Himkrn iimangst tijc ITcpttiaptcrii. 



By G. C. GRIFFITHS. 



Read before the Enfoin. Serf.. March llfh, 1889. 



THE earlier entomologistri did not fail to notice the 

 remarkable superficial similarities which so frequently 

 exist between species of the same order, widely differing 

 in structure and affinity, and even between insects of 

 different orders, or, — extremest instances of all — between 

 insects and inanimate objects. 



Kirby and Spence, in their chapter on the Means of 

 Defence of Insects, refer to some larvse living in the nests 

 of humble-bees, " the offspring of a particular genus of flies" 

 {Volucella^ Geoff. — Pfcmcera, Meigen)^ many of the species 

 of which flies strikingly resemble those bees in shape, 

 clothing, and colour. " Thus," they remark, " has the 

 Author of Nature provided that they may enter these nests 

 and deposit their eggs undiscovered. Did these intruders 

 venture themselves amongst the humble-bees in a less 

 kindred form, their lives would probably pay the forfeit of 

 their presumption." Boisduval, in his "Species General des 

 Lepidopteres," remarks that '' Nature in certain cases has 

 reproduced the same design and same colour in genera 

 sufficiently remote. Thus, for example, the Zygaynidce 



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