PREFACE 
My notes on the butterflies of Ceylon were published in 
“ Spolia Zeylanica ’’ in 1918-19, and Dr. Pearson, the 
Director of the Colombo Museum, suggested that they should 
be revised and issued as a Museum publication. Since then 
I have spent two years in England, arid have been able to 
examine the collections in the British Museum (Natural 
History), and to consult many books which were not available 
in Ceylon, with the result that the greater portion of the 
notes have been entirely rewritten. Unfortunately when 
the manuscript was ready for the printers, the Ceylon 
Government found that they were unable, for financial 
reasons, to carry out their scheme, and I am compelled to 
publish it without their assistance. 
The great work on Ceylon Butterflies is Moore’s 
‘‘Lepidoptera of Ceylon,’’ a copy of which is kept at most of 
the Kachcheries for the benefit of collectors. It was 
published more than 40 years ago, and a great deal has been 
learnt since then, and this book is only intended as a 
supplement, to bring it, as far as possible, up-to-date. 
Moore gives coloured plates of almost every butterfly then 
known, I therefore only illustrate those discovered since his 
work appeared. 
As he mainly uses sub-generic names I give these in 
brackets, e¢.g.: Danaida (Parantica) aglea; most of these 
are unnecessary and are no longer used. 
The other leading authorities, in order of date, are :— 
1st. ‘‘ The Butterflies of India, Burma and Ceylon,’’ 
by Col. Marshall and De Nicéville. 
and. ‘‘ Fauna of India: Butterflies,’’ by Col. Bingham. 
3rd. ‘‘ A list of Indian Butterflies,’’ by Lt.-Col. Evans. 
I mention the names given by all these, giving the authority 
