128 (June, 
chiefly the panope form: and they would fly backwards and for- 
wards over the trees, but rarely settle. Papilio helenus, tamilana, 
pammon, liomedon, would come past in the underwood but never 
settled: and all were males, without exception. The “ baskers” 
would sit with their wings half open as a rule, except Euthalia, 
which always sat with its wings spread widely out ona leaf. It is 
noticeable that all the “baskers ” are strong, powerful butterflies, so 
have little to fear from birds; the weak, brightly-coloured butterflies 
never seemed to come and bask ; the strong ones are, of course, often 
conspicuosly brightly-coloured too. By the way, when a Papilio 
settles in the underwood, which of course they constantly do in shady 
places, they invariably sit with the front wing brought down to cover 
the bright markings on the hind-wing: I am particularly thinking of 
P. tamilana (with a bright peacock-blue large spot on the hind-wing— 
belonging to the P. paris group); P. helenus (called daksha in South 
India, has a white spot where tamilana has it blue), pammon and 
liomedon (with white markings on the hind-wing), &c., &e. These 
Papilios always rest with their wings spread. Others, such as P. 
telephus, sarpedon, nomius, agamemnon, &c., always rest with the wings 
closed over their backs. 
Has any explanation ever been offered as to the meaning or use of 
the anal black, often silver- or orange-centred spots on the hind-wings 
of some Lycenide? Or have you ever looked at them vourself ? 
Put a “blue” having such spots (Virachola, Camena, Ops, Creon, 
Arhopala, &.) on a leaf or surface in its natural position, with the 
wings closed over the back ; the black spots then come into juxtaposi- 
tion with a flimsy tail to each one, which moves in the tiniest breeze. 
Looking one day at a “ blue” on a leaf in the jungle, I took the spots 
for the head of a Mantis! And,as if the resemblance were not strong 
enough when at rest, the movement so common among Lycenide of 
the hind-wings one on another (as if the butterfly were rubbing them 
together gently) gave the “ M/antis-head”’ the appearance of moving 
from side to side. It was very quaint. And it struck me forcibly 
that it would do well to frighten small insects, ants, &e. Or perhaps 
birds and lizards would take it for a M/antis and thus get the ends of 
the wings instead of the Lycenid’s body ? 
But there is no end to this sort of observation; one might go on 
for ever at it. 
May, 1906. 
