HESPERIIME. 
139 
H asora chromus, Cram. 
A not uncommon Skipper during the wet season, perhaps most numerous in the spring 
months, April and May. It is on the wing throughout the day, and frequents the flowers of 
certain trees and shrubs, including Eugenia Jambolana and Lantana, and sometimes the tubular 
whitish flowers of the Papaya or Papaw. It has a rather swift flight, but whilst feeding often 
rests on the flowers for a long time, and is not in such a hurry to move on as the former species. 
The sexes are much alike, but in the $ the two yellowish spots in the forewing are often much 
obscured or even obsolete, and are always much smaller than in the $. The $ is usually much 
less in size than the 
Fig. 17, PI. XIV, is from a $ taken in May. 
Badamia exclamationis, Fabr. 
Easily recognised by its narrow, pointed forewings, the angular outline of the hindwings, 
and the abdomen distinctly ringed with yellowish-white. This species is fairly common during 
the wet season, seeming to be most numerous in June and July, but it is local. It has a strong 
and erratic flight but is exceedingly fond of resting on the underside of leaves, where it often 
remains quiescent for a considerable time. It very seldom settles on the upperside of a leaf, 
except for a moment. It frequents woods and foliage, and flies throughout the day in shaded 
localities. The sexes are much alike, but spots in the forewing of the $ are smaller and 
indistinct, sometimes almost obsolete. The $ is generally larger than the 
Fig. 19, PL XIV is from a £ taken in June. 
Ismene ataphus, Watson 
This handsome Skipper is not common here, but the larvae may often be found in 
fair numbers in some localities near Macao. It seems fond of flowers, especially Lantana and 
certain flowering shrubs, and usually flies late in the afternoon, though it is occasionally to be seen 
abroad in the morning in a bright sun. Its flight is swift, but it rather lingers over flowers when 
feeding, and haunts wooded districts, occurring at How-lik and Lo-fou-shan. It is on the wing 
all through the wet season, but chiefly appears in the autumn, especially during October. This 
Hesperid (and some other scarce butterflies) would probably be common but for the depredations 
of Cuculus micropterus and other species of Cuckoo during the wet season here, which destroy 
great numbers of the larvae. I have often shot Cuckoos which had the heads of several larvae 
of this Hesperid in their stomachs. The $ and ? differ considerably on the underside, as may be 
seen from the figures, and the hindwing of the £ is almost produced into a “tail” at the anal 
angle. On the upperside the sexes are more alike, but the $ is chiefly bronze-brown, greenish at 
the base of the wings and on the thorax; the $ is light iridescent greenish in the middle and at the 
base of the w r ings, the margins bordered broadly with dark colour merging into the lighter tints in 
