276 TROPICAL NATURE 



settle upon foliage and on flowers, holding their wings erect 

 and folded together, though early in the morning, or when 

 newly emerged from the chrysalis, they often expand them to 

 the sun. Many, however, have special stations and attitudes. 

 Some settle always on tree -trunks, usually with the wings 

 erect, but the Ageronias expand them and always rest with 

 the head downwards. Many Nymphalidse prefer resting on 

 the top of a stick ; others choose bushes with dead leaves ; 

 others settle on rocks or sand or in dry forest paths. Pieces 

 of decaying animal or vegetable matter are very attractive to 

 certain species, and if disturbed they will sometimes return to 

 the same spot day after day. Some Hesperidse, as well as 

 species of the genera Cyrestis and Symmachia, and a few 

 others, rest on the ground with their wings fully expanded 

 and pressed closely to the surface, as if exhibiting themselves 

 to the greatest advantage. The beautiful little Erycinidse of 

 South America vary remarkably in their mode of resting. 

 The majority always rest on the under surface of leaves with 

 their wings expanded, so that when they settle they suddenly 

 disappear from sight. Some, however, as the elegant gold- 

 spotted Helicopis cupido, rest beneath leaves with closed 

 wings. A few, as the genera Charis and Themone, for 

 example, sit on the upper side of leaves with their wings 

 expanded ; while the gorgeously-coloured Erycinas rest with 

 wings erect and exposed as in the majority of butterflies. 

 The Hesperidae vary in a somewhat similar manner. All rest 

 on the upper side of leaves or on the ground, but some close 

 their wings, others expand them, and a third group keep 

 the upper pair of wings raised while the hind wings are 

 expanded, a habit found in some of our European species. 

 Many of the Lycsenidse, especially the Theclas, have the 

 curious habit, while sitting with their wings erect, of 

 moving the lower pair over each other in opposite directions, 

 giving them the strange appearance of eccentrically revolving 

 discs. 



The great majority of butterflies disappear at night, rest- 

 ing concealed amid foliage, or on sticks or trunks, or in such 

 places as harmonise with their colours and markings ; but the 

 gaily-coloured Heliconidaa and Daniadae seek no such conceal- 

 ment, but rest at night hanging at the ends of slender twigs 



