56 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART I. 



generally in one direction, according to the wind. I never 

 could detect a perfect fly alighting or hovering over flowers 

 and shrubs, either for the purpose of feeding or depositing 

 its ova ; the larva is also unknown to me. The specimens 

 taken in the neighbourhood of Colombo have the green 

 band unbroken throughout their whole extent ; those taken 

 on the Western Coast have the band passing into the 

 discoidal cell ; while those from the interior have the band 

 outside the cell, but very broken and interrupted. Can 

 these be distinct varieties ? 



P. Sarpedon. A very common insect. Time of appear- 

 ance, May and June. Larvee feed on Cinnamon. 



P. Eurypilus. Nearly allied to the preceding, but con- 

 fined to the hills, and not common. I never met with the 

 larva. 



P. Agamemnon. Belonging to the same group as the 

 two former ; larva feeds on the Soursop. The perfect insect 

 met with frequently in June and July. The pupae of this, 

 Sarpedon, and I presume of Eurypilus, are attached to the 

 underside of leaves, almost horizontally, thus differing from 

 the foregoing species. 



P. Dissimilis. This approaches closely to the genus 

 Danais or Euploea, in the appearance of the perfect fly ; the 

 Larva is also furnished with spines. It feeds on the Cinna- 

 mon, and is common in April, the mature insects being 

 developed in May, The pupa wants the knobs found on 

 those of the other Papilionidse, and resembles a piece of 

 burnt stick ; the foundation and suspending silk is black, 

 being the only instance of that colour I have yet seen among 

 the various silks spun by insects. 



Papilio Birchii (Layard). This splendid, and hitherto 

 rare, insect has been lately captured in some abundance by 

 the Rev. W. Symons in the Kotmale* range. The first two 

 specimens, from which the accompanying description was 



