NYMPHALINjE. 
29 
The Nymphalince compose the largest group of butterflies and are universally distributed, 
but many of the genera are confined to particular Regions. Cethosia , Cupha , Cirrochroa t 
Atella and Symbrenthia are Oriental and Australian; Argynnis and Vanessa range widely, and 
though represented in the Oriental Region are mainly Palaearctic and Nearctic ; Precis (the Old 
World representatives of the New World Junonia ) Hypolimnas , Neptis and Charaxes are 
common to the Eastern tropics. Ergolis is Oriental and Ethiopian. Athyma and Euthalia are 
Oriental; Limenitis is a wide-ranging genus extending to Europe and America, but chiefly 
Oriental; Apatura occurs in every Region but the Ethiopian and Australian. Hestina though 
represented in the Oriental Region is mainly Palaearctic. 
This large and heterogenous group of butterflies includes insects differing widely in their 
habits and characteristics, which it is impossible to generalise for the whole Sub.-fam.; Ergolis and 
Hestina are perhaps the most peculiar genera. 
Cethosia biblis, Drury. 
A very conspicuous, not very common butterfly here, which meanders swiftly over 
country covered with scrub or along the outskirts of woods, usually rather near the ground. It 
appears to skim over the ground with short but rapid vibrations of the wings. It does not seem 
specially fond of flowers, but usually rests on foliage. Walker says it is stated to be common on 
Waglan, a very small island about twenty miles S. E. of Hongkong, where the larva is said to feed 
on Passijlora foetida, Linn., Nat. Ord. Passiflorece , a naturalized S. American plant. This 
insect has two forms of $, differing widely in colouration but agreeing in the pattern or markings. 
The ordinary form of $ is similar to the the second or gray form being rare. Cethosia occurs 
almost every month in the year and is a wandering butterfly. The $ is of a most vivid red, and 
makes one wish it were a gregarious and more sedentary insect. A gathering of Cethosia , such as 
one sees of Danais or Euploea would be a gorgeous spectacle. The figure of the larva of another 
sp., C. cyane, given in Horsfields Cat. Lep. in Ind. Mus. has two rather long simple processes 
or horns on the head, and two rows of rather shorter and slenderer simple dorsal processes, two in 
each segment ; the body is dark, boldly banded transversely with light colour on each segment. 
Fig. 4, PI. V is from a $ taken in November, Fig. 5 from a 5, second form, taken in 
February. 
Cupha erymanthis, Drury. 
A very common butterfly, on the wing throughout the year in more or less abundance; 
generally keeping to woods and thickets, especially the outskirts and paths through them. It 
seems only moderately fond of flowers, but may always be found at Lantana and in shady gardens. 
It can fly fairly swiftly but seldom takes long flights, often resting with expanded wings on a leaf 
at a moderate height from the ground, whence it makes short excursions, returning again to the 
same perch. It often haunts the same locality for several days. The sexes are similar, but this 
insect has a wide range in dimensions, and varies slightly seasonally. Like many other butterflies 
which are fond of some special perch, Cupha generally chases passing butterflies and even dragonflies. 
