﻿222 LEPIDOPTERA INDICA. 



of Eestina, also mimic certain species of Limnaine butterflies. Apatura [Potamis] 

 Chevana, wliich is alike in botli sexes, is on the upperside a remarkable mimic of a 

 white-banded species of Athyma, namely of A. OpaMna. The species of SymbrentJiia, 

 in the shape and red colour of the markings on the upperside, closely resemble, in 

 both sexes, the red-banded females of certain species of Athyma. In the genus 

 Syrabrenthia, the species (S. Hippoclus ?), as occurring in Java, is stated by Mr. 

 Doherty to be also dimorphic in the female — one form having red bands, the other 

 white — but it is also very remarkable that these white-banded females of SymbrentJiia 

 are mimics of the white-banded males of the common Athyma Nefte, and the red- 

 banded forms of the red-banded female of the same species of Athyma. In the group 

 Aegynnina, the female of the widely-distributed Eastern species Argynnis Niphe 

 is a fair mimic of the equally widely-distributed and common Limnaine butterfly, 

 Limnas chrysippus ; and the female of the rare N.W. Himalayan Argynnis Clara is 

 also a good mimic of the female Parnassiiis Charino. 



Characteristics of Caterpillar and Chrysalis. — The external appearance of 

 both the caterpillar and of the chrysalis of the Nymphalince exhibits a variety of 

 forms. The caterpillar is either slug-shaped, smooth and shagreened, with processes 

 on the head and anal segment, or cylindrical, with rows of either short or long 

 branched-spines, and occasionally similar spines on the head, or, with some of the 

 anterior segments tumid and surmounted with short or elongated spiny processes. 

 The chrysalis is always fully suspended by the tail, and is either thick, oval, or boat- 

 shaped, or with a dorsal and thoracic prominence, tumid or angular wing-cases, and 

 bifid or hammer-shaped head piece, and some with abdominal conical or slender 

 points, or with dilated processes. 



Habits op Imago. — The butterflies of this sub-family " are pre-eminently bold 

 sunshine-loving insects, never skulking in the shade amongst trees and bushes, as do 

 the butterflies of the Amathusiinse and Satyrinse. Their flight is usually strong, 

 and as a rule they are seen most abundantly at mid-day. Generally they rest 

 with the wings widely spread open, and delight in displaying their beauty. In the 

 genus Charaxes the power of rapid flight is very great. In the genus Neptis, and the 

 ' White-Admiral ' group of Limenitis, the flight is easy, graceful, and sailing, while in 

 Vanessa, Argynnis, Apatura [Potamis], &c., though the flight is rapid and irregular, 

 they are often easily caught, owing to their habit of returning again and again to 

 the same resting place on a particular leaf. The flight of CyresHs is weak, and very 

 often, when pursued, suddenly alights on the underside of a leaf ; so also does 

 Stibochiona Nicea. Many of the species are very foul feeders, the depraved tastes 

 of the 'Purple Emperor' [Potamis Ii'is] are well known. Species of Charaxes have 

 also been taken on carrion, and G. Fabius is very fond of the juice of the Toddy 

 Palm, and Euthalia of rotten fruit, &c." (de Niceville Butt. Ind. ii. 3). Dr. 



