( xxxiii ) 



with large ones below, as noted in some of Dr. Hanitsch's 

 Singapore specimens of January and February, 1916 (Proc. 

 Ent. Soc, 1916, p. Ixxvii), was here seen in the captures of 

 Nov. 25 and Nov. 27 (the stichius form), and to a less marked 

 extent in those of Nov. 17 and Nov. 22. The especially small 

 size of the sub marginal red spot in area 3 (Proc. Ent. Soc, 

 1914, p. xxv) was very evident in these four specimens. It 

 was altogether wanting from the upper surface of the stichius 

 form and represented by a mere trace in the specimen of 

 Nov. 25. 



Comparing these nine polytes females with eight out of 

 the nine (one had been mislaid) taken Jan.-May, 1916, 

 the latter series showed a somewhat higher average develop- 

 ment of the white markings on the hind-wing. The mark 

 in the cell was in no case reduced so far as in two of 

 the later captures, and the mark in area 2 was nearly re- 

 placed by red in only one specimen, also characterised by 

 a smallish white mark in area 5 — well developed in the seven 

 others. 



As regards the three polytes females from the mainland, one 

 of the two taken March 22, 1917, much resembled the island 

 one of Dec. 2, 1916, although as compared with the latter the 

 white mark in the cell was much smaller while the spot in 

 area 5, though very small, was larger and far more distinct. 

 These two specimens of Dec. 2 and March 22 might indicate 

 a transition towards the romulus $ form, mimicking P. hector, 

 L., a transition especially suggested by the increasing red and 

 diminishing white in area 2, the addition of red to area 3, 

 and in the tendency of the red to encircle the white patch 

 by invading the basal border of the mark in the cell. This 

 invasion was especially marked in the mainland female and 

 in the island one of Nov. 25, in both of which the red scales 

 were continued across the cell into area 5. The other main- 

 land female of March 22 showed a small spot in area 5, but 

 the white markings were otherwise fairly developed, as they 

 were in the female of March 25, with a much larger spot in 

 area 5. 



When Dr. Hanitsch's mimetic female polytes were last 

 shown to the Society (Proc, 1916, p. Ixxvi) Mr. J. C. F. Fryer 



PROC. ENT. soc. LOND., II-IV. 1917 C 



