16 THE BUTTERFLIES OF CEYLON 
blue spots, much elongated at the apex, thus approaching 
very near to undularts, but the terminal border on the hind 
wing is-exceptionally pale and wide, and has white sub- 
terminal spots in interspaces 2, 3, and 4. . 
The female varies much in the width of the sub-apical 
white band. 
The flight is slow, and it always settles low down, though 
very seldom actually on the ground. The female is a mimic 
of D. plexippus. In most cases of mimicry in Ceylon an 
experienced collector can usually distinguish the mimic by 
its different flight. E. fraterna, however, is far better as a 
mimic on the wing than in the cabinet, and very frequently 
deceives me. Possibly this may be due to the fact that it 
usually flies low, and is seen from above as a bird would 
probably see it. If seen from below the under side would, 
of course, destroy the illusion. , 
Rare at Haldummulla, but very common in the coconut 
districts, especially where the palms are low, in new clearings, 
etc. The larve and pupz may often be found on pot palms 
in low-country verandahs. 
27A. ELYMNIAS MERULA.—Colonel Swinhoe gives this as a 
new species from Ceylon (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., No. 93, 
September, 1915, Vol. XVI., page 171). His description is: 
“ $ upper side deep black, as dark as E. hecate, Butler, from 
North Borneo ; fore wing with the costa spotted with blue, 
three blue streaks near the apex, and three sub-marginal blue 
spots in interspaces 2, 3, and 4 ; hind wing with a slight shade 
of fulvous on the outer margin ; outer margins of both wings 
as in hecate. Under side dark chestnut-brown, densely 
striated with pale blue, fore wing with white costal points, 
which become thickly clustered together at the apex ; hind 
wing with a small bluish-white spot below the middle of the 
costa | . 
“ Expanse of wing, 2 -8, inches 
“ Habitat : Kandy, Ceylon. 
“ Except for the white spot on the hind wings beneath, it 
much resembles hecate.”’ 
