240 MB. R. SHELFORD ON MIMETIC INSECTS AND [Nov. 4, 



visible both in a dorsal and a profile view. A species of Oberea 

 near ruhetra (6), and probably a form of it, is really intermediate 

 in character between these two sets of mimics, the elytra being 

 brown anteriorly (basally) and black posteriorly. The I'emaining 

 species of Oberea mentioned in the table mimic the reddish- 

 ochraceous Braconids. 0. insoluta and the species of JSfupserha 

 have a pale golden pubescence on the basal abdominal segments, 

 and 0. sp. (10) has a similarly situated greyish pubescence: in 

 every case this coloration is not so efiective as the white patches 

 of 0. brevicoUis, &c. ; but these unicolorous Obereas are so much 

 more active on the wing, so much more Hymenoptera-like in 

 their actions when resting on a leaf or twig, that when they are 

 alive one is much more apt to mistake them for their models than 

 their bicolorous congeners. In other words, these vuiicolorous 

 Obereas compensate for the imperfection (from a mimetic point 

 of view) of their coloration by their close approximation to the 

 actions of their models. 0. consentanea (8 & 9), 0. sp. near 

 rubetra (6), and 0. n. sp. (10) have the elytra clothed with a 

 delicate silky-grey pubescence, especially in the posterior two- 

 thirds, the appearance varying according to the position in which 

 the insect is held ; and these species mimic Braconids with the 

 outer third of the wings pale fuscous, the varying reflections of 

 the elytra giving a similar impression to that produced by the 

 semitransparent fuscous parts of the model's wings. 



Glenea iresine (Pasc.) is a small blue species ; the middle third 

 of the elytra is brown, shading anteriorly into blue, posteriorly 

 into greyish white ; the model is a small blue Hylotoma, and 

 when the wings are laid back the resemblance between the two 

 species is striking ; the blue anterior third of the beetle's elytra 

 corresponds to the posterior pait of the Hylotoma^ s thorax, the 

 brown portion to the abdomen with the superposed wings, the 

 greyish posterior third to the tips of the wings of the model, 

 which project beyond the end of the abdomen. 



Turning to the family Cerambycidse, we find that the sub- 

 families Callichromince and Necydalioice present in the reduction 

 of the elytra a marked Hymenopterous appearance. NothojMus 

 fasciatipennis (C. 0. Waterh.) has already been figured and 

 described (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1885, p. 369, pi. x.). JVothopeus sp. 

 near hemipterus (Fab.) is a large black species with entirely 

 fuscous wings, and is an admirable mimic of a formidable 

 wasp, Mygnimia anthracinus (Sm.), which occurs commonly 

 on Mt. Matang. The buzzing flight and other movements of 

 these two Nothopei are remarkably wasp-like and so completely 

 deceived the Museum collectors that they employed the greatest 

 precautions in transferring the specimens from the net to the 

 killing-bottle. 



A magnificent new species, described by Mr. Gahan in Appen- 

 dix II. as Noihopeus intermedms (Plate XIX. fig. 21), was 

 ca.ptured near the summit of Mt. Penrissen together with several 

 of its models, Salms aurosericeus (C4uer.) (Plate XIX. fig. 20). 



