Ill 



A. H. Hamm then exhibited a series of beautiful photographs 

 of insects in resting attitudes in their natural surroundings, 

 giving many interesting details of the habits of the specimens 

 shown. 



The photographs, some sixty in number, comprised slides 

 illustrating the following common butterflies: P. hrassicœ, P. 

 Ya-pœ, P. napi, E. janira, E. tithonus, C. pamphilus, C. phlœas, 

 L. icarus, and A. thaumas. They were all obtained in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Hogley Bog, Cowley, near Oxford, during the 

 phenomenal summer of 1911, from July to August, between 7 

 and 8.30 p.m. Each photograph showed the insect exactly as 

 found on the site selected by it for its rest during the ensuing 

 night. The remarkable protective value of the site chosen was 

 not less noticeable than the consistency of attitude assumed. 

 P. vapcB almost invariably chose a light background such as 

 the silvery underside of a bramble leaf. On three out of four 

 consecutive nights, the same place on the same upturned bramble- 

 leaf was selected. Other sites chosen included flowering Angelica, 

 leaves of Silver-weed, stems of thistles, leaves and stems of Flea- 

 bane, and often the underside of alder leaves. It was frequently 

 found resting in company with two or more of its own species, 

 or in close proximity to P. napi. The latter species, and also 

 P. hrassicœ, chose positions in marked contrast to P. rapœ, grass 

 stems being often selected, or various low plants, rarely higher 

 than two feet from the ground. 



Several excellent photographs of E. janira were shown, 

 illustrating the more highly cryptic underside of the female, as 

 compared with that of the male, the dark basal and lighter 

 distal portions of the wing having an obliterating effect. One 

 male example showed the use of the eye-like spot near the tip 

 of the forewing, a marking long regarded by Prof. Poulton as 

 having a directive value in case of attack. A large tipulid 

 collided with the butterfly, the latter immediately raising the 

 forewing and displaying the ocellus. Before it had resumed the 

 normal position it was successfully photographed. 



A series of photographs of L. icarus at rest on a variety of 

 low plants and rushes showed a remarkable consistency of atti- 

 tude, for the insect invariably rested head downwards, with 

 the body in a vertical position. When disturbed it immediately 



