do this for one purpose, another species may do it for a different 
purpose, e.g. concealment. Mr. Parker gives a Bibliography of the 
subject.—“ Mark Anniversary Volume,” Cambridge University, Mass., 
U.S.A., Article xxili, p. 453-469, 1903. 
