BUTTERFLIES OF MESOPOTAMIA, 363 
about Acacia campbelli, Ainoff, which is widespread generally as a stunted bush 
in Mesopotamia, (though at Kut it grows to five feet), Kurdistan, etc., and is 
about the same size as Z. lysimon. 
Of 56 @, 46 9 (18 g, 21 Q ofthese now in B, M.) examined, Capt. 
Riley remarks :— 
*‘ The species is sometimes placed in Zizera sometimes in Chilades. J don’t 
Jnow which, if either, is correct.” 
‘Apparently not recorded from Mesopotamia before. There is a nice little 
series in the B. M. from Amara (B. Brewitt-Taylor) taken in July-August 1916.” 
Although the butterfly is found in immense numbers in June and July about 
the food-plant, which is also abundant in Mesopotamia, comparatively few 
larvee were found. The presence of several small ants about the end of a young 
shoot generally indicated a larva there. Small predacious wasps and a large 
red ant frequent these plants and probably carry off many of the larve of this 
butterfly. 
A female Z. galba was seen to lay an egg on a very small shoot in the axil 
of a young leaf. 
Egg. The egg was immediately examined under a fairly high power micro- 
scope. Shape flat and rounded about twice as broad as high, and with a small 
concavity in the centre above. The surface is covered with prominent tetra- 
gonal reticulate white projections on a ground of pale sea-green, the central 
depression being also pale green. 
Larva. De Niceville’s description of the larva of Chilades trochilus quoted by 
Col. Bingham, would do very well for this also. The following modification of 
it is made for galba : 
Of the usual wood-louse shape when full grown, seven sixteenths of 
an inch in length. Head when at rest hidden by the second segment 
which overlaps the bitten end of the stem like a flap, the larva lying 
along the stem. Colour pale green at all stages, of the shade of the 
young leaves of the food-plant (Acacia campbelli). The very young 
larva, just having thrown of its first skin, seen under the microscope 
shows the brownish black head, segments and hairs very distinctly. 
The head black, smooth and shining, with a dark green dorsal line 
down the body from the 3rd to the 12th segments ; on either side of 
this a rather conspicuous pale whitish line, next to it a narrow pale 
green line, then two parallel narrow pale lines, with a narrow dark 
green line between them, these being much less distinct. Then a pale 
green line below which is an almost pure white lateral line below 
the spiracles, which is the most conspicuous of all the markings. These 
various parallel lines are divided up by the segmental constrictions 
which are rather deep. The whole surface of the body slightly sha- 
greened, being seen, under a lens, to be covered with extremely fine 
short downy hairs, which are more evident at early stages than later. 
The usual extensile organ on the 12th segment. Each larva is 
diligently attended by several small brownish black ants which run 
about over its body, apparently attracted by some secretion from 
between its segments. The larva takes no notice of the antsrunning , 
about over it. Mr. C. W. Crawley kindly identified this ant as Mo- 
nomorium (Paraholeomyrmex) gracillimum, Smith. 
Pupa. Three tenths of an inch in length. 
Two larve, enclosed with the food-plant, on which they were feeding, in 
a glass shaving soap tube, pupated one on the glass side, one in the angle be- 
tween this and the bottom, and not on the plant, and were attached to asilk 
pad formed on the glass ; and in one the body-girth was very distinct produc- 
ing a slight constriction on the pupa. The pupe examined with a hand lens 
did not show any hairsonthem. In this detail and in the method of pupation 
