BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS AND CICADAS 197 



beauty seem more fitted to its life than amongst the 

 subtropical flowers. More striking is Papilio philo- 

 xenus, a large black species, moving with heavy flight 

 and hoverincr like a hummingf-bird before a flower. 

 On its hind wings are bright and crimson bands 

 handsomely displayed as it hangs on the blossoms of 

 the chestnut. A smaller, but equally lovely species, 

 is P. cloatit/uts, a swift and active swallow-tail sweeping 

 hither and thither above the viburnum, showing its 

 delicate green transparent wings surrounded by a 

 jet-black border, like windows in a dark frame. Most 

 beautiful of all is P. polyctor with an expanse of over 

 four inches. It is a dark brown colour, covered in 

 scales of golden green ; its hind wings stamped with 

 a patch of brilliant blue and a border of pale red 

 crescents beyond a band of velvet black. All this 

 lovely play of colour flashes in a moment before the 

 eye as it hangs fluttering upon a flower. Sometimes 

 these beautiful polyctors collect into groups of ten or 

 twelve about some patch of moisture on the ground. 

 There they rest with quivering wings or rise above 

 the pool in short amorous flights, where they dance 

 and hover in the air. A gleam of green and gold and 

 blue flashes from their gaudy wings ; new colours 

 shine out at every movement and in every changing 

 light. It is the most beautiful vision of insect beauty 

 to be seen in the Western Himalaya. 



Butterflies often display great energy under the 

 influence of sexual excitement. Junonia orithya is a 

 very common and beautiful species with brilliant blue 

 wings. While the female is seated on a flower the 

 male circles round her in hovering flight with his wings 

 quivering so violently that he might be a hawk-moth 



