GENERAL NOTES. 
It has already been observed in the articles on the respective insects that Cupha 
erymanthis and Atelia phalantha y usually very common butterfles here, are in some years 
almost absent, both failing together ; their larvae have the same foodplant, which is here very 
abundant, and appear to feed only on this particular plant. Precis lemonias and P. atlites 
also often become extremely scarce in some districts, their larvae also having the same foodplant; 
these two butterflies are very closely allied, and when one fails the other is sure to be rare ; yet no 
scarcity of the plants is observable i nor does there seem anything exceptional about them, such as 
disease, or harbouring an unusual number of creatures inimical to butterfly life. Yet the scarcity 
at times of otherwise common insects would appear to be due to some such cause or to climatal 
influences ; the latter, of course, directly affecting vegetation ; producing effects so minute as to be 
inappreciable to human senses, but perhaps sufficient to vitally affect various forms of insect life. 
Many other butterflies also fluctuate greatly in numbers in different years, and it would appear 
that when some usually common species are absent, others at most times, uncommon become fairly 
numerous. But it is perhaps unwise to lay much stress on this curious phenomenon of alternating 
abundance and scarcity in a part of the country so highly-cultivated, and where the wild vegetation 
is so continually burnt off and otherwise destroyed. 
As we have seen, some larvae will feed but on two or three plants, some apparently 
only on one, and it is curious to speculate as to what originally influenced the choice of 
a* special foodplant: for larvae will touch none but their particular plant or plants but will rather 
dwindle away and die. In the majority of cases the foodplants of the larvai have small and 
inconspicuous flowers, and are never frequented by the butterfly except to lay its eggs 
thereon. It may be that, owing to the great antiquity of the genera of butterflies, plants 
with gay and conspicuous or scented flowers were rare at the time when many butterfly genera 
were already differentiated ; for according to the best authorities the colours and scents of 
flowers have been evolved specially to attract insects. It is generally easy to perceive when 
a female is about to lay, as she then wanders from plant to plant in a hesitating, uncertain 
manner, not heeding the flowers she ordinarily never misses feeding at. She touches the leaves 
and other parts with the tarsi and proboscis, until she finds her proper plant, and even then is 
often dissatisfied with many of the leaves, going over them several times till she finally lays on 
one which pleases her, and so on with the next egg. This is the case with most butterflies, 
though as already noted there are exceptions which lay very promiscuously ; and some conclude 
their examination of the plants very smartly, notably Vanessa and Char axes. 
