A LIST OP THE BOMBAY BUTTERFLIES IN THE SOCIETY'S COLLECTION. 37 



tree. In neutral circumstances the colour seems to be optional! 

 I have seen a green and a brown pupa on the same pane of glass. 



79. P. polymnestor. — I do not understand the distribution of 

 this butterfly. It is absolutely unknown in Bombay and I imagine 

 throughout the Konkan, but becomes one of the most familiar 

 objects as soon as we reach a level of 2,000 feet. I do not think it 

 occurs in the Deccan generally, but in Poona it frequents the old 

 gardens in the city. Again it abounds all along the Malabar Coast at 

 the level of the sea. Its chief season appears to be the latter half 

 of the monsoon, but a good many come out iu March and some may 

 be met with all through the hot months. The larva feeds on lime 

 and orange. 



80. P. helenus. — I found this not uncommon at Mahabaleshwar 

 last March, but have never met with it elsewhere. I know it occurs 

 occasionally at Khaudalla. This and the last two species have the 

 habit of going regularly round a certain circuit, so that by taking 

 one's stand at a spot where it has passed once one is pretty sure to 

 meet it again every half hour or so. 



81. P. dissimilis. — This is either very rare in the Presidency 

 or passes so easily for Danais limniace that it escapes notice, 

 but last year in November and again in February I found a good 

 many larvae on a tree near my house which proved to be Tetran- 

 ihera apetala, rather an uncommon tree in Bombay. The larva 

 grows to a very large size, but just before becoming a pupa it 

 voids a transparent membrane, like a bladder filled with air, which 

 reduces it considerably. One end of this is attached by a fine black 

 cord to the surface on which the larva rests and the other merges 

 in a large gathering of excrement. The pupa is a much more re- 

 markable example of mimicry than the perfect insect. Its resem- 

 blance to a withered twig broken off short being perfect in every 

 detail. Distant in his magnificent work quotes more than one 

 authority to the effect that the flight of this butterfly is very strong. 

 My observation does not confirm this. On the contrary I have been 

 more than once struck with the degree to which its mimicry of D. 

 limniace was supported by the similarity of its lazy flight and 

 attitude. 



82. P. clytia. — Amung the larvae of the last species, which I 

 reared, was one, not distinguishable from the rest, which to my 

 astonishment turned into this. I am quite satisfied that the two 

 are one species- I have never recognised another specimen of 



