( xiv ) 



African Rhopalocera. — Mr. G. Talbot, on behalf of Mr. 

 J. J. Joicey, exhibited the following African Rhopalocera : — 



Papilio cariei, Le Cerf, from the Ivory Coast. This very- 

 interesting Papilio was first described from Mauritius. It is 

 allied to P. demodocus, Esp. 



Papilio demodocus, Esp. A dwarf 2 with the cell-spots of 

 fore-wing confluent, from the Ivory Coast. 



Charaxes acraeoides, Druce. The specimen exhibited is 

 the only individual at present known, and was taken in the 

 Cameroons by Mr. Rosenberg's collector. The species is 

 quite unlike any other known Charaxes. It appears to exist 

 in mimetic association with the following species, also ex- 

 hibited, which occur in the same district : — 



Papilio ridleyanus, White; Pseudacraea clarki, Butl., and 

 Acraea egina, Cram. 



Pinacopteryx venata, Butl., from the South Soudan. 



Pemba jordani sp. nov., from French Congo. 



Second generation of Hybrid Pediculus humanus 

 and P. capitis. — Mr. A. Bacot exhibited specimens of Pedi- 

 culus humanus (vestimenti), P. capitis, and the 2nd generation 

 of hybrids resulting from a pairing between P. capitis male and 

 P. humanus female. Referring to a previous communication 

 on the subject, he stated that the female P. humanus, after 

 pairing with a P. capitis male, laid about the average number 

 of eggs for the species. Few if any of them were un- 

 fertilized, but there was a considerable mortality among the 

 eggs, which died in various stages of development, chiefly 

 at, or when approaching, the hatching period. As a conse- 

 quence of, or apart from, this mortality, the offspring of the 

 cross showed an abnormal percentage of males (64 <$ <$ to 

 24 2 9 to date). These facts inclined him to modify his 

 previously expressed opinion that P. capitis and P. humanus 

 were only races, and now to consider them as sub-species, 

 even if they were not entitled to full specific rank. 



The reverse cross between P. humanus male and P. capitis 

 female resulted in a considerable mortality to the females, 

 possibly attributable to the too persistent vigour in pairing 

 of the larger and more powerful male. The eggs resulting 

 from successful pairings of the cross were, however, fertile, 



