The Bionomics of South African Insects. 495 



species, and that not specially suitable as a model for the 

 other members. The great interest of the assemblage is the 

 presence of a rare Hes]icrid, A. tcttcnsis, in -which black 

 spots and a pale pinkish tinge on the under-side of the 

 hind-wings appear to indicate strongly-marked mimicry 

 of Acrasas on a line along which the above-named Lyca^nids 

 have advanced to a greater distance. In another respect, 

 however, viz. the strongly-marked black-and-white margin 

 of the hind-wing under-side, the Hesperid is a much closer 

 mimic of a general Aowa type. Mr. Trimen also speaks 

 of the spotting and tinting of the under-side of both wings 

 of this species as very peculiar and strongly recalling the 

 aspect of some of the smaller Acra^as {he. cit., vol. iii, p. 

 838). 



I have received from Mr. Marshall the following refer- 

 ences to the two Hesperids in the list of species making 

 up this group : — 



" SaJislmry, Jan. 11, 1901. — I have recently obtained at 

 Umtali another Hesj^erid, the very rare Ahantis tcttcnsis, 

 showing strong Acrseoid coloration on the under-side, 

 which I will send you together with a Kedcstcs, which is of 

 interest as it shows the incipient stages of such mimicry." 



"Salisbury, Sept. 27, 1901. — I have never seen Ahantis 

 tcttcnsis with its wings closed over its back ; all that I have 

 captured rested with wings expanded horizontally. Indeed 

 I cannot at the moment recollect ever seeing any Ahantis 

 settle with vertical wings. I think it is highly probable 

 that tettensis would sleep in that position, but under the 

 circumstances I should not like to assume it as a fact 

 without actually seeing it." 



The group is as follows : — 



3 Acra^a enccdon, type-form. 

 2 Catochrysops peculiaris (Plate XIV, fig. 4). 

 2 Ahantis tettensis ( „ „ „ (3). 



1 Kedestes maconio, var. ( ,, „ „ 7). 



In the latter Hesperid the brilliant ochreous under -side 

 affords an effective background for the small but distinct 

 black spots on the under surface of both wings. The 

 general effect is somewhat Aci^'&a-like, but the tint of the 

 under-side of most smaller Acrasas is pinkish when they are 

 fresh. 



A more perfect Hesperid mimic is seen in the rare 

 Baoris netojjJia, of which a female (Fig. 13, Plate XVI) was 



