BUTTERFLIES. 117 



for the last seven years on a ridge opposite Baling Ma and on the 

 west bank of the Chel River or Che Chu yields an annual average 

 of 224*42 inches; while, had a record been kept of the rainfall on those 

 spurs directly under Pankasarri and Richila, it would be found to 

 far exceed this. On this account and by consequent causes the 

 development of some species of butterflies is more favoured in this 

 part, and many species, which have hitherto been found rarely, or have 

 not been recorded from Sikhim and from Darjeeling to the west of 

 the Tista, occur more plentifully in Daling. Although it might be 

 argued that the fauna of this part of the country should be more 

 appropriately included with that of Bhutan, of which country it was 

 formerly a part, yet, as it is now placed in the Darjeeling district, it 

 must be taken along with it. 



To make the list as complete as possible I have added all the 

 species which are known to me to occur in Bhutan, that country and 

 Sikhim being conterminous. The species recorded from Bhutan only 

 are few in number, and most of them may be expected to occur in 

 Sikhim also. Indeed, in the case of many of them, as they have 

 been procured by native collectors only, it is a little doubtful 

 whether they really caoie from Sikhim or from Bhutan. 



Family NYMPHALID^. 



Subfamily Danain^. 



1. Danais (Tirumala) limniace, Cramer. 



Rare in Sikhim ; occurs only in the Terai at the foot of the hills, 

 and in the low hot valleys in May and June. 



2. Danais (Tirumala) septenteionis, Butler. 



A common species at low elevations, where it is found throughout 

 the year. It occurs also in Western China. 



3. Danais (Limnas) cheysippus, Linnaeus. 



Not very common, and occurs only in the lower valleys. The 

 aberration or "sport" named D. alcippus by Cramer and D. alcippoides 

 by Moore, and which is found in Africa right across India to Burmah, 

 in the Malay Peninsula, and in Sumatra, has never been recorded 

 from Sikhim. 



4. Dakais (Salatura) genutia, Cramer. 



A very common species at low elevations, occurrinfj throughout 

 the year. It is not known if in Sikhim it has the habit of " swarming " 

 or "assembling," as I have observed it to do in mid-winter in 

 Calcutta. It is found in Western and Central China. 



5. Danais (Parantica) melanoioes, Moore. 



Occurs commonly at low elevations throughout the year. 



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