IX 



this band is widened so much that I am dubious whether the specimen 

 belongs to P. Sever ina or to P. Mesentina, ahhough in most cases a reference 

 to the under side readily decides it. In similar manner on the hind wings 

 the nervures are sometimes fairly defined by black, and a small black mark 

 sometimes defines the outer border of the discoidal cell. In most cases, 

 however, these markings are absent. The males show in the fore wing a 

 similar tendency to vary. In the female of Pieris Mesentina the black 

 band at the e.xtremity of the discoidal cell is never absent, and is usually 

 connected with a distinctly dark-bordered costa, but it is in some cases so 

 narrow and broken as barely to join the costa. In the hind wings the 

 markings exceptionally present in P. Severina are here normally present. 

 The hind marginal black border in P. Severina is broader, darker and less 

 broken than in P. Mesentina, and the apex of the fore wing is generally 

 marked with three distinct yellowish spots ; while in P. Mesentina the 

 border is paler and more broken : in the hind marginal border of the fore 

 wing the apical spots are sometimes absent, and in the hind wings there is 

 generally a distinct row of pale spots, which in P. Severina are barely 

 indicated. The general colour of the female P. Mesentina is lighter than 

 that of Severina, the ground colour being sometimes white ; but, as I have 

 said, the ground colour of both forms varies with locality and climate. 

 I have thought these remarks worth recording, because, as we before saw in 

 the males of Papilio Merope, a small black dot is sometimes present at the 

 extremity of the discoidal cell, while in Papilio meriones there is present a 

 broad black bar, and it has been from the encroachments of such slight 

 variations that Mr. Trimeu was led to suspect the true position of the 

 female. 



"Termes trinervius. — In an account of the first living specimen of the 

 South-American Ant-eater (Myrmecophaga jubata) in the Zoological 

 Gardens, Professor Owen remarks, in the ' Proceedings of the Zoological 

 Society,' that attempts had been made to feed this animal with living 

 ants and their larvae, but that they appeared thoroughly distasteful 

 to it, and he concluded that these insects were refused on account 

 of their secreting formic acid. During my residence in the Cape Colony 

 ray attention was attracted to the soldiers of the commonest species, Termes 

 trinervius, on account of the apparently meaningless manner in which they 

 ran about, thrusting at every object with their lance-pointed heads. I often 

 placed my finger close to them, but never received any kind of wound, 

 whereas most of the other kinds with which I am acquainted bite severely. 

 One day while watching them with a glass I noticed a small ant come in 

 contact with one, and it immediately seemed disabled. On examining it 

 I saw a gummy kind of liquid adhering to it, and accordingly put a portion 

 of the nest and a number of Termites into a bottle for examination. On 

 opening the bottle I noticed a strong acid odour, and on testing it litmus 







