•284 JO URNAL, B OMB A Y NA TUBAL HIST OB Y SO CIBTY, Vol. XX. 



-there is a slight carination from each head-point to the dorsal carination 

 ■of thorax at hinder margin of segment 2 and another from apex of this 

 latter carination to hinder margin of thorax laterally ; there is a lateral, 

 small, conical, pointed tubercle centrally on segments 3-12, slight on seg- 

 ments 5 and 12, strongest on 7, 8, 9 ; signs of dorsal similar tubercles on 

 segments 5-12 ; hardly a vestige of the supra or subspiracular ones. 

 Spiracles of segment 2 mere red-brown slits ; the rest oval, colour of pupa 

 •slightly convex, with red-brown, narrowly oval centres. The abdomen is 

 somewhat laterally compressed ; the lateral constriction is much slighter 

 than dorsal. Colour is a light violet grey-brown with golden reflexions ; 

 -each tubercle being touched with gold, the dorsal ones surrounded with 

 gold on the abdomen, the lateral one on thorax also and on segments 4, 6, 

 8, those on 3 and 8 largely ; the golden reflexion on the wings is greenish 

 arid subcutaneous in appearance. L : 21 mm. ; B at shoulder-points : 8 mm. ; 

 4*5 mm. at head ; 7 mm. at segment 8 ; H. at segment 8 : 8 mm. 



Habits. — Egg laid underneath point of leaf, larva makes a little 

 untidy web-cell by turning over point ; continues this in after 

 stages, but of course has to use whole leaves later on ; uses much 

 web ; lies generally on the upper surface of the chamber thus made 

 and very generally curled round with its head on its side and the 

 body contracted to appear thicker and shorter than it really is. 

 Pupates in a dark corner, if possible, either against a perpendicular 

 surface or from a horizontal one, the attachment being free but 

 firm. Butterfly is fond of the sun, perches and basks on the 

 ground with wings fairly widely open, is fond of sucking at 

 flowers, rotten fruits, &c. ; can fly well and rapidly and takes long- 

 flights ; rests with wings closed, the front wings sunk within the 

 hinder. The place chosen for ovipositing is generally in a sunny 

 place along a wall or hedge or ditch. The larvae are somewhat 

 liable to be parasitised by ichneumons. The food plants are 

 nettles (U'rtica.') 



Bingham enumerates twelve species of the genus Vanessa as 

 inhabiting British India, besides two races and one variety. 

 Some of them are very like the Tortoise-shells at home, others like 

 the Comma. The genus is world-wide in its distribution, existing 

 in both hemispheres, and the majority are palsearctic and nearctic, 

 only a few species extending to the Tropics. The majority of the 

 Indian species are found in the Himalayas and along the northern 

 limits of British India. All feed in the larval stage on nettles, 



