146 Mr. Roland Trimen's Observations on the 



interestino- to find that one at least of the persecuting 

 ao-encies -which have in all probability led to such profound 

 niodifications in the colouring and form of the insect is 

 still at work. The fly-catcher, TeJiitrea cristata ( T. viridis, 

 Miill.), has been observed by Mr. Weale to capture 

 Merope $ , and he has reason to suspect a bird of a closely 

 allied family, and quite similar habits, Dicrurus musicus, 

 Vieill., to be another of the butterfly's enemies. Repre- 

 sentatives of these two genera of insectivorous birds are 

 prevalent throughout the African continent, and the 

 activity and rapacity of those whose habits are known to 

 us are very great. But these are only two, prominent by 

 conspicuous plumage and bold pugnacious habits, among 

 a large number of African birds whose food consists of 

 insects ; and it may fairly be inferred that, for ages past, 

 the size and coloiu' of P. Merope must have rendered it 

 a favourite prey of the Muscicapida generally. 



In concluding these notes, I wish to make a few observa- 

 tions on the syuonomy of the very interesting Papilio to 

 which they refer. Mr. A. G. Butler, in his paper already 

 referred to (Tr. Ent. Soc, 1869, pp. 275, 276), has given 

 the fullest and latest arrangement of the several forms, as 

 exemplified by specimens in the collection of the British 

 Museum. He groups them as follows, viz.: — 



1. Papilio Merope. 

 (a.) Cenea. 



$. [Diagnosis.] 



$. Cenea, Stoll, Suppl. Cramer, pi. 29, fig. 1 



(1791). 

 iJ, $. Zoolu Country, 

 (aa.) Cenea, var. 



$. [Diagnosis.] 



$. Ce??ea, var., maculis anticarum albis. Trimen 

 in Trans. Linn. Soc, xxvi. tab. 43, f. 4 

 (1869). 

 $,^. Port Natal, 

 (b.) Merope (true). 



$. Merope, Cramer, Pap. Exot., ii. pi. 151, fio-s. 



A, B (1779). 

 $ . Trophonius, Westwood, Arcana Entom., pi. 39, 



figs. 1, 2. 

 $. Knysna 

 $. [No locality recorded.) 



