l.)6 THE LEPIDOPTERA OF CEYLON. 



of two paper kites one above the otlier, both attached by a common string held in 

 the hand, so simultaneously do the insects move together whilst keeping at the same 

 distance apart. Sometimes a second or even a third male finds itself drawn under 

 the same influence, and constrained, as it would seem, to follow the same mysterious 

 leading under a similar sesual excitement or exaltation " [Br. Thivaites' MS. Notes). 



" Western, Central, and Southern Provinces. Plains and hills, in forest and 

 open ground. All the year. Habits same as Iliades Parinda, but often flies very 

 high" (Hutchison). 



" Kandy. Very common. G&lle" (Wade). 



" Abundant in the low country, and hills up to about 4000 feet ; on the wing 

 all the year round, but March and April are the months when they emerge from the 

 chi-ysalis " (Mackivood). 



Family HESPERIID-S:. 



Six perfect legs in both sexes ; hind tibi«, with few exceptions, having two pairs 

 of spurs. Pupa secured by many threads, or enclosed in a slight cocoon. 



" These rather small butterflies, usually termed ' skippers,' are abundant in 

 Ceylon. They include insects difi"ering considerably in their habits ; some flit about 

 with the greatest activity during the very hottest hours of the day, whilst others are 

 somewhat moth-like, making their appearance in the early morning or late in the 

 evening. The larvge of the latter are most commonly found feeding upon the foliage 

 of palms, grasses, and other monocotyledonous plants, within the roUed-up leaves of 

 which they change into the pupa state " (Dr. Thwaites' MS. Notes). 



Genus BADAMIA. 



Hesperia, Butler, Ent. Monthly Mag. 1870, p. 58. 

 Forewing narrow, elongated; costa slightly arched at base, exterior margin 

 very oblique and slightly convex below the apex ; cell very long and narrow, extend- 

 ing three-fourths the wing ; first subcostal branch emitted at two-fifths, second at 

 one-fifth, third at one-seventh, fourth close to, and fifth at end of the cell ; 

 discocellulars very slender, inwardly oblique, of nearly equal length, upper bent 

 inward close to subcostal ; upper radial from the angle, lower from their middle ; 

 median branches curved at their base, middle branch emitted at about one-fourth, 

 and lower at three-fourths before end of the cell; submedian curved in the middle: 

 hind wing short ; apex very convex, angularly lobed at anal angle, abdominal margin 

 short ; precostal projecting inward ; costal vein arched upward from the base ; second 

 subcostal emitted at one-third from the base ; cell broad througfhout ; discocellulars 



