8i MIMICRY AMONGST THE LEPIDOPTEEA. 



whilstj according to Distant, the Malay form of the Papilio 

 (P. ceglalua) finds its analogue in the local Malay race of 

 the Euplo^a {E. cUoHcfianus), and he also states, on the 

 authority of Salvin, that Bornean examples of the Papilio 

 mimic the Bornean race of the Euploea (E. Lotcei). Papilio 

 Adamastor and Pseiidacrcea /^einh'c are both mimics of 

 African species of Acrsea. 



Elymnias also is a strongly mimetic genus : the female of 

 E. itndfifaris resembles in some degree Danals Pleo:q)imSy 

 or other of the tawny Danaids, other species approximate to 

 the blue Euploeas, of which E. midamus is the type, whilst 

 one of the African species, E. phegea^ mimics an Acra^a 

 found in the same locality. 



LeptocircAis curlus, L. mcgcs, and L. vlrescens appear to 

 mimic dragon-flies in their manner of hovering over water. 

 Mr. Forbes (" iSrat. Wand. East. Archipel."), speaking of the 

 last-named, says: "By the margin of a small stream I 

 caught L. vh'csccns, which derives protection from mimick- 

 ing the habits and appearance of a dragon-fly, in a crowd of 

 which it is often to be found. In form it reminded me of 

 the European genus Ncmoptera. It flies over the top of 

 the water, fluttering its tails and jerking up and down, just 

 as dragon-flies do when flicking the water with the tip of 

 their abdomens." 



In examining these species we cannot avoid noticing the 

 different manner and varying degree in which protection is 

 afforded to edible butterflies by their resemblance to dis- 

 tasteful kinds. Some, which resemble their models only on 

 the upper side, are protected only during flight when in 

 danger from birds and dragon-flies, which would usually 

 attack on a level or from above. Others, whose underside 

 onty resembles the nauseous species, find safety from it only 

 when at rest ; whilst again there are species amply guarded 



