80 the entomologist's record. 



Psaphis (Canerkes) camadeva, Dbl. (semi plena, Walk. ; resumpter, 

 Walk.).— ltf. 



There could be no doubt that, as Mr. Sanderson states, all the 

 species would resemble each other upon the wing ; for the deep red of 

 the Delias would then be the least conspicuous element in its pattern, 

 while the general distribution of the black and blue-grey on all wings 

 and yellow upon the hind, is similar in the Pierines and Geometers, 

 the resemblance being heightened during flight by the likeness between 

 the patterns of upper and under surface. In the male Chalcosiine 

 mimic, however, the resemblance depends almost entirely upon the 

 under surface where alone is developed the essential feature contributed 

 by the yellow. The female Psaphis camadeva, with the yellow mark- 

 ings strongly developed on both surfaces, was very similar to Canerkes- 

 scotais, Jord., and the larger species, C. euschemoides, Moore, all three 

 being close mimics of Dysphanias. C. euschemoides, from Assam and 

 " India," resembled D. excubitor, Moore, and the Indian form of D. 

 militaris, L. ; C. scotais, Jord., from Borneo D. subrepleta, Walk. ; the- 

 female of P. camadeva in Malacca, Borneo, and probably in Java D. 

 subrepleta, and in the Philippine Islands the allied D. plena, Walk. 

 The combination was typically Miillerian, Psaphis belonging to a 

 specially protected Family and Subfamily, Dysphania acting as a 

 model as well as a mimic, Delias being well-known as a model for 

 other Pierines, for Elymniines, Nymphalines and Chalcosiine moths 

 other than Psaphis. 



The insects passed over from a deep valley about 5.30 p.m. to 6.45 

 p.m., sometimes two or three together at intervals of about one to two 

 minutes and occasionally appearing in a more or less continuous 

 straggling line for ten to twenty minutes. Generally a maximum 

 number passed over in approximately an easterly direction about 6 p.m. 

 " The phenomenon was repeated in the opposite direction in the early 

 mornings, 6.30 — 8 a.m., the numbers being approximately the same, 

 so far as I could judge." 



The colour of the larva of Smerinthus ocellatus, on wild 

 crab. — Prof. Poulton said that during the past September he had had 

 the opportunity of confirming his early observation that the larva of 

 S'. ocellatus, when feeding on the crab, gains a shade of green entirely 

 different from that produced by the ordinary cultivated apple. The 

 latter, with their white undersided leaves produce larva? of a bluish- 

 green tint below, becoming very pale, almost dead white, but still very 

 faintly tinged with bluish-green, above ; while the crab leaves with 

 green under surfaces produce bright yellowish-green larva? with a pale 

 yellowish dorsal surface. It was the recognition of the difference 

 between ocellatus caterpillars on Siberian crab and other apple trees, in 

 his father's garden at Heading nearly fifty years ago which had first 

 directed his attention to the power of individual colour adjustment in 

 larva;, and, also inspired by the late Prof. Meldola's notes in 

 Weisman's " Studies in the Theory of Descent," had led him to 

 observe and experiment largely upon the species. (Trans. Ent. Sue. 

 Lund., 1884, p. 35 ; 1885, pp. 305-307 ; Proc. Roy. Soc, Vol. xxxviii., 

 1.885, pp. 298-306; Vol. xl., 1886, pp. 135-173.) 



