( i ) 



March 5th, 1902. 



Papers, etc., read. 



Prof. E. B. PouLTON, F.E.S., gave an account of a paper by Mr. 

 Guy A. K.Marshall, entitled "Five years' (1896-1901) Observa- 

 tions and Experiments on the Bionomics of South African 

 insects, chiefly directed to the Investigation of Mimicry and 

 Warning Colours, with an Appendix containing Descriptions of 

 New Species by Colonel C. T. Bingham and Mr. W. L. Distant." 

 The paper not only contained Mr. Marshall's account of his 

 researches, but the unrecorded notes of many other naturalists 

 bearing on the same subjects, together with numerous quota- 

 tions from Mr. Marshall's letters to Prof. Poulton and the 

 full description of a large number of specimens illustrating 

 insect bionomics sent by him to the Hope Collection at Oxford. 

 These latter will be permanently retained in the bionomic 

 section of the Collection, where they can be studied by any 

 naturalist visiting Oxford. Perhaps the most important part 

 of the memoir consists of a full description of the long series 

 of observations and experiments, conducted, Avith great care, 

 upon South African insect-eating animals. The insect enemies 

 made use of were spiders, Mantidee, lizards, frogs, kestrels, 

 the Ground Horn-bill, the Mongoose, and the Baboon. Exact 

 observations of birds in the wild state capturing butterflies 

 are also added, together with a statement of the insects, etc., 

 found in the digestive canal of birds, and numerous specimens 

 of butterflies which, from the character of the injuries received, 

 appear to have been attacked by enemies. The experiments 

 on the Mantidse, are of the highest importance, several genera 

 being made use of, and the researches continued for many 

 weeks or even months in the case of certain species. These 

 predaceous insects freely devoured such forms as Mylothris and 

 often even Limnas chrysijypus, while the Acrmnx were evi- 

 dently distasteful to them. Some of the series of experiments 

 rendered it probable that Aci'xinai are poisonous, or at least 

 unwholesome food to the Mantidm. The experiments on 

 kestrels and baboons were also very numerous and important. 

 As regards the Lepidoptera the support afforded to the theories 



