88 
INDIA 
ridge of Retribution Hill (where Sir Hugh Rose in 1858 slew 2000 
mutineers), I took a female B. mesentina in which the hind-margins 
of the hind-wings had been symmetrically broken off, probably by 
the bite of a lizard. Of three specimens of Terias hecabe, one, a 
small female, was of the variety without the “ dog’s head ” notch. 
Of T. libythea a single specimen was taken, but T. laeta was plentiful 
and of gregarious habits. Teracolus etrida was locally rather common, 
especially the female. On the other hand, the male of Ixias marianne 
was rather common. 
Two Atdla phalantha were taken; the only Precis noted was 
orithyia, and that very dwarfed, one individual measuring only 1*4 
inches across the wings. 
Telchinia violae was abundant at the foot of Retribution Hill, and 
scattered specimens occurred elsewhere. This insect, like the 
Danaines, has a tough skin which enables it to resist pinching, and 
doubtless makes it indigestible. When injured a yellow juice exudes; 
a minute drop of this placed on the tongue tasted somewhat bitter 
and disagreeable, but the flavour was by no means strong. 
The Jhansi Lycaenids were fairly numerous, but not very brilliant, 
the most remarkable was Chilades putli , for it is actually smaller 
and darker than our alsus ; other species were C. lams, which appears 
to have been common, but of which I unfortunately took but one 
specimen, and Catochrysops contracta , Butl., of which I took two; 
Tarucus theophrastus was common, the two sexes are, on the upper 
surface at least, very different, and T. telicanus was also noted as 
common, though I secured only one of each sex. Blues are very 
abundant in India, but they are very much alike, so that being 
ignorant of the distinctions between allied species, one was but 
too apt to neglect them while in the eager pursuit of larger game. 
Bor these reasons too much weight should not be attached to the 
observation that such and such a species was common or abundant, 
but the qualification, “ or something superficially like it,” should be 
added. 
Two moths came to light, the Agrotid Euxoa spinifera, Hiibn., 
and the Macaria-Wka Semiothisa frugaliata, Guen. Besides these 
I took a brown beetle, Bolboceras quadridens , Fabr. 
After prolonged drought there was a heavy rainstorm at Jhansi, 
on January 14th, and there was slight rain at Gwalior on the 16th 
and 17th. With the exception of a very few days with clouds and 
occasionally a few drops of rain, there had been almost uninterrupted 
sunshine for three months, i.e. since October 8th. On January 20th, 
writing to Dr. Dixey, I said, “ There has been a very cold 4 wave ’ in 
