1120 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX. 



very dark brown variegated with white, grey, blue, green, &c. 

 according to the groups to which the insects belong — for even the 

 genus PaiJilio is susceptible of division into many well-marked 

 sections, and has been so split up by entomologists — and there are 

 numbers of them suffused with brilliant metallic peacock-blues and 

 greens either in large spots or all over, metallic colours which vary 

 in shade with different angles at which the light strikes them. 

 There are a few insects which are nearly uniformly dull, that is 

 dark brown (with the exception of a white border to the wings, 

 however, in every case), such as P. clytia, form jpaiwpe; others 

 again are streaked brown and grey or brown and white as P. 

 clytia, form dissimilis ; and these dull species are extremely like 

 some of the protected members of the danaine sub-family of the 

 Xymphalidoe. 



This resemblance of insects without a disagreeable smell and 

 (presumably) taste to members of a different family widely re- 

 moved from them in affinity is one of the puzzles of Nature. How 

 did it come about and why? If the Papilios "imitating"' 

 danaines habitually consorted with these latter or, even, if they 

 fed upon the same plants, it might perhaps be possible to suggest 

 some vague clue to the conundrum, psychical or material ; but 

 none of them do either one thing or other. The subject, however, 

 is somewhat out of place here and little would be gained by 

 discussing it, however interesting it ma} r be. 



The flight of the Swallowtails — the name is hardly applicable 

 to many of the insects here treated of as tails are by no means 

 present in all — is generally strong and quick, even the largest of 

 them being capable of rapid progression. Many of them, under 

 ordinary circumstances, sail along gently with wings outstretched, 

 hovering over flowers now and again as the fane}?" seizes them, 

 barely touching the petals with their long legs, to extract the 

 nectar with their uncurled proboscis which, under ordinary con- 

 ditions, is held safely rolled up and stowed away between the 

 palpi. When disturbed or alarmed in any way, however, they 

 will depart at a great pace, dodging from side to side as they go ; 

 and, when near the ground or among trees, they know bow to take 



