INTRODUCTORY NOTE 



WE paid less attention to the Lvcaenidae than to other butterflies, and 

 our collection is a small one as regards this family : roughly speaking, 

 there are only about twice as many individuals as species represented. 

 In the Malay Peninsula the { Blues ' have much the same habits as in other 

 tropical countries. Most of them delight in extremes of light and shade, 

 are attracted to putrid animal and vegetable substances, and frequent the 

 edges of streams and other places where they can suck up moisture. Other 

 observers have noted that while they rest the wings are often given a rotary 

 movement, which agitates the ' tails,' so common at the posterior extremity 

 of the wings in this ramily, in a very lively manner, giving them the appear- 

 ance of antennae, while the spots generally present at their base represent 

 eyes. It is obvious, from the mutilations noted on the wings that birds 

 are attracted to the false head thus simulated, and that the insects often escape 

 capture and destruction with the loss of a part of the wings which is of very 

 little, if any, direct importance to them. This is certainly true of a large 

 number of species in Malaya ; but there are several common species (especially 

 Loxura atymnus, a copper-coloured form, in which the ' tails ' are very stout) 

 which rest with their wings slightly separated from one another and absolutely 

 still. A comparison between the state of the wings in worn specimens in such 

 a form and in another equally common in which the wings are rotated would be 

 interesting ; but our limited collection does not provide sufficient material for 

 such a comparison. Something more may be said with regard to the ' tails ' 

 of butterflies, especially in the genus Cyrestes, in Mr. Robinson's Report 

 on the remainder of our butterflies, the publication of which, it is hoped, 

 may not be long delayed. 



NELSON ANNANDALE 



