THE BUTTERFLIES OF CEYLON 79 
The male varies in the amount of red, especially on the 
lower wing. This red changes to deep orange if left too long 
in the cyanide bottle. The female seems very constant. 
Is fond of settling on the tea and on low bushes, but flies 
off very strongly if disturbed, and cannot be relied on to 
settle again quickly. It is a serious pest of pomegranates in 
India. 
138. VIRACHOLA ISOCRATES, M., De N. and E. Deudortx 
isocrates. 
Also found in India. 
I found it in fair numbers on the blossom of Derrts 
scandens at Murunkan, near Mannar, in July. I have also 
taken it at Elephant Pass, Jafina, at Wellawaya, and at 
Kirinda, in the Hambantota district. The females are much 
rarer than the males. 
The larve are at times a pest of the pomegranate in India, 
and have also been reported as feeding in the fruits of apples, 
plums, peaches, oranges, loquats and guavas. In Ceylon 
I fancy it mainly feeds on the woodapple, as I have always 
found it near those trees. 
139. VIRACHOLA PERSE, M., De N. and E. Deudorix perse 
Also found in India. Fruhstorfer has separated the race 
from S. India and Ceylon as Deudorix perse ghela. Ghela is 
the Indian name for the fruit of Randia dumetorum, which 
is a favourite food of the larve. 
I have found it very rare. I got a few specimens in 
February at Kirinda in the Hambantota district, and have 
taken it at Wellawaya and Hambegama Tank, in the low- 
country of Uva. 
140. RAPALA SCHISTACEA Found in India and Malaya. 
Not mentioned by Moore. 
Usually very common at Haldummulla all the year round, 
I believe the larva feeds on tea blossom inter alta. It is 
always to be found on tea which has run some time from 
pruning ; if disturbed it flies very rapidly round and settles 
quickly, generally on the same bush, so is easy to catch. It 
visits flowers freely, and seems especially fond of Potntsettia. 
