( Hi ) 



it can be proved by the number of facets to the eyes that the 

 vision of different species must vary very much) the more 

 closely do they resemble their hosts in form and general 

 appearance. I think this is very doubtful : there are at any 

 rate certain inquilines, such as Claviger and Atemeles, which are 

 not at all likely to be aggressive : the question however of the 

 mimicry of the myrmecophilous beetles is too large to be 

 entered upon here. Among other instances the Mutillidse are 

 imitated by certain Clytidse and Cleridse, and by the Carabid 

 genus Polyhirma : the Longicorn genus Echthistatus spinosus 

 (Australia) is like a spider, while Gerania (Java) imitates a 

 Phalangiam: if we may include the case of strong beetles 

 imitated by weak insects of other orders, we cannot find a 

 better example than the close imitation of species of Tricondyla 

 by a certain very rare Locustid originally described by 

 West wood from Java, but recently rediscovered by Mr. Shelf ord 

 in Borneo. 



Among the Homoptera various resemblances to ants are 

 found, especially in the genera Heteronotios, Cyphonia and 

 Poppxa, and their allies. All the numerous species of the 

 strange Longicorn genera Plagithmysus and Callithmysus 

 described by Dr. Sharp from Hawaii have a strongly Ortho- 

 pterous appearance, but this is due chiefly to the elongate legs, 

 which are angled at the junction of the femora and tibiae and 

 raised above the body as in the case of the grasshopper and 

 cricket, and the resemblance in these cases is probably 

 accidental. Many further instances of the general question of 

 the mimicry by beetles of well-protected insects other than 

 Coleoptera will occur to any one who gives any thought to the 

 subject : one further point however requires notice in this 

 connection, and that is the fact that certain insects with 

 evenly broad bodies are apparently " waisted" like Hymenoptera 

 by the conspicuous white coloration of the sides : the first 

 instance of this was noticed by Brunner (vide ''Cambridge 

 Natural History : Insects," by Dr. Sharp, p. 323), who described 

 a small Locustid under the name of Myrmecophana fallax ; in 

 consequence of the white coloration of portions of the abdomen 

 the side view exactly resembled the form of an ant with a long 

 peduncle between the thorax and abdomen ; Mr. R. Shelf ord, in 



