to limitations of the Mi'dlo^ian Hypothesis of Mimicry. 127 



shorter than in the typical form. This is exactly paralleled 

 in the Abyssinian Amattris hecate stidica, which has the 

 fore-wing very distinctly shorter than in the Western 

 hecate; and again examples of A. echeria strcckeri from 

 the same locality have these wings appreciably less pointed 

 than in A. echeria jacksoni from British East Africa. 

 Neither can there be any question as to mimetic influence 

 between these three very different species. We are there- 

 fore justified in assuming provisionally that the shape of 

 the wing is affected by some general local factor.* 



It has been suggested by Mr. Neave that M. formosa 

 neumanni represents an intermediate stage between M. 

 formosa and T. petiveorma ; but he then had only a single 

 example of neumanni at his disposal. Dr. Jordan has very 

 kindly brought up to London for my examination three 

 typical specimens of this Abyssinian form, and he entirely 

 agrees with me that there are no adequate reasons for 

 accepting this suggestion, the improbability of which has 

 already been shown on other grounds. 



The attempt to interpret the mimicry in this case as 

 being reciprocal does not appear convincing, while the facts 

 are entirely consonant with the conception that the Painlio 

 is a simple Batesian mimic of the Melinda. P. rex is a 

 very isolated species and has evidently been profoundly 

 modified by mimetic influences. But its structural charac- 

 ters, in conjunction with the characteristic arrangement of 

 the submarginaj row of yellow spots, indicate that its 

 nearest ally is P. demodocus, which has the fore-wings 

 much less produced. It is probable therefore that rex 

 represents a mimetic modification of some demodoeus-Y\kQ 

 ancestor. 



My friend Mr. Trimen has kindly permitted me to quote 

 the following comments which he has sent me in connec- 

 tion with this case: "The latter feature [elongation of 

 fore-wing] strikes me as affording extremely weak support 

 to that theory [reciprocal mimicry], seeing that, next to 

 the showy and strongly-contrasted colours on both upper 

 and under surfaces of the wings, there is no feature so 



* Wallace has recorded ("Malay Arcbip. " p. 215) that there is a 

 similar tendency in the Island of Celebes for butterflies of difterent 

 genera and subfamilies to develop a markedly pointed or elongated 

 wing. It may be noted that Amauris comorana, in the Comoro 

 Islands, has a sharper fore-wing than any continental species, being 

 in this respect very similar to M. formosa. 



