42 
Orobitca ojanetix, iinother of our weevils, is a very good example of 
protective coloration. It is shining blue-black above, and the under¬ 
side is clothed with dense brownish-grey pubescence, and Avhen alarmed 
this insect packs its legs and antennie close to its body and falls off the 
food-plant. Owing to the shape of the body it always falls on its side, 
and it then looks just like a small black seed that has got soiled with 
mud on one side. 
Others amongst our British Coleoptera exhibit warning coloration, 
as in our ( 'ocrindlidac, Avhich in many cases emit a A ery disagreeable 
odour, and also in many of our Ldiijtnphaiia the same thing holds good. 
The cases where beetles mimic living insects of other orders are 
A'ery feAv, and, as far as I knoAv at present, are restricted, as far as our 
British insects are concerned, to one or tAvo examples of the Longicorns 
—Kiniix liirtiix amongst our Stajilnilinidac, I'rirhiux amongst the 
Chafers, and in the Aiiobiidac —and eA'en in these cases the 
motions and shape of the insects help ([uite as much, or more eA'en 
than does'the coloration tOAvards the deception. 
No one to look at ( h/tiis arictix (our hest-knoAvn example of 
mimicry), the Avell-known Avasp-heetle, Avould think it particularly like 
a Avasp, and I knoAv 1 thought myself it Avas a very far-fetched com¬ 
parison till 1 met Avith the insect in a lane at Sevenoaks, Avhen the 
imitation Avas at once apparent. The sight I saAv Avas that of tAvo or 
three 2 s flying about an old stump in a hedge, and every noAV and 
then dodging in and out of some holes in the stump, and 1 expect 
depositing their eggs. But the short quivering antenme, the alert 
and characteristic jerking Avalk of the beetle, and the rapidity 
Avith Avhich it took to the Aving and settled again, Avere so Avonderfully 
suggestive of the movements of some of our common Aculeate- 
ITymenoptera that the sight Avas a revelation to me. 
Another species, Mnlorc/nix miiKir, also bears a remarkable resem¬ 
blance to an ichneumon, and in this insect the elytra are short, and 
the apex of the Avings is exposed, and thus aid the deception in a 
very marked manner. It is veiy quick and alert in its actions, as far 
as my experience of the insect goes, and although 1 have never mis¬ 
taken the beetle for an ichneumon, I can say, on the other hand, that 
I have mistaken an ichneumon for the beetle, much to my disappoint¬ 
ment. 21(d(>rr/nix iiiubdlatannii probably mimics an ichneumon in a 
similar A\aiy, but I have neA'er met Avith this insect myself, and have 
endeaA'Oured so far as possible to keep my paper Avithin the limits of 
my OAvn experience. 
Another interesting point Avhich also is not strictly Avithin the 
limits of this paper is the one or tAvo instances amongst our British 
species Avhich, apparently, are unable to produce any suitable coloration 
by natural selection, so they paint themselves. 1 refer more particu¬ 
larly to Plintlnix cdlii/iiiDxux and (Irnnixxiix ////gauu'/es-, Avhich coat them¬ 
selves Avith mud or soil, and ai'e thus very diflicult to discover. 
Jn draAving this paper to a close 1 ti'ust 1 have made it interesting 
to all members of our Society, coleopterists or otherAvise. I have 
avoided as far as i)ossihle all technical points Avhich Avould interest 
coleoi)terists only, hut have done my I)est to bring forAvard facts and 
principles Avhich run through all branches of entomology, jmuI Avhich 
iire of such Avide and general apjdication that they can iiardly fail to 
l)e of interest to all students of nature. 
