N7MPRALTNM. (Groap yYUVKALi^i.-) 141 



Rearing of Larva. — " Larva found, in Kanara, during August, September and 

 October, feeding on tlie Goretay-Geerah (? Portulaca sp.). Suspends itself in houses 

 and. verandahs. Body cylindrical. Head shield-shape, broad at top, with two erect 

 horns two-tenths of an inch long, bearing numerous tubercles surmounted by weak 

 hairs, occiput and neck dull burnt-sienna, face ditto, mottled with black and covered 

 with hair. Each segment bears several branched-spines arranged transversely, but 

 the number varies — on the first segment are only two on the sides and some tubercles 

 on the top of the second and third, one on each side of back and two on sides, with a 

 double pair below ; the foui'th segment and all behind it to the twelfth, have besides the 

 back and side spines, a single one on the middle of the back ; the fourth and tenth 

 segments have a lower double pair ; the fifth segment has the double pair and a 

 single one below, and below that some rudiments of others ; the other segments have 

 the double pair only like the second and third ; the eleventh none below the line but 

 two black ones, one in front and the other on hinder part of segment ; the twelfth 

 segment only two side ones which project backwards ; these spines are all dark 

 brownish burnt-sienna with dark tips ; the colour of the segments is greyish purple- 

 black above and below with a very dark patch between the upper pair of side spines 

 and a dorsal black line ; a thin line of burnt-sienna runs along bottom of sides 

 between the lower tier of large spines — double on the three first segments ; spiracles 

 black just above the line ; legs dull red" (S. N. Ward, MS. Notes). 



Messrs. J. Davidson and E. H. Aitken record rearing the larva in Bombay, as 

 follows : — " We have reared this in October, and in Karwar during July and August. 

 They were generally found on the ground, so the food-plant was not ascertained ; 

 but they fed readily on a minute weed called by botanists Elatostemma euneatum, and 

 some eat, while others refused Portulaca oleroxea. All we reared were of the small 

 dark form. The large form {Avia or Jacintha) was common enough, but we did not 

 get it by rearing. Larva cj'lindrical, armed with nine longitudinal rows of fine 

 branched-spines ; a single pair of longer and stouter spines on the head ; colour 

 very dark, rich brown ; head light brown. Pupa dark earthy-brown, mottled with a 

 lighter shade ; somewhat angular about the head and thorax ; abdominal segments 

 armed with dorsal rows of short, sharp tubercles " (Journ. Bombay X. H. Soc. 

 1890, 273). 



DiSTRiEimoN, Habits, eto. — In India " this is, in most parts of the country, one 

 of the commonest as well as one of the most beautiful of the butterflies. In the 

 drier portions of Western Continental India it is rare, but even there it may 

 occasionally be found in gardens. In the moister regions, particularly in the warm 

 valleys and submontane tracts, it abounds, and the flash of the brilliant purple, as it 

 opens and closes its wings while sunning itself on some flower or spray of foliage, 

 meets the eye at every turn " (L. de Niceville, I.e. 125). " I saw a specimen of this 



