Insects. 1273 



neously at so many places that the column must have been at least thirty or forty miles 

 in breadth. They thus continued their route until they arrived at the sea-coast, but 

 how much further south than Calcutta we are not informed, as they were here 

 seen coming northward, and, as we formerly announced, passing Columbo, till we 

 finally hear of them at Jaffnapatam, where a friend informs us " they passed in droves 

 on the 20th instant. Their course was west some degrees north. Their colour was 

 that of those you described (white, light-yellow, and some brown). They had not far 

 to go to the sea. Whether they were all drowned there or not remains to be learned." 

 It would now appear that these little winged pilgrims leave the east coast of Ceylon on 

 the setting in of the north-east monsoon, or rainy season, and, crossing the island, 

 travel along the sea-coast until they reach the northern extremity, when they pass over 

 the strait to the opposite continent of India. As the eastern coast of the continent is 

 also exposed during the present monsoon, it is not improbable that the butterflies con- 

 tinue their journey a considerable distance inland, or perhaps even go across to the 

 western or sheltered coast of India ; and if our Madras contemporaries will make in- 

 quiries amongst their Indian readers, this most interesting subject may be successfully 

 pursued. This description of butterfly is thus seen taking the same course annually at 

 the same season, but is not known to return. The question then arises what maintains 

 the annual supply, as the butterflies which leave Ceylon are not seen to return, at least 

 by the same route. It may be that they deposit their eggs before starting on their jour- 

 ney, so that the transformations may take place in the wet season, when vegetation is 

 vigorous and most suitable for the support of the grub ; and the chrysalis may be ma- 

 tured and the young butterfly come forth on the return of fine weather. We remem- 

 ber to have seen about ten years ago a similar migration of butterflies, but of quite a 

 different description (they being speckled black on a bluish ground as well as we can 

 recollect) along the valley of Badula. — Colombo Observer. 



Winter appearance of Vanessa Urticce. — I think the following fact is worthy of 

 being recorded in 'The Zoologist.' On the 24th of December last, a specimen of the 

 small tortoise-shell butterfly {Vanessa Urticce) was captured on Blackheath in excellent 

 condition. A few days afterwards some workmen, who were removing gravel in my 

 field, found a peacock butterfly (Vanessa Io), which had secreted itself below the 

 surface of the ground. — William Marsh; Morden College, Blackheath, January 

 15th, 1846. 



Graphiphora rqnigera. — Several seasons back, I first discovered Graphiphora reni- 

 gera (Steph.) flying in considerable numbers, about the middle of August, on a stony 

 part of Arthur's Seat, but so wasted by the weather, that I was unable to determine 

 the species. In the month of February of last year, I picked up under a stone, near 

 the same spot, a larva with which I was unacquainted. It changed to a pupa in 

 April, in a slight folliculus formed by drawing some leaves together at the bottom of 

 the box ; and at the end of June the moth appeared, and turned out to be Graphiphora 

 renigera. This led me to look out for it earlier ; but I found none till the end of July, 

 when it reappeared in its former locality, and in fine condition. Although by no means 

 scarce, as several might be seen flying in the hot sunshine at the same instant ; yet 

 from their extreme swiftness, and the rough nature of the ground, I was only able to 

 capture about a dozen specimens. Among these there was not a single female, and I 

 rather suspect this sex does not fly during the day, but remains concealed among the 

 stones, as I frequently observed the males alighting, and entering the crevices. This 

 interesting species also flies at dusk ; as I took a specimen resting on some candy-tuft, 

 TV. 4 T 



