( Ixxxi ) 



the Bornean females of P. polytes theseus, Cram., in the Hope 

 Department. 



Of the 12 pohjtes females, 4 were the stichms form, with 

 no white in the hind-wing cell, 4, with sUght indications of 

 white, were intermediate between stichius and polytes, while 

 4 were polytes. The 21 romulus females varied very greatly 

 in the development of the red markings in the hind-wing. 



Although from the part of the mainland that is very near 

 to Ceylon, the differences were strongly marked. Thus, in 

 Ceylon the cyrus female was considerably commoner than 

 either mimetic form, while romulus was generally looked upon 

 as only rather commoner than polytes. But in Mr. Hockin's 

 series romulus was nearly twice as numerous as ■polytes, while 

 cyrus was apparently much rarer than either. Again the 

 stichius form of polytes, almost unknown in Ceylon, was very 

 strongly represented in the exhibited series. 



The high proportion of romulus females was probably to 

 be accounted for by the relative numbers of the two models; 

 for H. S. Ferguson, on p. 446 of his list,* described aristo- 

 locJiiae as " common in the low country and the hills," but 

 hector as " very common " in the same area. Mr. Hockin 

 agreed, summing up his experiences as follows : " I should 

 say hector was decidedly more common than aristolochiae, 

 though the latter would take its place as the second commonest 

 Papilio all the year round over the widest area : polytes would 

 be third, but several lengths behind." 



Prof. Poulton hoped to study the patterns of the Travancore 

 aristolochiae, as it was possible that the prevalence of stichius 

 and stichius-\ike females might be thus explained. 



Two of the males, 12 romulus, and all the other female 

 forms were exhibited to the meeting. 



Mr. Hockin had kindly described the character of the inter- 

 esting locality in which he had collected for so many years : — 



" Before saying anything about the range of polytes, etc., 

 I had better give you an account of the different belts of 

 country. The Ashamboo Hills run parallel with the, coast, 

 with their foot at 15 to 20 miles from it. The hills them- 



* "A List of the Butterflies of Travancore," in Journ. Bomb. Nat. 

 Hist. Soc., 1891, p. 432. 



PROC. ENT. SOC. LOND., II.-IV. 1917 F 



