93 



other ; yet I have little doubt that this is a remarkable case 

 of mimicry, either on the part of the Vanessa, the grass- 

 hopper being the more abundant of the two ; or possibly (if 

 it should prove that the latter is the most susceptible to the 

 attacks of birds) a mimicry of the butterfly by the Orthop- 

 teron for the sake of protection ; the resemblance being so 

 close on the wing that I have more than once been deceived 

 by it for a moment. 



" It is favourable to the last of these suppositions, that all 

 the Locnstidaz are excessively variable in the colour of their 

 wings, while V. antiopa is known to be very constant ; also, it 

 is hard to suppose that the Vanessa, first acquiring these pro- 

 tective colours in the region inhabited by this particular 

 grasshopper, should have spread to Europe and other parts, 

 and existed there for so long a time without losing in some 

 degree its there useless peculiarity, which, after all, is unusual 

 in the group to which it belongs. 



" Further observations will, I hope, tend to clear up the 

 question as to the precise relationship of these two insects ; 

 and meanwhile, as the case possesses some interest, I venture 

 to bring the matter before the members of the Society, in the 

 hope that they may be able to throw further light upon it, 

 and particularly I would ask, is any similar case known in 

 Europe ? " 



DECEMBER 22nd, 1887. 

 R. Adkin, Esq., F.E.S., President, in the Chair. 



Messrs. H. Hayward, F. E. Pow, F. S. Pilkington, M.D., 

 W. R. Hickin, H. J. Smith, C. Kedgley, F. Livesey, E. A. 

 Fitch, F.L.S., F.E.S, G. T. Porritt, F.L.S., F.E.S., J. A. 

 Smith, W. Turpin, J. Butterfield, J. Eckersall, S. Mosley, 

 W. Farren, and the Rev. Canon Fowler, M.A., F.L.S., 

 F.E.S. , were elected members. 



Mr. C. B. Smith, who was present as a visitor, exhibited 

 a lilac-coloured variety of Lyccena icarus, Rott, and an her- 

 maphrodite specimen of L. corydon, Fb., taken at Bland ford 

 in July last. 



