some British Fast African B utter Jiies. 539 



resemblance is strongest to the male of this species ; but 

 on the upper the likeness to the two species of Mylothris 

 actually taken with it, and especially M. ruhricosta, is more 

 evident. This remarkable female of P. pigea chiefly re- 

 sembles the female of 31. ruhricosta in the indistinctness of 

 the orange-red flush, whilst the slight black margin brings 

 it nearer to the male of the same species. 



This form of the northern P. pigea has not been taken 

 hitherto, and is, in Dr. Dixey's opinion, perhaps transitional 

 towards P. ruhrohasalis, Lanz. 



It would be of considerable interest to ascertain whether 

 this mimetic female is a seasonal form, and whether it is 

 to be compared with the special development of mimicry 

 in the dry season phase of Belenois tJiysa, as described 

 by Dr. F. A. Dixey.* The seasons are not however well 

 marked in Northern Kikuyu, and the country never 

 reaches the parched state which seems necessary for 

 the full development of the dry season phase of most 

 Pierinm. 



It will be observed from the table on p. 588 that several 

 specimens show injuries probably caused by the attacks 

 of birds, and that this evidence is stronger in the case of 

 M. rilppellii, although a model, than in that of the mimetic 

 species. The cleanly shorn hind-wings of more than 

 one specimen of M. riippellii especially afford very strong 

 evidence of attacks by such a weapon as the beak of a 

 bird. 



The great jDredominance of Pierine mimicry within and 

 convergent towards Mylothris is well seen in the tabulated 

 Weithaga specimens ; for the only other Pierines captured 

 at the same period in this locality were : — 



1 Belenois mesentina, Cram. 



6 Synchloe johnstoni, Crowley. 



2 Tcrias hrigitta. Cram. 



3 Terias rcgidaris, Butl. 



2 Terias scnegalensis, Boisd. 



3 Colias electray Linn. 



II. Belenois-centred Gomhination from Taveta. 



Dr. Dixey has brought forward much evidence to show 

 that Belenois thysa is a protected species, and, to judge 

 from their abundance, it would seem that Belenois severina, 

 * Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1906, pp. xxxvi, xxxvii. 



