496 
BIONOMIC NOTES 
doubtful; in the other a slight scent was found and compared in the 
field to Stephanotis, but Mrs. Longstaff in the house said “(?) ginger” 
The late Col. Bingham said, “ The Danainae have without excep¬ 
tion developed what to our senses, at any rate, is an acrid disagree¬ 
able odour and taste accompanied with a tough leathery consistency 
of body, that to a certain extent protects them from insectivorous 
enemies.” 1 This species is exceptional among Danaines, having a 
decidedly agreeable scent, stronger in the male. 
Chittira fumata, Butl. ( taprobana , Feld.). (Ceylon, 1908). Out of 
four males and four females a scent was noted in two of the latter 
only, described in the field as “a slight musty scent,” but on re¬ 
examination in the hotel compared to stale tobacco-smoke. In 1904 
the results obtained were more positive—“it has the acetylene 
odour of Crastia core, but not so strong and with a difference.” 2 
Parantica aglea, Cram. ( ceylanica , Feld.). (Ceylon, 1908). A dis¬ 
tinct scent was detected in fifteen males out of seventeen, and in 
eleven females out of fourteen. In the male the scent varied from 
very slight to strong, twice indeed it was so strong as to be clearly 
perceptible when the insect was fluttering in the net. In quality 
it was in thirteen examples compared to acetylene (it being specially 
noted in one instance as “ not Hamamelis ”); in the other two 
specimens it is described as “ acetylene plus cockroach,” but these, 
when re-examined in the house, were described as “ cockroach only” 
and “ slightly musty ” respectively. In six specimens in which there 
was a decided, or even strong, scent in the field, none was detected 
in the house; in others the scent at home was slighter, or described 
as “ musty,” but in one specimen it was compared to sweet hay. 
In all the eleven females the scent is compared to acetylene, with 
the remark in one instance “ not so pungent as Euploea aselaP 
Two other female specimens were said to have a musty odour. 
I am satisfied that in P. aglea the scent is more transitory, 
possibly more volatile, than in the majority of scent-yielding 
butterflies. 
At Kandy in 1904, I had noted of this species : “ I was surprised 
to find that a male, when fluttering in the net, gave out a strong scent 
like that of Crastia core, i.e. very like acetylene.” 
Amauris albimaculata, Butl. (S. Africa, 1905). Dr. Dixey and 
the author were at one as to both sexes of this insect yielding a 
similar smell of musty straw, accompanied by an evanescent sharp 
or pungent scent like that of vinegar. 
1 “ Fauna of British India: Butterflies,’’ 1905, vol. i. p. 2. 
2 See above, p. 118 0 
