98 
PIERIIML 
Benth., both Nat. Ord. Leguminosx and common to most tropical regions ; Breynia fruticosa , 
Hook., Nat. Ord. Eupliorbiacece , found in S. E. China and the Malay Archipelago; and also on 
young plants of Cratoxylon polyanthum. 
The great abundance of T. hecabe , due partly to an evident immunity from many enemies; 
its wide range and adaptability of the larva to feed on many kinds of plants; its being on the wing 
(and probably having a brood) every month in the year, no doubt accounts in great measure for 
the variation in size, colour and marking of the butterfly. 
Larva, figured PI. 3a, Fig. 19, pupa Fig. 20. The lateral stripe is whiter and not border¬ 
ed with darker green along the upperside, as in the larva of the following species. The hairs on 
the larva seem to attract moisture from the atmosphere, which condenses in a minute globule of 
water on the end of each hair, and gives the larva the appearance of being irrorated with white. 
Terias libythea, Fair. 
Also known as T. brigitta , Cram. A very small Terias , much more constant in size 
and marking than the former species. It is more local than T. hecabe and chiefly frequents the 
open, grassy hillsides and waste ground where the foodplant of the larva grows. It has a rather 
feeble but devious flight, usually quite close to the ground, scarcely rising more than a foot or two, 
and is fond of the small flowers growing amongst the grass. It occurs the greater part of the year, 
but is especially numerous in August and the end of the wet season. The black apical patch and 
border of the forewing is never deeply notched, as it often is with T. hecabe , and the underside is 
very faintly marked and scarcely alters seasonally. The black on the upperside of the forewing is 
very fairly constant in breadth, but the black marginal border of the hindwing is usually broader in 
the females, but sometimes very slight and interrupted in both sexes. 
Egg, spindle-shaped, greenish-yellow, laid singly on the upperside of leaves of the food- 
plant of the larva, Cassia mimosoides , Linn., Nat. Ord. Leguminosce , a small prostrate wiry 
plant with very narrow pinnate leaves and small yellow flowers, usually growing amongst grass, and 
widely spread over tropical countries. 
Larva, very like that of T. hecabe at first sight, but with a distinct dorsal line of darker 
or brownish green, which is quite distinct even in the very young larva. A lateral band of light 
yellow each side, just above the legs, bordered with rather darker green than the general colour, 
both above and below. Otherwise the larva is bright green, finely striated or ridged transversely, 
and slightly pubescent with short whitish hairs, as in the larva of T. hecabe , but the latter has no 
dorsal line and the lateral bands are almost white. 
Pupa, very like that of T. hecabe ; sometimes plain green, sometimes dotted with dusky 
markings. It is often suspended to blades or stalks of grass in the vicinity of the foodplant, and 
both larva and pupa in the case of both species harmonise beautifully with their usual surroundings. 
Ixias pyrene, Linn . 
The Chinese variety of* this butterfly is known as I. evippe , Drury, a sub-species of/. 
pyrene. It is also the Papilio sesia of Donovan’s “Insects of China.” A beautiful and common 
