36 THE BUTTERFLIES OF CEYLON 
Common at Haldummulla nearly all the year round, 
except in September and October, viz., the end of the dry 
season. Sometimes it flights in very great numbers. When 
flighting, it goes fairly fast and straight, but at other times 
it settles on flowers, etc., and is very easy tocatch. In the 
dry low-country it swarms on wet patches on the eee? 
Common from Galle to Jaffna and at all elevations up to 
6,000 feet at least. 
62. ATELLA CEYLONICA, Manders. Atella alcippe ceylon- 
ica, B. and E. 
Peculiar to Ceylon. Differs from alczppe ‘‘ in the broad 
immaculate black apex of the fore wing in both sexes and on 
the greater breadth of the terminal band on both fore and 
hind wings ’’ (Bingham). | 
It is constant and well separated geographically, and 
I think deserves specific rank. See Plate I, fig. 2. 
I know nothing of this, so asked Mr. Mackwood for par- 
ticulars. He writes: ‘‘ Afella ceylonica is a distinct species 
or sub-species. Major Manders described it. So far it has 
only appeared in one valley in the Nitre Cave, surrounded 
by 6,000 feet hills, except towards the north-west and east, 
where it faces the Bintenna country. The butterflies are 
found from 2,000 to 4,000 feet. Principal appearance, 
May-June. A few at end of the year.’’ 
I owe my specimens to Mr. Mackwood’s generosity. He 
tells me that it was fairly plentiful at Nitre Cave in May and 
June, ror8. 
63. ERGOLIS TAPROBANA, M., De N. Ergolis mertone 
taprobana, B., E. 
E. taprobana is also found in S. India: merione is found 
in India, Burma and Malaya. De Nicéville writes: ‘‘ This 
species may be distinguished from FE. merione by its darker 
colour on the upper side, the outer margin of the fore wing 
less falcate; it has also no sub-apical spot on the upper side 
of the fore wing of the male. On the under side of the 
hind wing in the male there is 4 large discal round suffused 
patch of dark maroon scales not mentioned by Mr. Moore,’’ 
