APPENDIX I 349 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



Lepidoptera Rhopalocera. 



(Native family name, Kupu Jmpu.) 



Species determined by Mr. F. A. Heron. 



(1) Precis villida, Fabr. 



This is the commonest butterfly in the atoll. It is most 

 abundant in July and September, and again in March and 

 April. The larva is black, and is covered with spines : food- 

 plant is Asystasia coromandeliana. The pupa is suspended by 

 the tail from the branches of its food-plant, it is mottled 

 brown and has no metallic markings. The pupal stage lasts 

 for a fortnight or three weeks. 



(2) Hypolimnas bolina, Linn, 



(3) Hypolimnas bolina, form nerina, Fabr. 



An uncommon species, on the wing in April and August. 

 Specimens are in perfect condition, and the species is evidently 

 resident. 



(4) Hypolimnas misippus, Linn. 



A common species on all the islands of the group. One 

 worn specimen was taken on Christmas Island by Dr. Andrews. 

 The males and females of this species are very rarely seen 

 together; the males flying high in the shade of the thickly 

 growing cocopalms, and the female being generally seen flying 

 low over the herbage in open spaces. It is abundant from 

 July to October, and again from the end of February to April. 

 The larva is brown and spiny, the head is reddish and bears 

 two spines. It feeds on a succulent weed that grows all over 

 the open spaces in the atoll. The pupa is brown and has no 

 metallic markings ; it is suspended by the tail. Six days are 

 passed in the pupal stage. The female mimics Danais (Zimnas) 

 chrysippus petilia, Stoll, and is nearly always seen flying in 

 company with that species, whose habits of fluttering over the 



