56 NATURAL SCIENCE. Jan., 1893. 



present is insufficient for us to be able to determine whether the 

 hairiness of V. bombylans is as the " skins of the kids of the goats," or 

 if the Esaus of the genus have practised the converse deception. 



If this theory be correct, the colouration of Volncella must be 

 removed from the category of " aggressive mimicry " ; unless, indeed, 

 the general bee-like appearance disarms suspicion when the Volncella: 

 are flying in the neighbourhood of the nests of the Bombi. It 

 seems more probable that the dimorphic mimicry of V. bombylans is of 

 "warning" value, and this is far more in accordance with the 

 mimicry occurring in dimorphic forms among other groups of insects. 

 During the past summer I made a few experiments to test this 

 point. Specimens of V. inanis and of both varieties of V. bombylans 

 were offered to six lizards whose ordinary diet consisted of wormc, 

 blue-bottle flies, and caterpillars. In each instance the VolucellcE were 

 inspected from a distance and watched attentively, but not one 

 was tasted or even licked. When the Volncella; flew round the cages 

 the lizards exhibited the utmost alarm. 



These lizards were brought from Italy in the spring, and had not 

 previously, while in my keeping, been alarmed by any bees or other 

 insects capable of inflicting injury upon them. It was interesting to 

 observe that the wasp-like V. inanis was evidently regarded with 

 greater fear than V. bombylans. The same dread of any insect banded 

 with black and yellow, e.g., larva of Enchelia jacobecs, was frequently 

 exhibited. 



It is evident that as yet we are not in a position to dogmatise 

 concerning the mimicry exhibited by these (and many other) insects. 

 Now that attention has been called to our previous somewhat hasty 

 conclusions, it is to be hoped that the work will be taken in hand by 

 many independent observers during next season. The Volncella: 

 abound in nearly all country places, and are easy to keep under 

 observation in captivity. An interesting point to record, among 

 others, would be the relative proportions of the sexes in the two 

 varieties of V. bombylans and the mysiacea variety. In a series of fourteen 

 taken last summer, consisting of eight V. bombylans and six var. mystacea, 

 all the former are males, but only one of the latter. Theories to 

 explain mimicry we ha\'e in abundance ; let us hope for more facts in 

 the future. 



Oswald II. Latter. 



