538 iMr. (i. A. K. Marsliall cm 



B. Group of YeJIou) Hcmiptcra icifh Black Apr.r and one 

 or two Black Bars (Represented on Plate XIX). 



At JIalvern, Xatal. 



J '// rrhocoridfe. Reduv i idx. 



Dysilercus nij^rofasciatus Phonoctonus nigrofasciatus 

 (fig. 49). (fig. 48). 



At Salisbury, Mashonaland. 



Pyrrhocoridie. lleduviida'. 



Dysdercus super.stitiosns (fig. .'JO). Phonoctonus forniosu.s (lig. 52). 

 ,, intermcdius (fig. 51). 



The significance of the mimicry in this group has not 

 yet been tested by experiment, and the exact relationship 

 of the Reduviids to the common and vmdoubtedly distaste- 

 ful Dysdcrci is not quite clear. Dr. Dimock Brown, who 

 observed Phonoctonus in company with myself at Malvern, 

 suggested that its colouring may be pseudepisematic, and 

 that it may feed upon the Dysdercus which it mimics so 

 marvellously well. Personally I incline rather to tiie 

 belief that both this species and the northern P. forniosus 

 are Batesian mimics. Both species occur but rarely (in- 

 deed, of the latter, I know unly two specimens), they 

 do not possess the strong smell which characterizes 

 some of the Reduviids, and their jointed rostrum is a 

 very inefficient weapon for protective purposes. I nm 

 not aware that they have been observed feeding on Pys- 

 derci or even in company with them (cf. G. Breddin, 

 Zeitsch. f. Naturw. 1890, pp. .30-38). 



[Brcddia considers the resemblance of the Reduviid to 

 be a case of aggressive (pseudepisematic) mimicry, iis 

 he thinks with Dr. Dimock Brown it would prey on the 

 Dysdercus. I believe that all such groups in the Hcmiptcra 

 are synaposematic. — E. B. P.] 



35, Miscellaneous Observations on South African 

 Insects. ((}. A. K. M.) 



A. Note on the CourtsJiip of Liinnas c]irysip2yvs. 



Satishicry, Jane 20, 1900. — In some old notes I find 

 the following observation on the courtship of ehrysippus. 

 When first ob.served the female was settled on the 



