COLLECTING LEPIDOPTERA IN JAJIAICA. 145 



genus Colacnis Avas represented by many specimens of C dclila, while 

 with it were examples of the black and yellow striped Hdiconim c/tari- 

 tnnia, also belonging entirely to the New World fauna. This insect 

 loves semi-shady roadsides, and flies in a tantalising manner just above 

 one's head and settles on the outer branches of trees, seemingly only 

 for rest, as, in such situations, there were no flowers. Ciji^tim'ura don-ax, 

 a very fragile-looking insect of fawn and white colour, appeared to 

 delight in the driest and sunniest of situations, the former taste being 

 quite exceptional in the tropics for butterflies. In contrast with this, 

 ( 'allistn :(7«///.s, which might have passed for an Krcbia on the wing, 

 was to be noticed gently flying amongst dank herbage never at any 

 distance from the ground. Anartia Jatrop/tai' (the "biscuit " of the Trini- 

 dad nigger) has here altered in coloration, and has assumed the darker 

 form known as var. satiirata. In the gardens around Kingston the 

 Pierid, Kricoi/onia h/sidc, with its so-called wet season form teressa, is 

 excessively abundant, and is a pest to the horticulturist. Both forms 

 were taken in the same place and on the same day in the height of the 

 dry season. A true Picris, P. ai»ari/llix, is, however, very rare, and its 

 larva is unknown. It is pure white, with a large black discoidal spot, 

 and spans about S^in. The yellow Catopsilids are always in evidence, 

 and congregate in immense numbers to a puddle of water. The deep 

 orange-coloured ('. art/auh' is much less common, but is found in com- 

 pany with ('. soDif'jc. Wishing to do as much collecting as (and the 

 best) possible, I decided to go to Bath, in the eastern corner of the 

 island, where rain falls almost incessantly throughout the year, and 

 where the vegetation is at its height for Jamaica. I will not dilate on 

 that memorable 44 miles in a buggy except casually. The interest and 

 picturesqueness of such an undertaking are worth all the trouble. 

 Entomologically, parts are good and parts are devoid of life. When- 

 ever we neared a village (settlements of three houses and upwards) 

 Papilin jxil.i/cratcs, the West Indian form of P.poli/daiiias, was invariably 

 noticed, with its wonderful hovering habit at flowers, similar to the 

 humming-birds, which I am glad to report are increasing again under 

 the protection now offered them. The larva of P. poh/cratt's feeds on 

 Arhtdlnrliia. There are some six or seven Papilios in the island, of 

 which, the giant, P. hojiicniti, I shall mention later. The particular 

 Jamaican Papilin, P. si mm, besides the above, is not at all common. 

 It is to be found some five miles out of Kingston, near the foot of the 

 Blue mountain range. The name blue is not fanciful. In the very 

 early morning, when the sun is just rising, the peculiar light and 

 shade effect gives one the idea that the mountains are of a deep indigo- 

 bluc colour. Continuing the drive towards Bath, after the 24th mile- 

 post was past, we came into a bit of road with high hedges on either side, 

 and these were the haunt of a giant relative of (ionojitcri/.r rliaiinti, by 

 name AuiipitJiia iiutmda. A temporary unwelcome shower of rain was 

 the cause'of some puddles in the road, and it was from these that one 

 had the only chance of netting the 3fin. brimstone. From this point, 

 for several miles, ('atopsilia somi'c, another brimstone-coloured insect, 

 was never lost sight of, and frequently parties of a dozen or so were 

 noted, struggling to suck up the last drop from a roadside puddle. _ A 

 bend in the road, and I caught a glimpse of Avluit I had been looking 

 foward to see, Paphia {Anoni) poiia, a grand insect of rich red colour. 

 The insect was excessively wary and delights in steep rough places, 



