348 
CEYLON 
Here it must again 1 be admitted that in the field I was constantly 
confusing Cupha and Cirrhochroa, as the superficial resemblance is 
striking enough. Cirrhochroa cognata , Moore, is the commoner; 
Bingham held this to be indistinguishable from thais , Fabr., but 
de Niceville appeared to consider it a local race. It is a strong flier 
and conspicuous on the wing, looking yellower than it is ; it is also 
conspicuous when settled, usually upon a leaf, and often far out of 
reach. Cwpha (Messaras) jglacida, Moore, which Bingham was inclined 
to regard as distinct from erymanthis, Drury, was reckoned by 
de Niceville as “ a good local race ” of that species. 
Among the fine butterflies peculiar to Ceylon is Cethosia nietneri, 
Feld., its engrailed hind-wings and somewhat Persian pattern seem 
to place it by itself. Its flight is extremely feeble, sometimes near 
the ground, but occasionally high; it sits on leaves with expanded 
wings, but occasionally visits Lantana flowers. Out of nine specimens 
taken two had suffered symmetrical injuries, one to the tips of the 
fore-wings, the other to the middle of the hind-margin of the hind- 
wings. Cynthia asela, Moore, is another large butterfly peculiar to 
Ceylon, it is remarkable for its sexual dimorphism, the male being 
tawny, the female French grey. It was common at Kandy, especially 
at the top of the hill above Lady Horton’s Drive, but hard to get in 
good condition. There is no doubt that the male has a scent, faint, it 
is true; I compared it to sassafras and to French polish. The female 
varies in the width of the transverse white band. Two specimens 
had suffered symmetrical injuries to the hind-wings, which I attributed 
to a bird and a lizard respectively. 
That glorious, though common, butterfly, Ryjoolimnas bolina, Linn. 
(jacintha , Drury), turned up from time to time. When spread out 
upon a leaf it looked particularly beautiful. Two specimens had 
symmetrical injuries to the fore-wings. Four specimens of the Blue 
Admiral, Vanessa haronica, Moore, were taken, all of them males, 
one at rest upon a stack of cord-wood sat with its head downwards. 
Both Bingham and de Niceville regarded this as a geographical race of 
canace, Johanns., but it does not appear to me that Bingham’s descrip¬ 
tions of either larva, pupa, or imago are consistent with that view, 
nor are the figures given by Moore and Bingham. 
Curiously enough I met with but two Atella jphalantha at 
Kandy. I see that Messrs, de Niceville and Manders say of it: 
“ Common everywhere in Ceylon, but not abundant.” 2 
1 For previous experience, see above, pp. 112, 114. 
2 “A List of the Butterflies of Ceylon,” Journ. Asiatic Soc., Bengal , N.S., 
vol. lxviii., Part II., No. 3, 1899, pp. 170-238. An admirable paper. 
