PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 349 
Mr. J. P. Mansell Weale read notes “On Variations in Rhopalocerous 
forms inhabiting South Africa.” The author, after stating that he had 
travelled over most of the eastern districts of the Cape Colony, alluded 
to the distribution of plants as affecting that of insects, and noticed the 
apparent encroachments of the subtropical flora and insect fauna along the 
south-eastern seaboard, the absence of any great barriers and the general 
uniformity tending to produce close variations. He exhibited and remarked 
on a large series of Papilio merope, male and female, some reared by him, 
and all collected in one small wooded gully, isolated in an open grass 
country. He also exhibited male and female Nymphales xiphares (Thyestes), 
the male of which is wanting in the National Collection, remarking on the 
apparent imitation by the female of Amauris Echeria. He next exhibited 
and remarked on a series of imagines of Aerea Esetria, some of the forms 
of which are separated by some entomologists, and stated that all the forms 
had been reared from larve collected on a single plant. He next exhibited 
a series of Innonia Pelasgis and Archesia, showing a very close gradation 
linking the two forms, and showed that some of the latter approached 
I. Amestris, although the alliance was not so evident as in I. Pelasgis. He 
objected to the use of the name “species” as too freely used among plants 
and insects, and suggested that it merely implied a provisionally uncertain 
distinction of apparently important differences. In illustration of this, he 
exhibited specimens of Callosune Evarne and Keiskamma, two forms 
hitherto held distinct, but of which the ova, larvee and pup exhibited no 
differences, although in two broods in successive years the forms appeared 
separately. He also remarked on artificially produced changes in the 
pupe. 
Prof. Westwood stated that he had just received collections of Coleoptera 
and Lepidoptera from South Africa, collected by Mr. Oates. 
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. W. G. Gibson, of Dumfries, stating 
that Colias Edusa had made its appearance in that district during the 
month of June, and suggesting that its occurrence might be accounted for 
by the large importation of foreign clover. 
Prof. Westwood stated that Mr. Alexander Wallace had informed him 
that both Colias Edusa and Hyale were very common about Colchester 
in June. 
Prof. Westwood brought under the Society’s notice the recent accounts 
of the appearance of the Colorado beetle in Ontario and near Cologne. 
Mr. May handed in a copy of the Memorandum issued by the Canadian 
Minister of Agriculture in relation to this insect. 
Part II. of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1877 was on the table-—R. Mrtpota, 
Hon. See. 
