472 Mr. G. A. K. Marshall on 



modern, as proved by the relatively small amount of 

 mimicry, and that little very imperfect, in species peculiar 

 to the Region. The fact that the bright Oriental shade 

 still persists in many of the specimens of cJiri/sippiis from 

 the north-east and probably other parts of Africa, supports 

 the same conclusion. 



Mr. Eoland Trimen points out that the Mimacrssa also 

 resembles the female of the type-form of Planema esehria 

 (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1898, p. 15). 



Mr. IMarshall gives the following account (1002) of the 

 habits of this interesting insect : — " In its general habits 

 Mimacriea marshalli, Trim., like AcriBa enccdon, is essen- 

 tially a woodland (but not a forest) insect, and shows a 

 marked fear of venturing out into open country. Limnas 

 ehrijsip]3us, on the other hand, frequents both open and 

 woodland stations. When quite undisturbed it flits about: 

 in a limited area of the bush with a slow flight exactly 

 resembling that of L. chrysvppus (see also pp. 481, 482), 

 but when alarmed it is capable of flying with considerable 

 speed, and dodges with great dexterity. When hard pressed 

 it will occasionally rise right over the tops of the trees, 

 descending into the bush again further on. But its usual 

 method of escape is by dodging in and out among the tree- 

 trunks, then settling suddenly on the far side of one of them, 

 which makes it extremely difficult to follow. It is in its rest- 

 ing habits that it differs most from the mimetic group to 

 which it belongs, for I have never seen a specimen settle 

 anywhere except on a tree-trunk, and then always wdth its 

 head downwards, just like a Lihytlica or the brown species 

 of Crcnis. The Danainoe and Acrajinse, on the other hand, 

 always rest with their wings hanging down, and usually 

 in more exposed positions ; indeed, I think it may be 

 said that no species of these groups (in South Africa at 

 least) ever settles upon tree-trunks. This habit is also a 

 very unusual one among our Lyca^nid*, one or two species 

 of Tcrioiiiima being tlie only cases of its occurrence which 

 I can recall. Desijite the great resemblance of this 

 Mimaciwa on its under-side to Acrsea enccdon, yet its 

 colouring when at rest is very far from conspicuous, and 

 harmonizes a great deal better with its surroundings than 

 might be supposed from an examination of the insect in 

 the cabinet, especially as the fore-wings are so much 

 depressed between the hind -wings as to quite conceal 

 the sub-apical white patch. The species seems to be of 



