HARAGAMA 
369 
on that day very few insects were seen drinking. With this experience 
may be compared another: “Lady Horton’s Drive, January 15th. 
Rained most of the day more or less, no true sunshine. Yphthima 
ceylonica moving about freely; they sat with wings fully expanded, 
but owing to lack of sun the question of orientation did not arise. 
Nissanga patnia abundant. It was hard to make Orsotriaena 
mandata come out into the open, but Ergolis taprobana was skimming 
about bushes, in spite of the rain. Several Papilio aristolochiae and 
one or two P. pammon seen. Three or four Whites were beaten 
out. There was heavy rain in the afternoon.” Also a third day may 
be compared :—“ February 5th, Lady Horton’s Drive, 3.0-3.30 p.m. 
Many Lycaenids about, especially settled on the leaves of trees and 
shrubs. 3.30-4 p.m. Many Grastia asela and Parantica aglea flying 
slowly about.” 
Catopsilia pomona was fairly common. The brilliant Ixias 
pyrene , Linn., f. cingalensis, Moore, was only found at Haragama, 
where it was common almost to the point of abundance, but it flies 
swiftly and is by no means easy to catch. I brought home nine 
males and four females; all the former, but none of the latter, had 
a fairly distinct scent, which seemed to me to resemble closely that 
of Meadow-sweet (, Spiraea ulmaria). A female was watched for 
some time and seen to settle thrice on yellowish leaves of Bryophyllum. 
A still finer butterfly, Hebomoia glaucippe , race australis, though 
more than once seen by me at Kandy, is always associated in my 
mind with Haragama from its great abundance about the Lantana. 
When in fine condition it is a grand insect, but one that is hard 
to catch, moreover, worn specimens are common. On the wing the 
most conspicuous of butterflies, when settled with its wings closed the 
underside is remarkably cryptic, no orange is then exposed, but the 
general colour is suggestive of a faded leaf, an appearance greatly 
heightened by a “ mid-rib ” which is actually raised. This remark¬ 
able structure is no optical illusion, no mere effect of colour, but is 
due to a fold in the wing which is visible on the upper side; a 
similar dark raised line may be seen in the space below the median 
vein. The fact that this line is raised is noted by Moore, but was 
apparently overlooked by Bingham. Both sexes of this fine butter¬ 
fly are endowed with a strong heavy scent which recalled that of the 
flower of the Mango. I took altogether ten males and three females. 
Huphina nerissa , like its more gorgeous relative, though not 
confined to Haragama, was distinguished by its great abundance 
there. I took in all twenty-five males and four females, but could 
easily have got many more. The males had a decided scent, suggesting 
2b 
