NOTES ON THE BUTTERFLIES


from the two northern districts, whereas in the
Southern and Western Districts it is quite a
common insect. It loves to settle on flowers
usually in company with L. atergatis. These three
butterflies, L. atergatis, M. imitata and Heliconius
telchinia (Doub) all have the Lycorea pattern and
closely resemble each other in size, colour and
general appearance. They are found in the same
localities and at the same season of the year and
often in company together, but while L. atergatis
and M. imitata are busily occupied with flowers,
H. telchinia flies rapidly along the forest tracks
and roads and seldom is tempted to settle.
 Very curious and interesting, too, is the fact
that there is a day-flying moth-a Pericopis-
which also has the Lycorea pattern. It has
almost the same expanse of wing as the three
butterflies I have been describing and, moreover,
it flies at the same season of the year, in the same
localities, and often in company with them.
 It is, however, a rare insect, and I have very
seldom captured it.
 It has the curious habit when handled of ejecting
a quantity of a bright yellow, very frothy, liquid
having a rank pungent odour which appears to be
secreted by some glands in the thorax, and at the
same time the insect feigns death. There can be
no doubt that this is a means of defence-a
protection-against its enemies.