COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 337 



Segment 6 is somewhat broader in front than behind (because of the lateral 

 ledge). The front lateral corners of segments are also slightly pointed. 

 Segments 7 and 8 are dorsally very slightly convex. The abdomen finishes 

 off posteriorly rather narrowly, the dorsal half -segments are triangular in 

 transverse section because of a abdominal dorsal carination ; the ventral 

 half segments are semi-circular in section and meet the dorsal halves in a 

 slight angle or carination ; the cremaster is short, triangular, truncated, 

 not or hardly bifid. Surface nearly smooth except for the usual fine, 

 very shallow, irregularly disposed aciculations. Spiracles of segment 2 

 hidden by the tongue-like process ; other spiracles longly oval, white 

 slits. Colour of pupa light green or brownish, with a lateral row of black 

 dots ; top of carina of thorax yellow ; top of snout black ; a black dorsal 

 mark near front margin of segments 9 to 12 ; underside whitish. L : 18 mm.; 

 B. at shoulders : 6 mm. ; H. at apex of thorax : 6'3 mm. 



Hahits.— The eggs are laid in batches of from 4 to a dozen 

 and more on young shoots or the upper sides of leaves ; the larvse are 

 gregarious until they reach full size when they gradually separate, 

 each one, then, lying in the centre of a leaf along the midrib in 

 the usual style. They eat voraciously, and grow fast in conse- 

 quence ; from the egg to the imago takes only a matter of three 

 weeks. The pupae are formed in the same way and in similar loca- 

 lities or situations as those of A. Ubythea described above. The 

 larvae are parasitized in the same way. The butterfly is not quite 

 so much an insect of the plains as Ubythea ; it is not cjuite so 

 common, though, where it is found, it is quite as numerous in 

 individuals as the other. It inhabits similar localities in the jun- 

 gle countries and hills of Bombay that Ubythea does ; but is not 

 nearly so common in the plains, indeed is there rather scarce. It 

 is probable that it is really confined to coast districts throughout 

 its habitat and to beds of rivers, generally preferring wooded loca- 

 lities, eschewing the immediate sea-side, but occurring up to 

 2,000 or 3,000 feet. The eggs are generally laid upon very low 

 bushes or j^oung plants, on the tender shoots ; the butterflies keep 

 low down mostly, near the surface of the ground, often resting on 

 it ; but are strong fliers all the same, perhaps even stronger than 

 Ubythea. They do of course rise occasionally above the usual level 

 of flight, but not often, for the female's sphere lies near the 

 groiind and males are generally engaged in seeking these. They 

 are not often seen at flowers, but collect at wet spots on the sand 

 or mud in nalla beds in the hot weather and sometimes in such 

 numbers as to nearly obscure the landscape when put up siid- 

 denly in a narrow stream ; there are always a few Ubythea 

 CatojJsiUa and an odd PapiUo or two among these drinking parties. 

 As a rule the flight is straight ahead, barring the frequent circling 

 round trees and in amongst the branches in search of females ; 

 and is of the usual, jerky, undulating type usual with neai'ly all the 

 members of the pierid family. The resting position is the same as 

 for Ubythea : wings closed over the back and the forewings drawn 



