xli Proceedings of the South African Philosophical Society. 
cannot be said to be connected with either of the types of such 
colours. 
(6) Imitation by a palatable species of one that had better be not 
touched. 7 
If warning colours have the effect of protecting their owners by 
showing the enemy that they had better be left alone, it follows that 
a species, however palatable it may be, which, accidentally or other- 
wise, happens to resemble in colouration or in general appearance 
the protected one, will also derive from that accident or from the 
causes from which this hkeness originated a certain amount of pro- 
tection. Such cases are not common however, and they are mostly 
found in the LeprpopteRA. The palatable species is then said to 
mimic the unpalatable one. 
Among the Danaine there is, here, a genus (Psewdacrea) con- 
taining four South African palatable species, of which two are now 
known to imitate the colouration of Planema aganice, an unpalatable 
kind, not only when settled, but also on the wing. This in itself is 
the most remarkable feature of the nunucking case, but Trimen, 
however, says that Aganice is a higher flyer than most Acreime, to 
which it is most closely allied. 
There occurs in our neighbourhood an unpalatable species, Danais 
chrysippus, the colouration of which is, in the words of Trimen, ‘ very 
accurately mimicked by the female of Diadema muisippus, an edible 
one; even its varieties Alcippus and dorippus being copied by 
corresponding varieties of the female Diadema. Less exact, but very 
obvious mimickers are the form of the female Papilio cenea, and of 
the female Argynnis nipke.” Trimen adds, in speaking of Danais 
chrysippus, ‘‘that the flight is also very slow, and that the pupa is 
very conspicuous.” This is quite correct, but the flight of the 
mimicking female Diadema nuisippus is more powerful than that of 
the mimickee Danais chrysippus, and I have it on the authority of 
good observers that the stray mimicker 1s conspicuous on that 
account when observed among the mimickees. 
Among the clear wings, the female of Trochilima caudescens bears 
a striking resemblance to one of our wasps, Humenes caffra, and the 
flight of the two is nearly similar. Examples of this kind might be 
quoted ad infinitum. 
CONCLUSION. 
From the facts brought to your notice to-night, I trust I have been 
able, with the aid also of the exhibits, to make it apparent to you that 
