Habits of Pajnlio Merope. 133 



ordinary type Merope issued ; from the third, a very 

 peculiarly marked female of the Hippocoon form, and 

 from the foiulh a Cenca with the forewing white-spotted, 

 with a faint tinge of ochreous in one spot. 



Danais Echeria here is of the white-spotted variety, 

 the type-form being very rare, and the imitating female 

 Merope is similarly coloured as a rule. 



With respect to the coloration, I would notice that 

 Avhen settled both Merope and his various wives are very 

 difficult to distinguish from Avithered foliage, although in 

 the cabinet the peculiar tone is wanting. On the Aving 

 the imitation must be of great service to the female, for 

 her flight is very heavy and slow, while the males dart up 

 and down with great rapidity, and her habit of gliding in 

 and out of bushes must expose her to the attack of birds. 



In the drawing I have to note that the pupte of Alerope 

 are figured with the head processes recurved. In the 

 early stage of the pupa these processes are exceedingly 

 flexible, and when in contact with any hard substance are 

 often recurved, although normally tapering to a point. 



I have also to note in reference to the pupa3 of P. Me- 

 rope, that although smaller than the folioles of Vepris 

 lunceolata, yet that the general appearance is very similar. 

 The leaflets like the pupa? are paler below than above, and 

 the mid-rib is slightly ferruginous ; the leaflets are likewise 

 undulated, an appearance well personated by the pupa?. 

 The upper sui-face is more glossy than the lower, the base 

 cuneate and sessile, and the margins often slightly inflexed. 

 The surface, too, is multipunctate and reticulate, all of 

 Avhich points are to some extent imitated by the chrysalis. 



Description of Larva and Papa o/Papilio Merope, Cram. 



Larva. — 1st stage. Black, with white filamentous tuber- 

 cles on 2nd segment and anal segment. 



2nd stage. Two pairs of filamentous tubercles on same 

 segments, the first and last pair longest, a white transverse 

 lunular band connected vn\\\ the head laterally across 6th 

 and 7 th segments. Laterally a broad white band above 

 spiracles. liast two segments whitish. 



From this growth to the last change but one, the fila- 

 mentous tubercles grow longer, and the ground colour 

 changes from greenish-brown to greenish, and the white 

 markings grow less distinct. 



Full-grown larva. — Bluish-green, like larva of Philog- 



