568 
BIONOMIC NOTES 
attitude, making in all nineteen species of Lycaenidae . It seems 
probable that sufficient observations are alone required to prove 
the habit to be general in that family. 1 
Zizera otis, Eabr., f. indica , Murray. ?. One observation. 
JEveres parrhasius, Fabr. ?. Two observations. 
Nacaduba atrata , Horsf. Three observations. 
Jamides bochus, Cram. ?. One observation. 
Lampides elpis, Godarfc. <J. Two observations: in one the butterfly 
settled head upwards, but turned round immediately. 
Lampides celeno , Cram. 10 <£, 1 ?. 
Polyommatus baeticus, Linn. Both sexes. Nine observations. 
Surendra quercetorum , Moore. One observation. 
Loxura armada ,, Moore. One observation. 
The “ sawing ” movement of the hind-wings observed at Kallar 
in the Nilgiris during 1904 in Lampides sp., and during Tamms 
telicanus, Lang, and at East London, S. Africa, during 1905, was 
again observed in several Blues in Ceylon during 1908, viz. :— 
Talicada nyseus, Guer. Six observations. 
J&veres argiades, Pall. Two observations. 
Lampides celeno , Cram. Three observations. 
Polyommatus baeticus , Linn. Six observations. 
Prof. Poulton explains this movement 2 as assisting in the de¬ 
ception of the false head, but the explanation scarcely satisfies 
me since butterflies at rest do not usually move their antennae. It 
is, however, possible that movement as movement may challenge 
attack; compare the case of the Maina mentioned above; 3 also Col. 
Mander’s experience. 4 
1 Compare Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1905, pp. 85, 86, 127. Mr. Marshall writes: 
“ I am quite satisfied that this (head down) is the usual position in Lycaenidae , and 
could add numerous species to your list, such as : Aphnaeus , Spindasis , Axiocerces , 
Iolaus , Stugeta, Hypolycaena , Mimacraea , Myrina , etc., etc., hut the simplest way 
is to mention the species which do not do it. Of these I know three only in South 
Africa: viz. Alaena nyasae, A. amazoula, and Pentila tropicalis —all distasteful 
species. Similarly this is the normal position in South African Nymphalinae, viz. 
Atella , Lachnoptera , Hypanartia , Precis , Catacroptera, Crenis, Char axes, Euralia 
and Salamis , which are all the genera I can think of at the moment in which I have 
actually observed it. On the other hand, all the Danainae and Acraeinae hang with 
wings down. It is possible this may prove to be a good criterion of palatability, for 
the head-down position gives the insect a much better opportunity of launching 
into a rapid flight, and thus evading attack, which is not of such great consequence 
to distasteful species.” 
2 “ Essays on Evolution,” 1908, pp. 282, 325, and the references there given. 
3 Page 526. 
4 Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1911, p. 738. 
