{ xxxiv ) 



Bourbon, at tirst suggested that the two species were not 

 nearly allied, and that their marked superlicial reseuiblance 

 may have been due to mimicry. At the same time any 

 attempt to explain the growth of a mimetic likeness presented 

 the gravest dilliculties. The details of the pattern of dume- 

 toruvi indicated close afiinity with the black and white Xejitis 

 saclava, Boisd., of Madagascar and the mainland of Africa; 

 while the much greater simplification, especially on the under 

 surface, oifrobenia, suggested afiinity with the Austro-Malayan 

 species of the group of J\\ consiviilis, Boisd. If this interpre- 

 tation were correct, frobeni a would take its place beside the 

 species of Uuplosa as lepresentatives of an Eastern butterlly 

 fauna. Mr. C A. K. Marshall has, however, carefully 

 examined the neuration of these species, as well as iV. 

 coni07'aru7ii, Oberth., from the Comoros, and iV. mayottensis 

 from Mayottc, and has compared them in this respect with 

 saclava and consiviilis. His results leave no doubt that, as 

 rcgai'ds this important chai"acter, N.frohenia, as well as the 

 other three species of A&piis in the islands surrounding 

 Madagascar, is closely related to saclava and remote from 

 consiviilis. Mr. Marshall has kindly di'awn up the following 

 account of the evidence of afiinity based on neuration : — 



" Neptis frohenia, F., from Mauritius, differs from the 

 superficially similar N. consiviilis, Boisd., from the Austro- 

 IMalayau islands, and agrees w4th saclava, Boisd., in the 

 following neurational characters : — 



" Jn/robenia the origin of vein 10 of the fore-wing is much 

 nearer to apex of the cell, so that its distance from that point 

 on the distal side is approximately equal to the distance of 

 vein 11 from the same point on its proximal side. In the 

 hind-wing veins 6 and 7 are very close at their origin, and 

 vein 5 has a sharp curve at its base, representing a rudimentary 

 discocellular. 



" In consimilis the origin of vein 10 of the fore-Aving is much 

 further removed from the apex of the cell, its distance being 

 almost three times as great as that between vein 1 1 and the 

 same point. In the hind-wing veins 6 and 7 are appreciably 

 separated at their origin, while vein 5 is scarcely curved at the 

 base, giving the upper edge of the cell a much flatter outline. 



