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JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. II., PART L 



than I can, except that it may not be amiss to mention that 

 when the insect is fairly within the net, a sudden turn of the 

 wrist will, by doubling the gauze over the handle, prevent its 

 escape. I have always observed that butterflies fear a stationary 

 object much less than a moving one, and will often fly within 

 reach of your net when standing stilly although they will not 

 surfer you to approach them; they are quickly alarmed on being 

 followed, and generally fly high over head. Butterflies delight 

 in alternate shade and sunshine, and will keep about the same 

 spot for days together, particularly in the neighbourhood of 

 water, by which they will settle and drink copiously, and many 

 insects seldom captured on the wing may be taken whilst 

 drinking. Ipias Glaucippe, for instance, a most rapid and wary 

 insect, I have seen on the flooded roads by thirty or forty at 

 a time, and have actually ridden over them before they rose, 

 when they would immediately settle again. The Polyommati, 

 and Thecla tribes should be sought for about the broad-leaved 

 plants upon which they fix their thrones and combat any rival 

 which may appear, to the great detriment of their beauty, 

 causing them to lose their slender tails and brilliant glossy 

 tints. In fact, every insect has its own localities, which can 

 only be learned by practice and attention to its habits. About 

 10 o'clock the collector may return home till 3 or 4 p.m., when 

 the butterfly tribes again venture forth, though he now will not 

 capture such fine fresh specimens as in the morning - the 

 butterflies always escaping from the papa early in the morning, 

 the moths in the evening. However, he may make good 

 captures, particularly among the Hesperia or " skippers," and 

 the Tkeclas ; and as the evening closes in, and the short Eastern 

 twilight comes on, he will be amply rewarded by Hesperidce 

 and Sphingidce: the former flying heavily along, the latter 

 darting swiftly from flower to flower, never alighting, but 

 dipping their spiral tongues into the dewy flower cups, and 

 extracting their hidden sweets. I have observed in this part 



