2 26 SOUTH- AFRICAX BUTTERFLIES. 



of thorax, a dorsal median strii^e from meta-tliorax to fourth abdominal 

 segment, an irregular streak at each side of back of same abdominal 

 segments, some streaks roughly indicating main neuration of wings, 

 and some longitudinal streaking on under side of head and leg-cases, 

 all darker and in parts approaching to blackish.-^ 



Aberration ($). — In fore-wing, the disco-cellular spots and all the 

 spots of discal series (except the small third one) enlarged and cou- 

 lluent into a broad band, the outer half of cell being completely filled 

 with sulphur-yellow. In both wings the spots of the submarginal 

 series are almost entirely effaced, and those of the hind-marginal edge 

 exceedingly small; and in hind-wing the red of the anal-angular 

 ocellus is replaced by black. On the under side the same peculiarities 

 are reproduced, but the submarginal and hind-marginal spots are of 

 nearer the normal size, though very obscured in tint. — Hab. Pletten- 

 berg Bay, Cape Colony. (Sent to me in 1880 by the late W. H. 

 Newdigate.) 



A $ presenting some approach towards the " sport " just described 

 was bred near Cape Town from a fennel-eating larva in January 1869, 



^ Soon after receiving Mrs. Barber's account {Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1S74) of the 

 remarkable adaptation of colour in the pupa of P. Lyceus {Nireus, anct., part) to its imme- 

 diate surroundings, I endeavoured to ascertain if the chrysalis of P. Demoleus (which in 

 nature I knew to be variable) was similarly susceptible. I found that this was the case, 

 although to a less extent ; but unfortunately I kept no notes of the experiment. Lately (in 

 February 188S) I have repeated my endeavour, causing the larva to pupate in boxes respec- 

 tively lined with paper of different colours, but covered with glass only, and fully exposed to 

 daylight. The results were as follow, viz. : — 



1. Pupa formed on deep-green paper: above pale sandy-ochreous with a reddish tinge ; 

 beneath paler, but with the wing-covers tinged with greenish-grey. All the customary 

 darker streaks and markings almost obsolete. 



2. Pupa formed on hroion paper : not unlike the above, but all the back with a more red- 

 dish tinge ; in one case with the front and sides of thoracic peak, the lateral thoracic angles, 

 wing-covers, and the sides and under surface of abdomen, all varied with bright pale- 

 green. {N.B. — Some of the food-plant was accidentally left in the box with this latter 

 pupa.] 



3. Pupa formed on wJdic paper : paler than others, especially on back. 



4. Pupa formed on hrl'jlit chrome-yellow paper : above creamy yellow-ochrcous ; beneath 

 dull greenish-grey, except abdomen, which was pale flesh-colour. 



5. Pupa formed on vermilion-red paper : above bright greenish-yellow, with ordinary 

 darker markings pale creamy-ferruginotis ; beneath wholly very pale greyish-green. Another 

 example was very different in tint, not unlike pupa on bright chrome-yellow paper, but of a 

 deeper and more rufous yellow above. 



6. Pupa formed on rich deep-blue p.aper : above pale sand^'-ochreous, beneath of almost 

 the same colour ; usual markings dull fuscous-grey. 



A pupa formed in complete darkness nearly resembled those formed on the deep-green 

 paper, but was paler and more cream-coloured above. 



A larva left to choose its place of suspension in a large new breeding-cage selected a 

 wooden bar across the arched top, and the resulting pupa much resembled the pale ochrey- 

 yellow tint of the freshly-planed deal to which it was attached. 



In these cases it will be noticed that altliough there was considerable variation in the 

 colouring of these pupse (most noticeable in tliose on the red and yellow papers), the tints for 

 the most part by no means reproduced or even approached those of the surfaces immediately 

 about the insects. The adaptability of the pupa to the hues of its ordinary natural surround- 

 ings is, however, very observable, though it appears to be but slightly and irregularly suscep- 

 tible to colours beyond those narrow limits. 



