some Rest-attitudes of Buiter flies. 101 
they settled at first with their heads to it, one butterfly 
succeeding in orienting itself only after much struggle. 
When the sun was not shining they were often noted 
settled at right angles to its direction. 
In the case of WM. aurinia, under the circumstances in 
which the butterfly occurred, it is difficult to see that the 
amount of shadow thrown could have been of any moment, 
though doubtless its colours would show up more if the 
under-sides of the hind-wings when at rest had the sun 
shining directly on them rather than tangentially. 
The recent visit of the British Association to South 
Africa gave me more extended opportunities; it gave me 
moreover the advautage of Dr. F. A. Dixey’s co-operation, 
which was the more valuable by reason of his great 
patience in observing and careful accuracy in recording 
results. 
Eurytela hiarbas, Dru., is a Nymphalid butterfly, with 
a very Satyrine aspect and habits not unlike those of 
P. xgeria. It is common in woods round East London and 
Durban, affecting partial shade. At East London I saw it 
in a small wood within 100 yards of high-water mark. It 
does not seem to be attracted by flowers, but moves about 
bushes with a slow gliding flight; it may settle on leaves, 
or on the ground, the wings being commonly three-fourths 
expanded, though sometimes more fully. When thus 
settled the wings are often slowly shut in part and again 
opened, though I never saw them quite shut. On at least 
three several days they were noted to have their tails 
turned to the sun, but the orientation was imperfect, often 
15°-80° out, and occasionally they settled with the body 
axis at right angles to the sun. 
Precis clelia, Cr.,is a Nymphalid butterfly that is common 
and widely distributed in South Africa. The dark upper 
surface of the wing is rendered very conspicuous by white 
spots near the tip of the fore-wing anda large blue spot on 
the hind-wing, but the under-side is marbled with shades 
of light grey and is very quiet and unobtrusive. As 
regards its habits I cannot do better than quote Dr. 
Dixey’s very graphic account of its behaviour as observed 
in “the Old Cemetery,” at Sydenham, near Durban, in the 
middle of August :— 
Common at one spot in the cemetery. It has a habit 
of flying a little way, sometimes in pursuit of 
another butterfly, making a round and returning to 
* 
