TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 795 



epicuous by special marks, and, in the case of the hind wing, structures such as 

 ' tails,' ' eye-spots,' &c. In the LyctenidcB, where the ' tails' are rendered still fur- 

 ther prominent by movement, many specimens were captured with these parts 

 bitten out from one or both of the wings. 



Large additions were also made to our knowledge of mimicry and warning 

 colours in Coleoptera. In the Carabid genus Anthia, a probable warning character 

 common to different species consisted in a large white patch, placed in some 

 species on the sides of the thorax, in others on the anterior surface of the elytra. 

 The general effect was the same, but the anatomical relations entirely alien. The 

 characteristic banded pattern of the Cantharidm was shown to be resembled by 

 beetles of widely different groups, the spotted pattern of the CoccineIlid<T by an 

 Hemipterous insect {Sterjcaiocerus mnltipimctatiis), while the appearance of many 

 S. African species of Lj/cidcP, light-brown anteriorly and black posteriorly, was 

 reproduced in beetles of many groups, many species of Hyraenoptera, an Hemi- 

 pteron, two moths from remote sections of the order, and a fly. In the vast 

 majority of these cases of likeness to and among Coleoptera, it is probable that the 

 resemblance is Miillerian (synaposematic) ratner than Batesian (pseudosematic). 

 The interpretation of the remarkable likeness borne by a species of Longicorn 

 {Phanfasia (jiganiea) for certain Curculionidce is more uncertain, although it is 

 clear that some general principle is at work, inasmuch as resemblances between 

 other species of the same groups are well known in many parts of the world. An 

 interesting group of superficially similar insects from three different orders con- 

 sisted of a IBracon, a Reduviid bug, and a Longicorn beetle. 



Evidence of the struggle for existence in Coleoptera was supplied by a group 

 of five beetles taken from the crop of a Guinea-fowl {Nuinida coroiinta). The 

 four species belonged to the Buprestids, Curculios, Longicorns, and Phytophaga. 

 All the beetles had been swallowed whole and were almost uuinj ured, even as 

 regards limbs and antennae. 



Among the ether orders of Insecta the Ilemiptera afforded a wonderful 

 example of mimicry or comm.on warning colours from Malvern, near Durban, the 

 Reduviid bug FJwnoctonus nigro-fasciatus bearing the most remarkable likeness to 

 the somewhat smaller Lygseid Dijsdercus supersfifiosus. The mimetic resem- 

 blance of Diptera to Aculeate Hymenoptera was illustrated by many examples, 

 model and mimic having been captured in the same place and within the same 

 month. The most remarkable of these was a splendid new species of Hyperechia, 

 closely resembling the black, reddish-brown banded, African species of Xylocopa, 

 such as A', flavo-vvfa. Instances of common warning (synaposematic) colours in 

 Hymenoptera were also illustrated by a group of three species with a general 

 resemblance to each other: the Aculeata being represented by a species of 

 Myzine and one of Ceropaleg, the Terebrantia by a species of Ichneumon, All 

 were captured at Salisbury in January 1899. 



The whole of the material here briefly described may be seen in the Hope 

 Department of Zoology, Oxford University Museum. 



3. Observations on Mimicry in Bornean I^isects. 

 By R. Shelford, B.A., Curator of the Sarawak M^lse^lm. 



[Arranged and communicated by Edward B. Poulton, M.A., F.H.S., Fellow of 

 Jesus College, Oxford, and Hope Professor of Zoology in the University.] 



The following paper is an abstract of results obtained by ISIr. E.. Shelford, 

 B.A., Curator of the Sarawak Museum, British North Borneo. The vast majority 

 of his observations were made at or near Kuching, the capital of Sarawak ; a few, 

 however, in Singapore. When no locality is mentioned, Sarawak is to be under- 

 stood. The observations form a very important addition to our knowledge of 

 mimicry in Malayan insects, especially the Coleoptera. 



Among Lepidoptera an Elymnias, believed to be a new species from Blount 

 Penrissen, is a tolerable mimic of the well-known Eiiplwa, Tronr/a crmneri. 

 Among the Chalcosid moths, three species of Isbarta mimicked two of Eiipla:a and 



