( iii ) 



Ehodesian Muscicl fly parasitic on mao," "Evidence of terror 

 caused by the squeak of A. atropos," etc. 



The matei-ial described in the paper illustrates many varied 

 aspects of mimicry, warning colours, and common warning 

 colours from the points of view provided by several very 

 diverse orders of insects. The most striking contribution to 

 the subject is probably tiie remarkable group of synaposematic 

 insects with a Lycoid colouring (fulvous and black), and 

 the varied assemblages which are made up by Hymenoptera 

 Aculeata with well-marked types of colouring, each being 

 attended by insects of other orders, many of which are un- 

 doubtedly Mlillerian components, while others may be Batesian, 

 although the latter interpretation can only be accepted as 

 probable in a very small proportion of the examples. Among 

 these groups perhaps the most important consists of insects 

 which are entirely black with iridescent blue-black Avings. 

 No less than twenty-eight convergent species of Aculeates form 

 the centre of an assemblage, round the periphery of which are 

 scattered Hemiptera, Diptera, Coleoptera (Cantharidse), with 

 a single Zygsenid moth. In another group of almost equal 

 importance the colouring is similar to the last, except that 

 the posterior end of the abdomen is bright yellow or orange. 

 In another the whole abdomen is yellow, and the wings trans- 

 parent : another is similar to the first described Aculeate-centred 

 group, except that the head is red : another diiJers in having a 

 yellowish head, thorax, etc. Not only the Aculeates but 

 other specially protected South African insects sent by Mr. 

 Marshall form beautiful synaposematic groups, sometimes in- 

 cluded within the limits of a single order, sometimes attracting 

 insects of other orders. Thus one group of conspicuous little 

 beetles consisted of six species of Phytophaga, belonging to 

 six genei'a, at least one Melyrid, and a Curculionid. The black- 

 and-orange banded Cantharid type comprises many species, 

 and a few different genera of these Coleoptera, together with 

 two Longicorns, two Phytophagous beetles and a Hemipteron, 

 make up a strong and characteristically marked combination. 

 The Hemiptera form well-marked and apparently self-contained 

 groups, one with a conspicuous pattern of black and red with 

 a black membrane, or a white membrane through which 



