MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 337 



all seasons on the oleanders in our gardens. Every year, however, for two 

 days in the beginning of June, it appears in unusual numbers, migrating 

 steadily northwards. The natives have noticed this, and say that the rain will 

 come three days after the butterflies, but I have not found this to be invari- 

 ably the case. This year the migration began on the 7th of June, the morning 

 after our first thunderstorm, but long before we had any regular monsoon 

 rain. I imagine that the butterflies which migrate are those that are brought 

 out from the pupse of the previous season by the first heavy fall of rain, and 

 that they migrate to escape the monsoon. In that case it would be very 

 interesting to know where the movement begins and where it ends ; also 

 whether there is any return along another route at any other season, or whe- 

 ther the hordes of the south go to increase the population of the north each 

 year. These points might easily be settled if a number of members in different 

 parts of the country would watch these butterflies and make the result of their 

 observations known. It is not necessary that they should know anything 

 about butterflies, for Euploza core cannot be mistaken for any other 

 species. It is a medium-sized, or large butterfly, with rather elongated 

 wings, of a dark brown, or blackish colour, with a border of white spots. 

 When migrating they pass in such numbers that it is impossible to look out of 

 the window without seeing them. With them there are generally a few of 

 Danais aglcea and D. limniace, taking the same direction. 



Another butterfly which certainly migrates, but more erratically, is Pyrantels 

 cardui, the '' Painted Lady." At different times of the year, but most often, 

 I think, in June, large numbers of this species appear about the rocks on the 

 sea shore, or in other barren situations, and I am inclined to think that they 

 ' are new arrivals from some other country, for this butterfly is cosmopolitan 

 and apparently a great wanderer. A certain number remain permanently with 

 us and breed on a common species of Blumea. 



E. H. AITKEN. 



Ratnagiri, August, 1897. 



No. XXV.— OUR ANNUAL CATERPILLAR PEST AND ITS REMEDY. 



I hasten to communicate to the members of the Society a discovery which 

 surely illustrates the economic value of a knowledge of natural history. I 

 daresay most of them have suffered, like myself, during the last month, from 

 those little, hairy, black caterpillars which are the special pestilence of this 

 season. Originating apparently on the doorstep, and feeding on the invisible 

 flora of damp walls, they invade all parts of the house and take up positions 

 on chairs and tables, in your hat, or about your clothes, which make it impos- 

 sible to avoid coming into contact with them. Prom such contact they suffer 

 little, but the effect of their hairs on our skins does not pass off in a day. 

 They are the larvas of a little moth, Nepita conferta, and I may refer readers 

 of our Journal to an interesting account of their habits by Mr. H. S. Wise in 



