XXlll 



" The Miaua bug is generally found in old habitations and in holes in 

 walls. It is rarely seen during the day, particularly disliking light, even at 

 night ; notwithstanding which candles and lamps do not always stop them 

 from biting one. In the winter they remain inactive, being particularly 

 venomous during the great summer heats. From time immemorial Miana 

 has been affected by them. Death has been known to ensue from their 

 bite in less than twenty -four hours." 



Mr. Roland Trimen communicated the following notes : — 



" Oil the pairinfi of a Butterfiy with a Moth. 



"Colonel J. H. Bowker, F.Z.S., lately sent me from D'Urban, Natal, 

 a small Sahtinis Anacardii (Linn.), with an account of its capture by him 

 in copula with a female ApheUa ApolUnaris, Boisd. Col. Bowker wrote, on 

 9th February, 1880 : — ' On January 24th, at Umgeni Hill, I was following 

 a butterfly into a bush cutting, when I saw two large butterflies come 

 fluttering down from the upper branches of a tree into an undergrowth of 

 thorny twigs. I took them for Anacardii in copula, and immediately went 

 to secure them. Although I advanced to within a foot of the pair, it was 

 so difficult to get at them with the net that I looked very carefully to see 

 how I could secure them ; and you may guess my astonishment on perceiving 

 that the two were Anacardii and a large white moth ! At first I thought it 

 was a fight ; then that they might be in the clutches of some leaf-like or 

 stick-like Mantis; but the longer I looked the clearer the case became. 

 Anacardii (male) was holding on to a small branch, while the moth with 

 drooping wings was hanging head downwards ; the latter was a perfect 

 specimen, soft and fresh from the pupa. After satisfying myself as to 

 the true state of the case, I tried to capture them, and at length 

 succeeded in getting hold of Anacardii by the wings, and began drawing 

 the pair towards me. Just as I thought I was sure of them, and was 

 about to pop them into my net, the moth made a violent struggle and 

 got away ; and, though I followed her up, I lost her round a corner of 

 the bush. I am sorry that I can thus only send the butterfly, but the 

 moth with closed wings that I forward is of the same species as that 

 concerned. This moth flies by day, and is often playing about among 

 butterflies ; it was very numerous on the occasion I am writing about. 

 You will observe the likeness it bears to Anacardii, especially in the 

 little ringed eyes on the wings.' 



" The likeness here referred to by Col. Bowker is a very general one, 

 but quite noticeable, the general whitish colouring of the moth resembling 

 that of the under side of the butterfly, and its yellow spots in fuscous rings 

 being yery similar to the more complicated ocelli of Anacardii. The 

 Anacardii, in this instance, is an unusually small male; and it seems to me 



