30 OLD-WORLD MIMICS [ch. 



Danaine Amauris hyalites (PL VI, fig. 3) of which it 

 has been regarded as a mimic. It must however be 

 added that it is only over a small part of their respective 

 ranges, viz. in Angola, that the two species are to be 

 met with together. 



The butterflies belonging to the genus Amauris are 

 among the most abundant and characteristic Danaine 

 models of Africa. Some of the black and white species 

 such as A. niavius (PI. VIII, fig. 6) are conspicuous 

 insects in a cabinet. Others again, such as A. echeria 

 (PL VIII, fig. 7), are relatively sombre-looking forms. 

 Among the best known mimics of the genus is a species J 

 of Hypolimnas 1 — H. dubius. This interesting form is 

 polymorphic and mimics different species of Amauris. 

 The variety wahlbergi, for example, is very like A. 

 niavius, while mima strongly resembles A. echeria 

 (PL VIII, figs. 8 and 9). It was at one time supposed 

 that these two varieties of Hypolimnas dubius were 

 different species and the matter was only definitely 

 settled when the two forms were bred from the eggs 

 of the same female. Other mimics of Amauris are 

 found among the Papilios and the Nymphaline genus 

 Pseudacraea. 



But among all the mimics of Danaines in Africa 

 and elsewhere Papilio dardanus is pre-eminent, and 

 has been described by more than one writer as the 

 most important case of mimicry in existence. Not 

 only does it shew remarkable resemblances to various 



1 These African species of Hypolimnas are frequently referred to the 

 genus Euralia. 



