238 THE COLOUKS OF ANIMALS 



Protective Mimicry more often found in female 

 Butterflies than in males 



This example enforces a conclusion arrived at by 

 the study of mimetic butterflies in all parts of the 



than once. Mr. Mansel Weale also points out that the sexes are 

 remarkably different in their manner of flight. 



It is now admitted that the West African forms must be separated 

 from the Southern as a distinct species. The western species is now 

 called P. merope, while the name P. cenea is extended to cover all 

 the varieties of the southern species. The males of the two species 

 are very similar, but P. ccnea has somewhat shorter wings, shorter 

 tails, &c. The female P. cenea presents all three varieties described 

 above. The western females lack the Cenea form which mimics 

 D. echeria ; and the Hippocoon form differs in its larger size and 

 smaller extent of the white markings, especially on the hind wing, in 

 these respects agreeing with the western form of D. niavius, which 

 it mimics. It is interesting to note that the western Trophonius 

 form, mimicking the small D. chrysippus, is little if at all larger than 

 the corresponding form of the southern species. A third variety of 

 the western female, the P. dionysos form, is of extreme interest, in 

 that it combines the features of Hippocoon and Trophonius, and also 

 indicates a transition towards the female P. meriones of Madagascar. 

 Mr. Trimen also describes many varieties transitional between the 

 three forms of the southern female. For further details and a 

 thorough discussion of the whole question, consult Mr. Roland 

 Trimen's South African Butterflies, vol. iii. 1889, pp. 243-55 ; also 

 the same author in Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1874, pp. 137 et seq. 



Two new species have also been added to the P. merope group. In 

 the island of Grand Comoro, adjacent to Madagascar, another species, 

 P. Humbloti, has been discovered. P. Humbloti somewhat resembles 

 P. meriones, but the sexes are even more alike. The other species, 

 P antinorii, has been found in Abyssinia, and is of extreme interest, 

 in that the sexes are nearly alike, as in the island forms. It is much 

 to be hoped that further research will bring to light the causes which 

 have favoured the persistence of the ancient unmodified form in this 

 one locality on the mainland of Africa. 



I wish to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Roland Trimen for 

 kindly looking through the proofs and suggesting references. 



