( xhvin ) 
an under-side appearance probably mimetic of the Melitaeas. 
This last exhibit, taken in conjunction with M. Avinoff’s, proves 
that both of these mimetic Hesperidae occur with the numerous 
Melitaeas in the Tian-Chan Mountains. It appeared, so far 
as it was possible to infer any conclusion from so small a 
collection, that M. minerva was the dominant species of the 
group, and that the next in importance was M. didyma. 
Nearly the whole of the, exhibited specimens were pinned so 
as to show the under-side pattern on which alone the mimetic 
resemblance is to be seen. 
Prof. Poutton had written to Mr. Harold Powell, F.E.S., 
a naturalist who had gained much experience of these species 
in the field. 
Mr. Powell had kindly replied, Oct. 22, 1912, from Lambessa, 
Constantine, Algeria :— 
“The under-side of H. sidae is certainly suggestive of 
Melitaea. I noticed the resemblance a long time ago, but 
I did not pay any special attention to it. 
“When the sun is out szdae rests with its wings open, and 
in that position it does not look much like a Melitaea, at any 
rate when seen from above as we usually see it when at rest. 
Seen from below it is quite possible it might be mistaken for 
a Melitaea by some enemy. 
‘““T do not remember having seen sidae resting at night or 
in cloudy weather. It no doubt has its wings closed then, 
with the fore-wings dropped between the hind-wings and the 
antennae nearly at right angles to the body and slightly 
drooped, as in the case of the different Hesperia species I 
have seen resting at night. They generally settle in a promi- 
nent position such as the top of a stalk, blade of grass or end 
of a branch, for night rest. The following Melitaea species 
occur in the locality where sidae is found, in the Plan du 
Pont Valley at Hyéres :—M. cinaia, M. didyma, M. phoebe, 
M. athalia. A large form of M. cinzia is fairly common in 
April. It is going over by the time H. sidae appears, but is still 
on the wing. M. didyma flies at the same time as H. sidae, but 
is not abundant. M. phoebe is scarce. M. athalia is some- 
times very common, but it flies late in May when H. sidae is 
nearly over. It is particularly abundant on a hill-side about 
