( vi ) 



coloration of this butterfly bears considerable resemblance to 

 that of Euploea euphone, and I can well imagine its escaping 

 notice if flying in company with the latter species " (Trans. 

 Ent. Soc. Lond., 1866, p. 335). 



We are therefore led to the conclusion that phorhanta has 

 also been influenced by euphone. The situation is thus 

 extremely puzzling, the female Papilio being a far better 

 mimic of the Mauritian Eupkea than of the species with which 

 it flies in the island of Bourbon. There can be little doubt 

 that the Mauritian euphone presents a more ancestral pattern 

 than gondoii. The Eicplcea mimics of both islands are always 

 mimetic of eupthone : they never attain the features by which 

 goudoti is distinguished from euphone. This is not only true 

 of the Pajiilio and Salamis, but also of the Mauritian Amcluris 

 (Berethis) phsedone, F. Concerning this latter species Mr. 

 Roland Trimen, F.R.S., observed in 1866 that "its peculiar 

 facies and colouring give it a strong superficial resemblance to 

 Eupltea euphone" (Trans. Ent, Soc. Lond., 1866, p, 332). He 

 furthermore states that he "found D. phuedone much scarcer 

 than E. euphone, but almost invariably flying in company 

 with the latter." * Inasmuch as these mimetic resemblances 

 to euphone cannot have been attained except in the course of 

 a long period of time, the pattern of this EupUea must be 

 ancient as compared with that of E. goudoti, which has 

 produced no apparent effect on its own account. 



Furthermore, it must be pointed out that the upper-surface 

 pattern of the unique and remarkable Lihythea cinyras, 

 Trim., is probably roughly mimetic of Keptis frobenia. 



We have been accustomed to look upon islands as the 

 homes of the non-mimetic ancestors of mimetic species ; but 

 Mauritius and Bourbon prove that an exceptional develop- 

 ment of mimicry may be found among the members of small 

 communities confined in very restricted areas. It has been 

 already stated that the mimicry of the female phorbanta is 

 unique in the nireus group. If I am right in supposing 



* So far as I liave had the opportunity of examining it 'phsedone seems 

 to be related to Amauris albimaculata, Butl., rather than to A. echeria, 

 Stoll. Dr. Karl Jordan whom I have consulted on the point kindly 

 informs me that he agrees with the above conclusion as to the affinity 

 of phsedone. 



