132 Timehri. 
probably other butterflies, as well as some moths. It is notable that some of the 
most lovely butterflies live on plants that are innocuous to man. 
What we may call the poison-eaters are mainly hawk-moths. These gross 
feeders thrive on some of the most virulent plants in the world ; a few only, in- 
cluding the vine moth living on harmless species. The natural order Solancee 
is most conspicuous ; it is well-known to contain even among its economic 
species, acrid and poisonous juices. Yet certain species of hawk-moths appear > 
be acquainted with the whole order and to delight inits poisons. To the ordinary 
person the close affinity of such plants as tobacco and the tomato is hardly 
recognised but the moth knows them. I was somewhat puzzled myself in my 
first botanical studies to find out the order of Lyciwm, but in the United States one 
of the Solanacee feeders knows it as a member of that order. 
Not alone do the hawk-moths feed on one poisonous order, they seem to be 
immune from all poisons. That beautiful tree the frangipanni (Plumeria) is 
ravaged by one species, Allamanda and Echites by others ; these belong to the 
poisonous order Apocynacee. Then there is the Huphorbiacee with a pest to 
cassava. Other moths also feed on poisonous plants, notably Glyphodes flegia 
on the good-luck, Cerbera thevetia. 
One of our most beautiful moths is Attacus hesperus which is similar to the 
atlas silk moth of India. Of a rosy violet colour it is notable for its transparent 
window-like spots. The larve are green, banded with orange and black. The 
food plant is generally Duranta, but we have found it also on courida and Lagun- 
cularia, near allied plants. 
A fair number of moths are general feeders. The Limacodide especially are 
found on many species, generally trees or shrubs. When such is the case they 
do not become so dangerous as when only one plant is attacked. There are, 
however, many butterflies and moths the food plants of which have not yet been 
identified. 
The few to which we have drawn attention feed on exogens and it is noticeable 
that hardly any genus and probably no species will go over the line which separ- 
ates the two great divisions. Endogens have their own pests, the most notable 
being the Brassoline on palms and the Castnia licus on the sugar-cane. As far as 
we have seen the Brassolis sophore is new on our coco-nut plantations. Beetles 
have from very early times been noted, but not butterflies ; no doubt the Brasso- 
lis has been feeding on native palms and has discovered that our cultivated 
species are nicer. This is something which we have to look for; the instinct 
which drive; a butterfly or moth to find its own particular food plant is not so 
fixed as was once supposed. Discoveries are made and will probably continue 
to be made, always however on lines that may be indicated by the botanist. 
A palm pest may go from one palm to another but hardly to an exogen. How 
far it may go outside the palms or if it can live on other natural orders remains 
to be seen. The Brassolis however is not very difficult to detect and can be 
destroyed on the least sign of damage to the palm fronds. 
The Castnia licus is now of the utmost importance to the sugar planter. Its 
tastes are more general than particular ; but it does not appear to go outside the 
