2 Imms, Houiopterous Insect PJiromnia {Flata) viargiiiella. 



apparently drawn from dried specimens in England, and 

 that the green forms are not noticeably smaller than the 

 red forms, in spite of their being represented so in Prof. 

 Gregory's figures. He, furthermore, adds that he has 

 never seen the insects grouped together according to 

 their colours, but invariably mixed ; and neither has he 

 noted the larvae and imagines on the same stem, nor even 

 together on the same bush or tree. He also states that 

 he has never seen the imagines on vertical stems, but 

 always on those which are actually or approximately 

 horizontal. It by no means follows that Prof. Gregory 

 was mistaken in his impressions, but the curious con- 

 dition which he describes appears to be far from common. 

 Hinde's specimens have been compared with Gregory's 

 by Prof Poulton in the British Museum, who states that 

 both the series belong to the same species, viz., a form 

 slightly different to Flata migrocincia (Walk.), but evi- 

 dently closely allied and perhaps specifically identical 

 with it. Hinde remarks that both he and his wife recog- 

 nised a strong superficial likeness between the mixed 

 group of insects, and the flowers and buds of a leguminous 

 plant with which they are perfectly familiar. He states 

 they have mistaken the groups of insects for the flowers and 

 vice versa. Prof Gregory (p. 275) considers that the eggs of 

 Flata are laid from below upwards, so that the insects 

 towards the top of the stem would be the youngest and 

 most immature. Prof Poulton states that the difference 

 in colour cannot be due to immaturity, as old worn 

 examples of the green form are known to occur. The 

 first specimens of a group to emerge may, however, be 

 red, and those that issue later green ; and Prof Gregory 

 may have come across undisturbed groups which, there- 

 fore, had the green specimens above and the red ones 

 below. Hinde's observations may have been made upon 



