538 L. de Niceville & Dr. L. Martin — Butterflies of Sumatra. [No. 3, 



Malacca, Java, and Borneo. In Sumatra a unique example was taken 

 in the Battak mountains in August, 1894. 



672. Zea mytheca, Hewitson. 



Originally described from Malacca. Dr. Martin obtained a single 

 male example in the Battak mountains of N.-E. Sumatra in March, 

 1894. 



673. Erionota thrax, Linnaaus. 



Snellen. Hagen. Distant. Very common everywhere throughout 

 the year in ever following generations wherever species of wild or 

 cultivated Musa (" Pisangs " in Malay, or Plantains) grow, on the leaves 

 of which the larva feeds. The larva is white, covered with a white waxy 

 powder, and has a black heart-shaped head. It lives in a shelter 

 made of a portion of a rolled-up leaf. To make this shelter, it has 

 to cut into the edge of one of the enormous leaves to obtain a suitable 

 segment to be rolled up. The pupa is whitish, covered with the same 

 white powder as is the larva, and is hidden from view in its dining room. 

 This powder is of the greatest service to the animal, as in consequence of 

 the heavy showers of rain of the tropics much water often collects in 

 the rolled-up leaf, and the pupa if not so protected would soon be 

 drowned and rot, as it is the powder keeps the pupa dry until the water 

 has drained away or dried up. The butterfly emerges from the pupa in 

 the early hours of the afternoon at 2 or 3 P.M., and is on the wing before 

 sunrise and after sunset, and comes to the lights in the verandahs of 

 houses. Even at the earliest dawn, between 4 and 5 a.m., Dr. Martin 

 has noticed them flying round the plantain graves near his house. 

 E. thrax often appears in large numbers, and then the caterpillars 

 assist the south wind in giving the plantain leaves their usual torn 

 and picturesque appearance ; but as the leaves are but little used except 

 by the Madrasi Tamils, who utilize small perfect portions as plates 

 when eating, the larva? cause no loss to anyone. 



674. Erionota attina, Hewitson. 



Semper. Originally descrihed from a female from " India" and 

 Java. Its male is the Unkana batara of Distant. It is rare at low 

 elevations throughout the year, at Bindjei and in the plains generally. 



675. Erionota sanguinocculus, Martin. 



E. sanguinocculus, Martin, Einige neue Tagschmetterlinge von Nordost-Sumatra, 

 (Munich), pt. 1, p. 5, n. 3 (1895). 



Described from a unique male example taken in the forest near 

 Selesseh in May. In Dr. Hageu's collection is a second male specimen. 



