14 



of butterflies showing the attacks of birds or other enemies, 

 such as the species of Charaxes with the " tails " bitten off the 

 hind wings. But perhaps the most interesting and valuable 

 gift of this kind is a set of specimens proving that Precis 

 octavia-natalensis, a red and black butterfly with under side 

 very similar to the upper side of the wings, occurring in the 

 damp summer season, is only a seasonal form of the blue, 

 black, and red Precis sesamiis, a butterfly occurring in the dry 

 winter, with an under side entirely unlike the upper, and with 

 a wing of a difl"erent size and shape to that of P. octavia- 

 natalensis. Mr. Marshall has sent two examples of the 

 parent red form which laid the Qg%^ and the blue offspring 

 which he succeeded in rearing from it. 



In the present year (1H99) Mr. Marshall has further helped 

 us by presenting a fine series of Coleoptera from Sali-sbury, 

 and many other groups for the mimicry and other series, 

 including one of unique interest from the extraordinary 

 number and diversity of the forms which fall into it. All 

 the specimens received from Mr. Marshall are set, and will 

 soon receive their printed labels. 



The most important addition that has yet been made to 

 the rather poor set of European species contained in our 

 Collections was due to a visit to Switzerland in July, 1898, 

 made by Professor and Mrs. Poulton and Miss Cora B. 

 Sanders. Many hundreds of specimens with very full data 

 have been set, and will receive printed labels as soon as time 

 will permit. 



Very fine sets of Lepidoptera from Mexico and Queensland 

 have been presented by G. C. Griffiths, Esq., in addition to 

 those which have been described as already catalogued. We 

 owe to Mr. Griffiths's kindness further sets from the same 

 localities presented in the present year. 



An interesting series of insects of many Orders, unfortunately 

 in very bad condition, was brought from the Omdurman 

 campaign, and kindly presented by E. N. Bennett, Esq., M.A. 

 A brief account of the captures is printed in Mr. Bennett's 

 recently published book on the campaign. 



A small but valuable set of insects from Eastern Europe 

 was presented by Malcolm Burr. Esq. 



