NOTES ON THE BUTTERFLIES


freshly captured is not maintained, but soon fades
and after some months it becomes a dull pink.
I do not know what means, if any, can be taken
to prevent it.
 Another peculiarity I have noticed, and that
is that this insect varies very much in size. I
have captured specimens with an expanse of wing
of over two inches, and others which appear to
be dwarfs with barely one inch expanse. It is
not seasonal variation this, for I have taken the
large and the small forms at the same time and
in the same localities. The insect is slender and
delicate.
3. HELICONIUS CHARITHONIA (Linn).
 This also is an extremely common insect met
with throughout the Colony, and as with H.
petiverana so in this species, dwarf specimens fly
along with others of normal size. The flight is
similar to that of H. petiverana and its habits are
also the same. It flies low and hovers around
bushes, rarely coming to rest.
 The female of Pieris viardi (Bois) resembles
this Heliconid rather closely when on the wing,
but the Pierid has a fairly rapid and direct flight
which distinguishes it from the slow and hovering
movements of the Heliconid.
4. HELICONIUS TELCHINIA (Doub).
 This butterfly is quite abundant in the south