PIERIN.E. 
97 
Prioneris thestylis, Donbleday 
I have taken but three or four specimens of this fine insect, which has a stronger flight 
than Delias and often flies high round tree-tops; but it appears to have much the same habits as 
Delias , and seems almost as fond of the same flowers as the butterflies of that genus. A marked 
peculiarity of Prioneris is the strongly serrated costal margin of the forewing, which is toothed like 
a saw. 
Fig. 13, PI. IX is from a $ taken in May, at Macao. I have also taken it there in June. 
Prioneris clemanthe, Doubl. 
Commander Walker took one $ of this species at Hongkong, in the “Happy Valley” 
gardens, in 1893. 
Terias hecabe, Linn. 
One of the commonest butterflies here : the genus is represented in all the tropical parts 
of the world. The individual variation of T. hecabe is enormous, both in size, markings and depth 
of colour. All these varieties occur plentifully at all times of the year, but the larger specimens 
are perhaps rather more numerous in the dry season and at change of seasons, especially in the 
spring months. Individuals with a fairly broad black border, scarcely indented, may be observed in 
coitu with others having a very broad border, deeply notched, or with scarcely any border whatever 
and with but a very slight apical patch, the males and females alike varying. Still, on the whole, 
in a long series, mated pairs will be found to incline to similar markings, though many striking 
exceptions will be noted. Across the forewings this butterfly varies from about 1^ inches to nearly 
2J, some of the smallest specimens occurring in the wet season. The ? is usually paler in colour 
than the <£, sometimes very pale, but this is by no means invariable, and though the $ has generally 
the broader black margins to the wings, the reverse is sometimes the case. The dry forms are 
usually heavily marked with reddish-brown on the underside of both wings, especially a sub-apical 
patch in the forewing ; the wet forms often have scarcely any or very faint markings, but this is not 
a constant condition. 
This pretty insect, though not exceptionally swift, has an erratic, wandering flight, very 
much like that of the Lycsenid Zizera otis , and generally rambles over the country a few feet above 
the ground, often stopping at flowers, of which it is very fond, and appears to feed at all that come 
in its way, though curiously enough it does not seem to appreciate Lantana. Terias hecabe is 
one of the butterflies here which venture forth on almost the coldest days, even when dull and 
inclined to drizzle, provided a strong wind is not blowing. 
Fig. 21, PI. IX is from a $ taken in October, in cop. with a $ similarly marked, but of 
a brighter yellow ; Fig. 7, PI. XII is from a ? of April, taken in cop. with the<? drawn at Fig. 8 of 
the same plate. 
Egg, spindle-shaped, smooth, white ; attached singly to the upperside of leaves of the 
foodplants of the larva, amongst the most usual being— Cassia Tora> Linn.; Leuccena glaaca^ 
