23 



rvhite blotch on the upper wing. The moth is nocturnal hatching 

 out from the chrysalis after dark, and coming to light. 



This species appears to be a form of Ophiusa Melicerte a widely 

 distributed moth, and known to feed on castor-oil as well as other 

 plants. The form however is darker brown and less red than the 

 Ceylon form figured in Moore's Lepidoptera of Ceylon. 



It seems to be less common here than the allied O. Serva which 

 is rather lighter colored, and is very abundant at light. Should this 

 caterpillar appear in sufficient numbers to be destructive to any 

 plantations of castor oil, it would be comparatively easy to catch it 

 by shaking the plants over a net or cloth, while the moth might be 

 disposed of bv lights over water or by the ordinary moth traps. 



REPORT ON BLUMEA BALSAMIFERA 

 PROM SELANGOR. 



Bv Prok. W. R. Dunstan. 



This consignment of the dried stem and leaves of Blumea 

 balsamifera was received from the Assistant Superintendent of 

 Forests and Gardens, Penang, and is referred to in letters dated 

 28th May and 16th October, 1902. 



The plant is stated to be widely distributed in the Federated 

 Malay States and the present sample was collected in the State of 

 Selangor. It yields a variety of camphor which is largely used by 

 the Chinese, under the name of " Ngai Camphor", in medicine and 

 for perfuming the finer qualities of Chinese ink. 



11 Ngai Camphor " consists essentially of laevo-bomeol a substance 

 closely resembling and nearly related to ordinary camphor, which 

 it could no doubt replace for many purposes if obtainable in large 

 quantities at a comparatively small cost. The present consignment 

 of Blumea balsamifera however furnished only a minute quantity 

 (0.05 per cent) of this substance which could not therefore be profit- 

 ably extracted. It is possible that the yield of the camphor obtain- 

 able from Blumea balsamifera may be dependent upon the stage 

 at which the plant is collected, and it would be worth while to 

 determine the amounts of " Ngai Camphor" obtainable from the 

 plant at various stages in its growth. For this purpose separate 

 consignments of about ten pounds each of the leaves, collected at 

 the commencement, middle and end of the season respectively, and 

 of the flowers should be forwarded to the Imperial Institute for 

 further investigation. 



These samples should, if possible, be sent in hermetically closed 

 vessels. It is possible that some of the volatile camphor may have 

 escaped from the consignment now reported on during its transit 

 to this country. 



WYNDHAM R. PUNSTAN, 



