72 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



verse bar consisting of four large elliptical white patches ; the 

 orange-coloured patch is also more than twice the size of the one 

 in the forewing of the first example ; the inner submarginal series 

 of spots, except the apical pair, are very small and white ; mar- 

 ginal rows of bluish spots only faintly discernible. On the 

 lower wing, instead of a faint blue transverse fascia there is a 

 large median white patch, the edges of which are suffused with 

 blue ; marginal spots and markings obscure, bluish ; cilia of both 

 wings alternately dark brown and white. On the underside the 

 wings agree in general colour with those of the first example, but 

 differ fiom them by the transverse macular fascia on the fore- 

 wing being white, and again by a broad transverse white bar 

 running obliquely across the hindwing ; the marginal and sub- 

 marginal patches of white are also much heavier than are those 

 of first example. 



A third example (Front., fig. 5) comes from Kensington Downs, 

 Queensland, where with a number of others it was collected by 

 Mr. A. J. Ewen. An examination of these shows a wide range of 

 variation, both in colouration and size. In the form under con- 

 sideration the upper wings are velvety black ; the transverse 

 macular fascia is white, and each of the large spots comprising it 

 is edged with blue ; each of the two large apical spots, and the 

 series of small, submarginal spots that proceed from them are 

 also white and faintly edged with blue ; the marginal and sub- 

 marginal markings are distinct though fine; the orange-coloured 

 patch on the lower half of the wing is much larger than that of 

 the second example quoted (Front., fig. 4). The lower wing is 

 velvety black at base, outer and anal angles very dark velvety 

 brown, median area white edged and faintly suffused with blue, 

 marginal markings indistinct ; cilia alternately black and white. 

 On the underside the wings are much darker than in the second 

 example, and this has the effect, naturally, of making the trans- 

 verse marginal and submarginal white markings, as also the 

 series of small bluish spot*, stand more prominently out. 



Other examples collected by Mr. Ewen show, in their variation, 

 the same apparent tendency towards mimicry, and in some not 

 only is there present the bright orange-red patch on the upper 

 wing, but the lower wing also bears indications of a gradual 

 evolutionary tendency towards the same colour. Taking the 

 underwings of both sexes of this species into account, there 

 appears to me to be little doubt, that when the insects are at rest, 

 the colouration and markings must be protective, else, con- 

 sidering that the species is decidedly edible to insectivorous 

 animals it could scarcely be so common. We must not for«et 

 that its earlier stages may have something to account for in this 



