KANDY 
349 
Ergolis taprobana, Westw., which Bingham regarded as a race of 
merione , Cram., was abundant. It might be at once distinguished 
from Cirrhochroa by its skimming or gliding flight, which was hardly 
checked by a moderate amount of rain. It settles on leaves, or on 
the ground, with wings fully expanded, but frequently closes them 
for a moment and opens them again ; on at least one occasion it was 
seen to orient itself. The allied E. ariadne, Linn. ( minorata , Moore), 
was not quite so plentiful. 
Telchinia violae was seen from time to time. It is tenacious of 
life; its yellow juice proved to he slightly bitter. 
Three specimens of Ahisara echerius, Stoll (jprunosa , Moore), 
were all that the family of the Erycinidae could produce. On the 
other hand, Blues, more especially the smaller forms, were very 
plentiful whether measured by species or individuals. 
Two examples of each of the somewhat dingy Neopithecops 
zalmora, Butl. ( dharma , Moore), and Spalgis epius, Westw., were 
brought home, doubtless more were seen. Chilades laius, Cram. 
(' varunana , Moore), was also apparently scarce, and the same was 
true of Cyaniris puspa , Horsf. ( [lavendularis , Moore). Of the tiny 
Zizera gaika , Trimen ( pygmaea , Snellen), one of the most widely dis¬ 
tributed of the Blues, Kandy produced but one; Z. otis, Fabr., of 
the form indica, Murray, was abundant enough, it flies very close to 
the ground ; a specimen was noted to settle head downwards. 
Talicada nyseus was common in one spot, where a quantity of 
its food-plant grew. The neat little Everes parrhasius was quite 
common; though not so tied to the soil as Zizera^ it was not often 
seen far above it. 
The genus Nacaduba is very puzzling, the more so as good 
specimens are not easy to obtain. So far as I can make out (follow¬ 
ing Bingham), I met with two species, both common, viz. AT. 
ardates, Moore, and N. atrata, Horsf. (prominens, Moore, pars.). 
Three specimens of the latter were seen to settle head downwards. 
In two males a scent was detected; in one I described this as 
“ sweet flowery,” and my wife at once said, “ That’s a sweet smell ”; 
in the other I gave a similar description, and my wife said, “ very, 
very faint jasmine.” 
Unlike most of the other small Blues that I have mentioned, 
those of the genus Lampides are species of notable beauty, some 
indeed of almost dazzling brilliancy. Frequenting the leaves of 
shrubs and the lower branches of trees they formed a notable feature 
of the Kandyan fauna. The most abundant of them was the milky- 
looking L. celeno, Cram. ( aelianus , Fabr.), an insect of quiet beauty. 
