1890.1 15 



immenae volumes of dust and sand ; so much so, that objects less than 

 fifty yards distant become quite invisible, and trees are not unfre- 

 quently uprooted by the violence of the wind. The one relief the 

 storms bring is the diminution of the temperature, the thermometer 

 frequently falling fifteen or twenty degrees in as many minutes ; but 

 this is merely temporary, the thermometer soon rising again to 98, 

 100, or frequently to 106 degrees in the shade, where it persistently 

 remains for weeks. Such is Mooltan for eight months in the year — 

 very hot, very dry, and most objectionable. 



The remaining four months are, as far as the climate is concerned, 

 simply perfect — bright sunny days with cold frosty nights, but ento- 

 mologically there is little more to be done than in the hot weather. 



I soon found that it was perfectly useless to attempt to collect in 

 the surrounding country, and so confined my attention to the two 

 large public gardens, one near the city and the other close to the 

 Cantonment. 



These gardens were, I believe, made by the East India Company for 

 the benefit of their servants, but since the mutiny they have been kept 

 up by a grant from Government. Here, with great care and constant at- 

 tention, a certain amount of grass struggles for existence, and is laid 

 out in lawns and terraces ; while a few rose trees and other plants do 

 their best to contend against adverse circumstances, which frequently 

 prove too much for them. 



In such a spot, then, did I, in May, 1886, first start collecting 

 Indian butterflies, and shortly afterwards became possessed of De 

 Niceville's " Butterflies of India," and when I read the first line of 

 the preface, " India, the land of sunshine, is the land of butterflies," 

 I quite agreed as to the sunshine, but where were the butterflies ? 



It will be seen that my list only includes some thirty species, and 

 even of these some are represented by single specimens only. I really 

 do not think that a longer residence in that delectable spot would have 

 produced any more. I have added a few notes to each species. 



Danais Limniace — occurred sparingly in June, August, and November ; more 

 commonly after rain. D. Chrysippus — this hot weather loving creature was every- 

 where abundant except in August, when the heat proved too much even for it. 

 D. Genutia — only less common than the last. 



Melanitis Leda — common under the shade of large trees ; it is quite crepuscular 

 in its habits, and is difficult to obtain in good condition, owing to the looseness of 

 the scales. 



Atella Phalanta — fairly common, but not abundant. 



Junonia Asterie and Almana — I take these to be one and the same species, 

 possibly a case of seasonal dimorphism ; but if so, it is curious that both forms 



