218 



CELBBES. 



[chat. XV, 



out of my net and found it to be 'u\ perfect condition. The 

 ground colour of this superb insect was a rich shining 

 bronzy black, the lower wings delicately grained with 

 white, and bordered by a row of lai^e spots of the most 

 brilliant satiny yellow. The body was marked with shaded 

 spots of white, y«^llow, and fiery orange, wliile the head and 

 thorax were intense black. On the imdcr-side the lower 

 ^ving8 were satiny white, with the marginal spots half black 

 and half yellow. I gazed upon my prize with extreme 

 interest, as I at first thonght it was quite a new species. 

 It proved however to be a variety of Ornithojjtei'a remus, 

 one of the rarest and most remarkable species of thih 

 higldy esteemed group. I also obtained several other new 

 and pretty butterilies, "UTiien we arrived at our lodging- 

 house, being particularly anxious about my insect treasures, 

 I suspended the box from a bamboo on which I could 

 detect no sign of ants, and tlien began skinning some of 

 my bii-ds. During nay work I often glanced at my precious 

 box to see that no intruders had arrived, till after a longer 

 spell of work than usual I looked again, and saw to my 

 hon'or that a column of small red ants were descending the 

 string and entering the box. They were already Vmsy at 

 work at the bodies of my treasures, and another halt-hour 

 would have seen my whole day's collection destroyed. 

 As it was, I had to take every insect out, clean them 

 tlioroughly as well as the box, and then seek for a place 

 of safety for them. As the only effectual one I begged a 

 plate and a basin from my host, filled the fonner with 

 water, and standing the latter in it placed my box on the 

 top, and then felt secure for the night; a few inches of 

 clean water or oil being the only barrier these terrible pests 

 are not able to pass. 



On return hig home to Mamajam (as my house was 

 called) I had a slight return of intermittent fever, which 

 kept me some days mdoors. As soon as I was well, I agahi 

 went to Goa, accompanied by Mr. Mesman, to beg the 

 liajah's assistance in getting a small house built for me 

 near the forest We found him at a cock-fight iu a shed 

 near his palace, which however he immediately left to 

 receive us, and walked with us up an inclined plane of 

 boards which serves fox stairs to his housa This was large. 



