( XXV ) 



Mr. Mansel Weale had recorded his having witnessed the 

 capture of the ^ Papilio cenea (the S. African representative 

 of P. merope) by the Fly-catcher, Tchitrea cristata ; and Mr. 

 T. Ayres has observed that the small King-hunter, Ispjdina 

 natalensis, fed almost entirely on butterflies. 



The larger Madagascar Chameleons also ate butterflies, but 

 appeared to show no discrimination. Lizards attacked them, 

 but must necessarily see the undersides only, which were 

 protectively coloured in many cases. 



As regarded the known protected butterflies, it should be 

 borne in mind that there was very little difi"erence in colour- 

 ing and pattern between the two surfaces of the wings in the 

 Dariaina; and Acrtchue, so that warning indications of dis- 

 tastefulness Avere shown almost as conspicuously when at rest 

 as when in flight. The importance of this as a means of 

 protection was manifest, and was further evidenced by the fact 

 that it was exhibited very markedly by the mimicking forms 

 as well. 



The chief invertebrate enemies he had noticed were 

 Asilidae and dragon-flies. 



It seemed to him impossible to explain except by the theory 

 of mimicry such cases as that of Danais chrysippus, a widely 

 distributed and very common insect which was attended by a 

 troop of mimetic species wherever it went. 



Dr. DixEY : It was too late to deal fully with all the points 

 which had been raised, and he must necessarily leave some 

 unanswered for that reason, and not because he undervalued 

 their importance. 



He agreed with Canon Fowler as to the danger of making 

 too much assumption upon a matter such as mimicry— it 

 w^as a subject upon which he had no desire to dogmatise. 

 His position was rather this : — Supposing the theory that 

 such and such forms were inedible seemed to supply a 

 provisional explanation of observed facts, it was desirable 

 to work out fully the logical consequences of such a 

 theory, and then to make a fresh appeal to observers for 

 verification. 



Mr. Elwes had laid stress on the importance of getting 

 more observations from naturalists resident in the country 



c 



