THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE NORTH CANARA DISTRICT. 583 



176. P. ahrisa, Kirby. 



This butterfly easily passes for P.jjanope, Linrjasus, on a careless 

 view, and even for Euplcea core, Cramer, so that it may well be less 

 rare than might be supposed from the number of specimens cauoht or 

 noticed. At Karv/ar, however, it is certainly not common. Most of 

 our specimens have been caught on the ascent of the ghats, or at the 

 top. A larva, found feeding on Glycosmis pentaphi/Ua, Correa, was 

 taken for a dull specimen of P. polytes, Linnseus, and only when it be- 

 came a chrysalis did we note that it was different.' The chrysalis differs 

 from that of P. eritJwnius, Cramer, chiefly in that it is more bent 

 back in the thorax, and in that the apes of the thorax is produced 

 into a short, blunt, parallel apipedal process ; it is coloured like that 

 of P. poli/tes, Linnseus. 



The Dissimilis Geoup. 

 177. P. dissimilis, Linnseus, or P. panope, Linnieus. 



The Hon .Walter Rothschild in "Novitates Zoologicse," Vol.11, p. S64 

 n. 136 (1895), has recently shown that the dark form of this species 

 usually known as P. panope should be known as P. clytia, Linnaeus, 

 which name stands for the species ; and that P. dissimilis is the form 

 with striate black and white wings. We have, however, allowed the 

 latter name to stand here, as it is better known in India than P. clytia. 



This species constitutes our fourth group, for it cannot be classed 

 with any of the others. The larva, which is evidently " protected," is 

 handsomely and strikingly coloured. In form it most resembles the 

 larvse of the Oimithoptera group, but it feeds on Laimnce, most 

 commonly on Alseodaphne semicarpi folia, Nees. The pupa resembles 

 nothing so much as a dry twig. This is protective '' mimicry," show- 

 ing that the offensive qualities of the larva are cast off with its skin. 

 The butterfly carries on the same deception, passing itself off for 

 Danais limniace^ Cramer, and Euplcea core, Cramer. 



The two forms are about equally common, and both may be reared 

 from any batch of larvse. There have been opposite statements about 

 the flight of this butterfly. The fact is that it can fly. exceedingly fast, 

 but usually imitates the lazy manner of the two butterflies which it 

 impersonates. The transformations have been described in our former 

 paper (Journal Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. V, p. 368, 

 n. 76, 1890). 



