MR. TRIMEN ON MIMETIC ANALOGIES AMONG AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES. 5(1 



coniidtB of America are similar in this respect, both groups showing affinity to the 2V>i- 

 phalida as far as the caterpillars are concerned. The thick, blunt chrysalis of the 

 Danaide Butterflies also differs widely from the elongate, slender, and subanculated 

 pupa 



The African continent is very poor in Danaidce, only eight Bpecies, belonging to two 

 genera*, being known to inhabit its vast area. Seven belong to the genus Danai* • and 



of Act 



O vv v "~ 5 



these, with the exception of D. Chrysippus, form a section confined to Africa. Mada- 

 gascar, and Mauritius, and distinguished by a peculiar coloration of conspicuous ochre- 

 yellow or white bands and spots on a black ground. Three of the six species appear 1 

 be confined in their range to the western coast, between Sierra Leone and Anirola : one 

 with an equal range in the west, extends to the Zambesi and Natal; while two seem to 

 be limited to extra-tropical Southern Africa. It is most remarkable to find, in this vcrv 

 limited number of Danaidce, that no less than four are accompanied throughout their 

 range each by its closely-imitating Diadema, one of the four (Danais echeria) bein 

 further attended by three mimicking species of Papilio, and another by one Paptiio that 

 correctly copies it. Danais Chrysippus, as is well known, lias a faithful imitator every- 

 where, except in Europe, in the ? Diadema Bolina, and, in the south of Africa, ftn< 

 a second mimicker in a rare form of Papilio, apparently peculiar to that region. 



The Aeraidce have their metropolis in Africa, about fifty species being known from 

 all parts of the Continent. Six Acrcece are distinctly the objects of mimicry by certain 



Nymphalidce and Papilionidcei . Four of these are West African only; one extend- 



ii 



under a somewhat altered form, to South Africa; and the sixth appears peculiar to tin 

 latter region. The mimickers here, also, are constant attendants on the species imitated ; 

 and in three cases, where the sexes of the Acrcece are dissimilar, the sexes of the mi- 

 mickers differ accordingly. 



It is worthy of notice that the mimicking Papiliones, whether imitators of Danaides 

 or Acrcece, are very frequently only the females of the species, to the exclusion of the 

 males, which, in such cases, wear the normal aspect of their immediate congenerst 

 Among the Diadema and other Nymphalidce, on the contrary, both sexes of the mimicker* 



* Eupkea 6-oudotii, well known as a native of Bourbon, is included, on the authority of Sir Andrew Smith, wh 

 presented a specimen from " South Africa" to the British Museum, 

 t The magnificent Papilio Antinvichus, Drury, of which but one specimen is known to science, is very Acneiform 



perhaps extinct. 



modification in imitation of some gigantic Acrm as jret unknown 



unfortunately 



^bitat, the principal sea-ports in many parts of the world usually getting the credit of all natu 1 obj* I, from 

 ^atever distance inland, that are shipped from them to Europe. Antmatkm ha, the aspect of ■ .low and heav 



Westwood 



apply to the great Papilio, but to Chara.es Carpus, Drury ( = 0, Castor, Fab.), a Mj be seen on refer. 1 

 Drury's 3rd volume. 1 1 UL „„d nl. xx,). Donovan, in his < Naturalist's Repository,' first misquoted the passag, 



respecting the flight of the Cha raxes. 



t Among fifteen Indian and Malayan imitative Papiliones tabulated by Mr. Wallace {he cit. p 20) 

 «^-«i__ ....... . , ,r »r_: „«n«,-«i Pnnilw Ri<Jh nanus is m lm-inceot bot! 



•n ar 



expressly mentioned as females. 



bearing the aspect of an Acrccct, and, in a 



s 



form 



the Da 



four mimickers 



•> 



nais are females. 



