MATHERAN 
391 
strabo , Nacaduba dana, de Nicev., N. ardates, and N. hermus , Feld., 
Polyommatus baeticus , Gastalius decidia, Megisba malaya , Zezius 
clnrysomallus , Hubn., and a sadly tattered Iraota timoleon, Stoll, a 
glorious insect of fine gleaming blue with a black border. The 
great majority of the Blues were taken at water, as was also the 
solitary Erycinid, Abisam echerius. 
The Common White of Matheran was unquestionably Huphina 
nerissa, though curiously enough it did not frequent the wet mud as 
at Haragama; a single Nychitona xiphia was taken, one also of Terias 
libythea , but of T. laeta , Boisd., I took several, although my note¬ 
book says “ not common.” Of Catopsilia pomona I took two; of the 
beautiful Nepheronia hippia , Eabr., a solitary male, which had a very 
slight scent like that of burnt sugar. 
A male Papilio demoleus had a scent like fresh straw, while 
P. aristolochiae smelled distinctly fusty. P. polymnestor was rather 
common. 
Three species of Skipper were met with, all of them new to me. 
Sarangesa dasahara, Moore, appeared to be not uncommon in a most 
perilous spot at the very edge of a high cliff, and I only secured one; 
this settled on the ground, with wings fully expanded, and so sitting 
was quite inconspicuous. Of Sarangesa purendra , Moore, I took 
two. Gelaenorrhinus ambareesa, Moore, is a large Skipper of peculiar 
habits. I first saw it, on March 25th, at Porcupine Point, a 
prominent headland of the mountain. The hour was that of sunset, 
6.50 p.m., and the Skippers were flying wildly about in some numbers. 
Three days later, in a similar spot, locally known as Louisa Point, at 
7 p.m., I took another, this time at rest, with wings expanded, on the 
sweet yellowish flowers of Ghela (Bandia dumetorum ). At the last- 
named place, between 6 and 6.30 p.m., there were many large 
Dragon-flies hawking about, but I failed to catch any of them. 
The one notable Moth was the large blue-grey, black-spotted 
Geometer, Buschema palmyra, with its very slow fluttering flight; it 
was not uncommon flying in the afternoon; several were “found 
drowned ” in and about Charlotte Lake. The Matheran specimens 
differ somewhat from those taken in Ceylon. Another of the same 
family, Luxiaria hypaphanes, Hmpsn., has a strongly marked under¬ 
side. A good specimen of the pretty Antigastra catalaunalis, Dup., 
was kicked up; it is a Pyrale widely distributed in the Old World. 
Noorda fessalis came to light. Phycodes radiata, Ochs. ( Jiirudini - 
cornis, Guen.), a large, robust, yellow-underwinged Hyponomeutid 
was taken near water. 
The excessive drought and consequent great scarcity of water 
