112 Dr. G. B. Longstaff on 
which it mimics so closely was by this fluttering. Many 
moths, notably Plusia, are intermediate between Sphinz 
and Papilio in this respect. The vast majority of butter- 
flies feed with their wings still, in some cases more or less 
widely spread out, in others closed over the back. The 
Skippers of such genera as Syricthus, Pamphila and 
Gegenes settle with the hind-wings horizontal, the fore- 
wings nearly vertical, but other Skippers, such as Baoris 
and Lretis, settle with the wings fully spread out. 
Again, butterflies often rest from flight on the ground, 
on the upper-side of leaves, or on tree-trunks. A few 
Skippers, such as Celenorrhinus, Caprona and Pterygo- 
spidea (Tagiades), settle on the under side of leaves, with 
their wings spread like Geometers. 
Such a state of rest is more reposeful than that first 
described, but in many species it is varied by occasional 
closing and re-opening of the wings; or in some Lycenids 
by curious horizontal movements of the hind-wings only. 
A third stage is when they rest for a long time in one 
position, then the wings are usually raised over the back 
(even in the case of Hesperia, etc.) and often the fore-wings 
are withdrawn within the hind-wings. In some species, 
notably Huchloé and Synchloé, when the creature is at rest 
the hind-wings do not approach the stem on which it sits, 
but the abdomen is elevated some 30°—40° and quite con- 
cealed between the hind-wings. This attitude greatly 
increases the similarity of the insect to a leaf. [Exhibited.] 
The actual habits of butterflies when asleep are but 
little known, the great majority almost certainly close 
their wings over their backs, but some of the larger 
Skippers, such as Caprona, etc., probably sleep with them 
spread out like Geometers. Certainly our common 
Skippers, Pamphila sylvanus, Esp., and P. linea, adopt the 
usual butterfly attitude, but many years ago Mr. Roland 
Trimen called attention to the fact that Wisoniades tages, L., 
sleeps with the wings inclined so as to form a roof, like 
many Voctux.* I noted in South Africa that in some 
Skippers the posterior third of the hind-wing is curiously 
plaited when at rest, thus again resembling Noctwx and other 
moths. This may be well seen in the big Rhopalocampta 
keithloa, Waliengr., and Pterygospidea flesus, Fab., as well 
as in the little Gegenes zetterstedti, Wallengr. (= hottentota, 
Latr.). 
* Barrett’s Lepidoptera of the British Islands, vol. i, p. 309, 
