The Bionomics of South African Insects. 485 



spotted fore-wing, is the dominant Danaine of South 

 Africa, and extends in considerable abundance right up 

 the east and east central parts of the continent well into 

 British East Africa. It is a centre of convergence for 

 several NymijJialinie and Papilioninai in the same district. 

 An interesting group, captured by Mr. Marshall at 

 Malvern, on March 25, 1897, consists of the following 

 species : — 



Amauris echeria, var. alhimacidata $. 

 2 Eurcdia mimci $. 



Pajnlio cenea $, 6'c??.ca.-form, with white spots on fore- 

 wing, like the var. albimaculata of A. ccJicria. 

 Papilio leonidas, var. hrctsidas. 



The last-named Papilio is a somewhat outlying member 

 of the group, being separated from the others by the 

 patch on the hind-wing, which is white with a faint 

 greenish tinge, instead of buff. The general arrangement 

 of the light markings on the black ground is however 

 similar, and Mr. Trimen states that " it was in the 

 habit of settling precisely in the way affected by the 

 Amauris, viz, on a projecting leaf or twig, with the wings 

 closed and hanging downward, and in this exposed position 

 remaining motionless for a considerable time " (" South 

 African Butterflies," vol. iii, 1889, p. 216). In two points, 

 viz. size, and contour of the wings, it is more like the 

 Danaine model than any of the other above-mentioned 

 species. 



The most interesting point about the group as a whole 

 is, however, the undoubted secondary resemblance between 

 the species which primarily resemble the Amauris. The 

 secondary resemblance is, moreover, even stronger between 

 P. ccnm and the Euralia than between either of these and 

 P. hrctsidas, that is to say, the species exhibiting a closer 

 primary mimicry also exhibit a closer secondary mimicry. 

 This fact suggests that the secondary resemblance is of 

 permanent value and not a mere phase which will ulti- 

 mately be lost in the primary resemblance. Mr. Marshall 

 informs me that these secondary mimetic resemblances are 

 still more marked upon the wing, so that a naturalist may 

 often be sure that he sees before him a mimic of echeria 

 or of a black-and-white Amauris, but cannot in any wa}'' 

 distinguish the mimic itself as Pa]pilio, Pseudacnva, Hypo- 

 limnas, etc. 



