( Ixxxvi ) 



of Teo'acolus jMerjyas, Butler. " The dry season 9 ? of regina 

 remarkable for having the brilliant purple apical tip of the 

 (? much more strongly represented in dry-season specimens 

 than in wet." 



The distribution of these two species in this particular 

 region was of interest, inasmuch as the exhibitor had never 

 taken both in the same locality. T. jMegyas appeared to be 

 entirely confined to the hot dry river valleys and low country 

 up to 2000 feet, whilst he took regina commonly in the more 

 hilly uplands from 2000 feet upwards. 



(/) Teriomima hildegarda, Kirby, dry, intermediate and wet 

 phases, A rare phenomenon in African Lycsenidse. 



Mr. G. A. K. Marshall, with reference to the seasonal 

 changes in Acrsea, expressed the opinion that the increase of 

 the blackish markings, which is so usual a feature in the 

 summer $ 9 , tended to make the insects less conspicuous on 

 the wing and probably had a procryptic significance. This 

 might be due to the fact that that was the season of ovi- 

 position when the 9 ? might require special protection, even 

 in the case of distasteful species. With regard to Mr. Neave's 

 remarks on the brilliant colouring of A. acrita in the dry 

 season he pointed out that in Rhodesia the species of Acrgea 

 fall roughly into two groups in this respect, namely : (1) the 

 larger or more high-flying species, such as acrita, a7iemosa, 

 atolmis, etc., which presented a more brilliant appearance in 

 winter ; this being probably due to their greater unpalatability, 

 which had been to some extent shown by experiments, and 

 which would render a bright aposematic coloi-ation of consider- 

 able utility at this season of greater stress ; and (2) the 

 smaller, low-flying, and less unpalatable species, such as 

 axina, asema, etc., which could not afford to make themselves 

 too conspicuous at such a time and whose colouring therefore 

 tended more to harmonise with the dull reds and yellows of 

 the withered grasses among which they flew. 



The question however of the significance of the black mark- 

 ings in Acrsea was complicated by the fact that in several 

 widely-distributed species there was a progressive local in- 

 crease in the black from south to north, irrespective of season. 

 Professor E, B. Poulton, F,R.S., congratulated Mr. Neave 



