KUKALIS BETULiE. 309 



larvae obtained at Ashteacl, and that pupated July 8th-9th (Prideaux); 

 bred July 27th, August 6th, 1904, from New Forest larvae (Kaye) ; 

 bred July 28th, 1904, from larva taken in Monk's Wood, on May 

 19th, 1904 (Raynor) ; September 17th to October 1st, 1904, near 

 Oaklands (Barker) ; bred July 27th, 1905, also July 19th to August 

 8th, 1906, from Monk's Wood larvae (Kaye) ; July, 1906, near 

 Llandovery (Andrews teste Barker); August 3rd, 1907, first emergence 

 of the year, a female, from Monk's Wood larvae, others up to August 

 20th (Raynor) ; August 20th-23rd, 1907, bred from larvae beaten at 

 Ashford, Kent, July 18th, 1907 (Tutt). 



Habits. — This species rests with its antennae stretched out in front, 

 its wings drawn closely together over its back, the forewings within the 

 hindwings, so that the discoidal mark of the underside of the forewing is 

 in line with the outer white transverse line of the hindwing, and the dark 

 transverse line of the forewing in line with the darkish shade towards the 

 outer margin of the hindwing, its abdomen and the inner margin of hind- 

 wings well raised from the surface to which the butterfly is clinging. 

 When walking, the wings are drawn up back to back, and pressed 

 somewhat closely together, and the abdomen is kept well within the 

 inner margins of the hindwings. When disturbed, it is, however, 

 much more active ; the abdomen is dropped, the hindwings slightly separ- 

 ated, especially at the tails, the antennae held forward at about an angle 

 of 90°, and kept in a continuous state of motion, up and down, some- 

 times in the same direction, at others alternately in opposite directions. 

 A female being placed in the sun on August 28th, 1907, its wings immedi- 

 ately opened, the deep blackish and orange colours looking the ideal 

 of absorptive possibilities, whilst a distinct longitudinal purplish flush 

 is seen in the discoidal area of the forewings. At this time, the wings 

 are let down almost horizontally, perhaps at an angle of more than 

 160°, the forewings well forward and the hindwings far back, leaving a 

 rather large space between the anal angle of the forewing and the apex of 

 the hindwing. The butterfly soon, however, became restless, and moved 

 backwards and forwards, its wings opened slightly, and the hindwings in- 

 dulging slightly in the alternate up-and-down movement so characteristic 

 of the Ruralids as a group. A piece of moistened sugar being inserted 

 in the box was eagerly seized upon, and, with the wings drawn tightly 

 together, and the tongue thrust into the sweet fluid exuding. from the 

 sugar, the antennae, at an angle of about 45° from each other, moved 

 up and down in a manner that showed clearly the delight and satisfac- 

 tion of the insect. Rolling the sugar away, the butterfly put out its 

 tongue in a most excited manner, folding and unfolding it, feeling all 

 round for what it had lost, and moving slowly on until it was again 

 discovered. The feeding went on for fully a quarter-of-an-hour, when 

 the insect suddenly flew to the sunny side of the box, let down its wings 

 so that the sun shone fully on them, and set to work to clean its 

 tongue and antennae most vigorously, with its front legs. The sunning 

 continued for quite ten minutes, when it drew its wings up tightly over 

 its back, placed its antennae close together, so that they stood out in 

 front in single line, and appeared to be on the alert, for, on the slightest 

 approach to the box, it darted rapidly from side to side, and rarely rested 

 quite still for more than a minute or two. Bethune-Baker mentions 

 (in lilt.) a specimen taken at Teignmouth at the previous night's 

 " sugar." The species has a swift and jerky flight, rising suddenly 

 from its resting-position and darting off suddenly, so that it is most 



