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SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES:
a MOW OGRA Fil
OF THE
EXTRA-TROPICAL SPECIES.
BY
ROLAND TRIMEN, #.K.S., F.L.S8., F.Z.8., F. Ent. 8., &c.
CURATOR OF THE SOUTH-AFRICAN MUSEUM, CAPE TOWN ;
ASSISTED BY
JAMES HENRY BOWKER, FZS., F.R.GS.
COLONEL (RETIRED) IN THE CAPE SERVICE,
LATE COMMANDANT OF FRONTIER ARMED AND MOUNTED POLICE,
GOVERNOR’S AGENT IN BASUTOLAND,
AND CHIEF COMMISSIONER AT THE DIAMOND FIELDS OF GRIQUALAND WEST.
VOWE wal,
NYMPHALID 4.
LONDON:
DRUBNHR& COA LUDGATE HILL.
1887.
[All rights reserved. |
Ballantyne Press
BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO,
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
PREFACE.
—— > -- -
THE book entitled “ Rhopalocera Africe Australis; a Cata-
logue of South-African Butterflies,’ which I published in
1862-66, has for long been out of print as well as out of date.
Incomplete as it necessarily was, I am glad to know that it has
proved very serviceable, especially in South Africa; and this has
encouraged me to prepare the present work on the same subject,
embodying as far as I am able the results of the wider know-
ledge gained during the twenty-one years which have passed
since the old book made its appearance. As the new work is
much more than a second edition of the former one, I have
given it a different title, concisely descriptive of its character
and scope.
Unable to finish the work as soon as I had anticipated, I
think it well to publish the completed portion without more
delay. The two parts now together issued contain the Fami-
hes Nymphalide, Erycinide, and Lycende, comprising 238
species,—a little over three-fifths of the whole number known.
The concluding part, dealing with the Families Papilionide
and Hesperide, will describe about 142 species, bringing the
total of known South-African forms up to about 380,—a strik-
ing increase over the record in 1866, when (after removing the
erroneous admissions from the list) only 197 natives of South
Africa were registered.
Keeping in view the requirements of students and collectors
in the Cape Colony, Natal, and elsewhere in South Africa, who
are for the most part debarred from opportunities of consulting
v1 PREFACE.
properly classified collections or accepted works of reference, I
have prefixed an Introduction, which comprises a brief notice of
the structure of insects generally, and a fuller account of the
Order Lepidoptera. After the technical diagnosis of the Sub-
Order Rhopalocera, which follows, I give at some length a series
of general observations on butterflies, under the heads of ; 1. Dis-
tinctive Characters of Rhopalocera ; 2. Classification ; 3. Geogra-
phical Distribution ; 4. Differences Presented by the Sexes; 5.
Haunts and Habits; 6. Protective Resemblances and Mimicry ;
and 7. South-African Butterflies. In Plate A., exhibiting the
neuration of the wings and some other structural features of
chief value in classification, I have selected for illustration a
common and characteristic species of each Family and Sub-
Family inhabiting South Africa, and in the explanation accom-
panying the plate I have entered into full details.
In the generalities just referred to, as well as in the subse-
quent ones following the diagnosis of the various Families,
Sub-Families, and Genera, care has been taken not to confine
them to South-African, or even to Ethiopian forms, but to
include, wherever serviceable, reference to allied groups or
species in other parts of the world.
In dealing with the species, the progress of observation
has made it practicable to give, either from my own or (more
frequently) others’ notes, many more interesting details of
the larvee, pupee, and habits generally than were contained in
my former work. In revising the synonymy, I have endea-
voured (following the example long ago set by the illustrious
Darwin) to weed it of ‘‘references to works in which there is
not any original matter, or in which the plates are not of a
”* and in all cases where the authority
high order of excellence ;
was accessible to me, I have personally verified every reference
given either to a description or to a figure. In instances where
this has not been practicable, inverted commas denote that the
1 Monogr. on the Sub-Class Cirripedia, i. p. x. (1851).
PREFACE. vil
quotation is not my own. Special care has been taken to
ascertain and state systematically the recorded geographical
range of every species, and the known localities have accord-
ingly been arranged uniformly throughout in the following
order, viz. :—
I. SoutH AFRICA.
A. Great Namaqualand.
B. Cape Colony (¢. Western Districts, ). Eastern Districts,
c. Griqualand West, @. Basutoland).
Orange Free State.
. Kaffraria Proper.!
Natal (a. Coast Districts, ). Upper Districts).
Zululand.
Swaziland.
. Delagoa Bay.
Inhambane.
. Transvaal.
PAF SR HESS
. Bechuanaland.
M. Kalahari.
II, Orner AFRICAN REGIONS.
A. South Tropical (a. Western Coast, aa. Islands, a1. Western
Interior).
B. North Tropical (subdivided as in South Tropical).
C. Extra-Tropical North Africa.
III. Europe.
IV. Asta.
V. AUSTRALIA.
VI. America,
In this arrangement South Africa is, of course, treated more
in detail than other regions, and in the map issued with this
work the several territories south of the Tropic are denoted by
red letters corresponding to those above given. As regards the
1 When this arrangement was planned, Kaffraria Proper or Independent Kaffirland
occupied all the territory between the Cape Colony and Natal, or, in other words, between
the Kei and Umzimkulu. Politically the whole of this territory, except the central coast
tract of Pondoland and the small north-east tract named ‘‘ Alfred” annexed to Natal,
now forms part of the Cape Colony. The several subdivisions of the territory are named
Tembuland Proper, Emigrant Tembuland, Fingoland, Gcalekaland, and Griqualand East.
vill PREFACE,
list of recorded localities of each species, it should be noted that
(1) when I have personally captured the species, the name of
the place is given alone; (2) when I have received specimens
of the species and determined them, the name of the collector
(in italics and bracketed) immediately follows that of the place ;
and (3) when place and collector are quoted from other authors,
they are placed between inverted commas, and the name of the
author responsible is added.
The coloured plates are wholly new, none of the species
represented in the former work being re-figured. Plates I. and
II. are devoted to larvee and pupe, taken from life by myself
in a few instances, but mostly drawn by other observers. Plates
III. to IX. depict perfect insects of the Families treated in
Parts I. and II. of the work, exhibiting both upper and under
surfaces of the wings. ‘Three other plates have been executed
in illustration of Part III. While the figures are for the most
part those of new or previously unfigured species, a fair pro-
portion consists of more accurate representations of butterflies
hitherto inadequately depicted, or of which only one sex had
been illustrated. They have been chromo-lithographed from
nature by Messrs. West, Newman, & Co., of Hatton Garden,
London.
Although for many years fortunately situated as regards
the prosecution of this work by my tenure of the Curatorship
of the South-African Museum, I have, on the other hand, had
to sustain the serious disadvantage of being tied by official
duties to a locality lamentably barren of butterfly life. Cape
Town and its neighbourhood is absolutely not more productive
of species than Brighton, and, as regards size (with three excep-
tions) and abundance of individuals, the butterflies of the South-
African metropolis compare very badly with the series yielded
by the principal town of Sussex. Beyond a stay for nine months
in the Knysna, district, and occasional more or less hurried ex-
cursions to Namaqualand, Griqualand West, Grahamstown, and
PREFACE. ix
Natal, my opportunities for personally collecting and observing
have only extended to the unproductive Western Districts within
150 miles of Cape Town. This unfavourable limitation of my
own field-work has, however, been very largely counterbalanced
by the abundant material which has always been placed at my
disposal by the activity and liberality of my numerous corre-
spondents in different parts of South Africa.
At the head of these generous helpers in my work stands
my friend Colonei James Henry Bowker, to whose energy and
observant powers as a naturalist I owe the greater part of my
acquaintance with the rarer Lepidoptera of the country. As
long ago as 1866 I had the pleasure of recording how largely
he had contributed to my former work; and my indebtedness
to his generous aid has, I am happy to say, steadily increased
ever since.
Colonel Bowker’s début as a votary of entomology took
place in Kaffraria twenty-seven years ago, and the great suc-
cess which attended his researches in that productive region
was only the prelude to his fruitful labours in Basutoland,
Griqualand West, Natal, and Zululand. The fine collection of
native butterflies in the South-African Museum owes the greater
part of its treasures to his exertions,—no less than forty new
species, and one most remarkable new genus (Deloneura), in
addition to very many rarities, being his own discoveries and
donations. ‘The gift of specimens has been immeasurably en-
hanced in value by his copious notes on the haunts and habits
of the insects, their distribution in South Africa, and their
earlier stages. It is in very inadequate but most grateful
acknowledgment of his co-operation that I have, with his per-
mission, associated his name with my own on the title-page of
the work to which he has so extensively and ably contributed.
To Mrs. F. W. Barber, the sister of Colonel Bowker, I am
also greatly indebted. Long known to European botanists for
her attainments and discoveries in regard to the Flora of the
x PREFACE.
Cape, this lady had a wide acquaintance with South-African
Natural History generally, and in 1863 turned her attention
specially to the Lepidoptera. With characteristic generosity—
knowing that I was engaged in bringing out a book on the
subject—Mrs. Barber offered me the fullest aid, and constantly
since then have her net, pen, and artistic pencil been actively
engaged in furtherance of my work. Of special value have
proved her graphic accounts of the habits and stations of the
butterflies of the Eastern Districts of the Cape Colony, where
she has chiefly resided, and her excellent coloured drawings of
larvee and pupze, some of which are reproduced in Plates I. and
II. of this volume. My friend’s strong love of nature and keen
observant powers are happily shared by her daughter, Mrs.
Bailie, and her two sons, Mr. Frederick and Mr. Henry Barber ;
and many of the most interesting captures and discoveries
recorded by Mrs. Barber are due to their enthusiastic co-opera-
tion as collectors and observers. Mr. F. and Mr. H. Barber
have also independently rendered me much service by sending
down several collections made in the Transvaal and the country —
northward to the Zambesi.
The principal material at my disposal has been as follows
in respect of the various South-African territories named; and
I must ask the donors who may see these pages to excuse the
brevity with which their valued contributions of specimens and
notes (and in some cases drawings also) are of necessity here
gratefully acknowledged :—
GREAT NAMAQUALAND.—A small series from Mr. W. C.
Palgrave.
Care Cortony (Western Districts).—Collections from the
neighbourhood of Cape Town, besides those made by myself
for many years :—Mr. C. A. Fairbridge, Senior Trustee of the
South-African Museum; Mr. E. L. Layard, formerly Curator
of the Museum; the late Mr. H. W. Oakley, Assistant to the
Curator.
PREFACE. Xd
From Knysna District, besides my own collection made
there in 1858-59: a fine collection formed by Miss Wentworth,
now Mrs. J. J. Muskett; and a smaller series from the late
Mr. W. H. Newdigate.
From Caledon, Swellendam, Montagu, and Robertson : small
collections made respectively by the Rev. G. Hettarsch, the
late Mr. L. Taats, Dr. D. R. Kannemeyer, and myself.
From Carnarvon District: several small separate series
from Mr. E. G. Alston.
From Namaqualand District, in addition to some species
taken by myself in 1873: a very interesting collection made
in 1885 by Mr. L. Péringuey, Assistant Curator of the
Museum.
(Eastern Districts)—From Albany and Bathurst Districts
and parts of adjacent Districts, besides Mrs. Barber’s extensive
collections and one formed by myself in 1870: various contri-
butions by Miss M. L. Bowker, Mr. H. J. Atherstone, Dr. H.
Becker, Mr. W. F. Billinghurst, Mr. John L. Fry, and Mr. F.
Schiffman.
From Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage Districts, besides a
small series of my own taking: collections by Colonel J. H.
Bowker and Mr. 8. D. Bairstow.
From King William’s Town and East London Districts:
many specimens and drawings, with excellent notes, from Mr.
J. P. Mansel Weale; various living pupx, as well as other
specimens, from Miss F. Bowker; numerous examples, with
valuable accounts of seasons and haunts, from Mr. W. 8S. M.
D'Urban ; a small collection made at East London by Mr. P.
Borcherds ; and various species from the Venerable Archdeacon
Kitton. Colonel Bowker also from time to time forwarded a
considerable number of butterflies from these districts.
Albert District : a small but most interesting series collected
by Dr. D. R. Kannemeyer, illustrated by notes of much value
on stations and habits.
xii PREFACE.
Basutoland.—F¥rom this territory the only material received
was the collection formed by Colonel Bowker between March
1868 and June 1870; it consisted of sixty-two species,
Griqualand West.—Mrs. Barber and Colonel Bowker for-
warded considerable series, chiefly from the banks of the Vaal
River; smaller sets from time to time contributed by Mr.
John B. Currey, Mr. John L. Fry, Mr. H. L. Feltham (with
notes of much interest), and the late Mr. S. Stonestreet.
KAFFRARIA PRopeR.—A very fine and complete collection
gathered by Colonel Bowker in the country between the Great
Kei and Bashee Rivers during the years 1860-66.
Natat.—In addition to my own captures in 1867, very
extensive series (with copious notes, larvee, pups, &c.), secured
by Colonel Bowker from 1878 to the present time; many
specimens (with excellent drawings of early stages and useful
observations and descriptions) from Mr. W. D. Gooch; a few
specimens, but many most interesting sketches and descrip-
tions of larvee and pups, from Captain H. C. Harford; many
admirably preserved examples from the Upper Districts, collected
by Mr. J. M. Hutchinson ; a large collection formed at D’Urban
by the late Mr. M. J. M‘Ken; several new and rare forms from
Mr. W. Morant; and a small series (with drawings of larve
and pupze) forwarded by the late Dr. J. HE. Seaman.
ZULULAND.—A small collection made at St. Lucia Bay by
the late Colonel H. Tower in 1867, and numerous specimens
captured by Colonel Bowker in 1880.
SwAZILAND.—A few examples (with notes of localities and
coloured photographs of many species taken) from the late Mr.
K. C. Buxton.
Dextacoa Bay. — An interesting series (accompanied by
some good sketches and notes) from Mrs. Monteiro.
TRANSVAAL. — A fine collection, in the best order, formed
by Mr. T. Ayres, and acquired by the Trustees of the South-
African Museum in 1879; a small series collected by Mr. F.
PREFACE. xii
and Mr. H. Barber; a large number from Mr. A. W. Eriksson ;
and a considerable collection made by Mr. F. C. Selous.
The four gentlemen last named have all contributed in
addition many butterflies from the Tropical Interior extending
to the Zambesi Valley ; and for many specimens from Damara-
land I am indebted to the late Mr. C. J. Andersson, Mr. J. A.
Bell, Mr. J. J. Christie, and Mr. W. C. Palgrave.
Tio the kindness of Mr. P. MacOwan, Director of the
Botanic Gardens in Cape Town, I am indebted for the identi-
fication of many food-plants of the larvee of South-African
butterflies.
The assistance rendered me by entomologists in EKurope
has been invaluable, and my only regret is that my visits to
England have been too few and brief for more fully availing
myself of the liberality with which access to their collections
was awarded me. ‘The treasures of the magnificent National
Collection in the British Museum have always been open to me
through the courtesy of the officers of the Zoological Depart-
ment, and I cannot sufficiently thank my friends Mr. A. G.
Butler and Mr. W. F. Kirby for the cordial manner in which,
for many years past, they have in every way furthered my
researches, The limits of a preface preclude a full mention of
the many friends who have lightened my labours, but I give
myself the pleasure of specially thanking Mr. H. W. Bates, Mr.
W. L. Distant, Mr. F. Du Cane Godman, Professor R. Meldola,
Mr. F. Moore, Mr. O. Salvin, Mr. H. Grose Smith, Mr. A. R.
Wallace, and Professor Westwood.
Among Continental entomologists, I must express my
special obligations to Mr, P. O. C. Aurivillius, of the Royal
Museum in Stockholm, who not only sent for my examination
typical specimens from Wahlberg’s South-African collections
described by Wallengren, but also procured for me some ad-
mirable figures of a few unique types in the same collections,
besides presenting me with his own valuable publications treat-
X1V PREFACE.
ing of African butterflies. I had previously received from my
kind correspondent, Pastor H. D. J. Wallengren of Farhult, a
series of his papers on the above-named and other collections,
and found them of the greatest assistance.
I am glad to acknowledge, in conclusion, the liberal con-
tribution to the cost of publishing this work which has been
made by the Trustees of the South-African Museum, who,
regarding it rightly as constituting a full and permanent
record of the South-African butterflies in the Museum Collec-
tion, have subscribed for copies to the value of £100.
ROLAND TRIMEN.
MuskEuM RESIDENCE, CAPE Town,
16th February 1887.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
T. THe Crass Insecta
II. THe OrpdER LEPIDOPTERA .
RHOPALOCERA .
Famity I.—NYMPHALIDA
Sub-Family— Danan
SATYRINA
* ACREINE
24 NYMPHALINA
SYSTEMATIC INDEX
EXPLANATION OF PLATE A,
List OF SPECIES FIGURED IN THE PLATES
PAGER
INTRODUCTION.
I.—THE CLASS INSECTA.
As the Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) are an Order of the Class
Insecta or true Insects, a few words are requisite to indicate the
structure of these animals.
The entire class is associated with three others, viz., the ARACHNIDA
(Spiders, Scorpions, &c.), the Myriopopa (Centipedes, Millipedes, &c.),
and the Crustacea (Crabs, Lobsters, &c.), to form the great sub-
kingdom ARTHROPODA. ‘This immense assemblage is characterised
by the body consisting of a series of rings or segments (somites) bearing
hollow jointed limbs; and by the integument being so hardened and
solidified by the peculiar deposit chitine, as to constitute a more or less
rigid external skeleton to which the muscles are attached. The rings
or segments of the body succeeding those which unite to form the head
do not, as in the higher members of the sub-kingdom Vermes, present
a repetition of the same structure throughout their series, but tend
with more or less distinctness to form two separate groups or regions
to which special organs and functions are allotted. These two unequal
sets or groups of segments are respectively termed thorax (the anterior)
and abdomen (the posterior); and, speaking generally, the organs and
functions of locomotion may be said to reside in the former, and those
of nutrition and reproduction in the latter.
The CRUSTACEA are separated from the rest of the Arthropoda by a
respiratory system working by gills (branchie), adapted to their aquatic
life; while all Insects, Myriopods, and Arachnids are alike in direct
aérial respiration by breathing-tubes (trachew) traversing the body
and opening on its exterior by stigmata,—or (in the case of certain
Arachnids only) by pulmonary sacs. Associated with this important
distinction there are others of much note in external structure. Thus,
the Crustacea have two pairs of antenn,—other Arthropods but one
pair; in the former there is a second pair of inferior jaws (mazille)
functionally active,—but these in the other classes are united to form
the under-lip (labiwm); the abdominal limbs of Crustaceans have no
representatives in adult Insects or Spiders (though homologous append-
VOL. I. A
2 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
ages exist in the Myriopoda); nor are the prevalent stalked or pedun-
culated eyes of Crustaceans to be found in the other classes, except
in a very few instances—and in these the stalked eyes are immovable.
The nervous system of the Arthropoda is situated inferiorly, con-
sisting of a double nerve-cord presenting a pair of swellings or nerve-
centres (ganglia) at intervals, the total number of which normally
corresponds to that of the segments, but varies in proportion as the
more or less intimate union of the segments in groups accompanies the
coalescence of certain ganglia. From the ganglia proceed nerves
extending to the various organs; and, between the two pairs (superior
and inferior) of the head which constitute the “ brain,” passes the gullet
(esophagus). The upper (“cerebral”) of these two pairs supplies the
nerves of the antennz and eyes, and the lower (“ cerebellar”) those of
the organs of the mouth. The three pairs of the thorax emit nerves
to the muscles of that region, and to the legs and wings (if any)
attached to it; in some of the higher Jnsecta these thoracic ganglia
are combined to form a single nerve-centre, while in others the middle
and hind ganglia only are united, leaving the front pair apart. In
addition to this main system there is a second visceral one, also
ganglionated, which originates in the cerebral ganglia, and is distri-
buted to the gullet and stomach.
These latter organs, with the rest of the alimentary canal and its
accessory glands, lie centrally along the body, above the main nervous
system, but beneath the circulatory or blood-vascular system; which
latter consists of a long-chambered dorsal vessel or “ heart,” situated
along the middle line of the abdomen, and terminating anteriorly in a
thoracic aorta.
The reproductive system is elaborately developed, and the sexes are
separate—except in the cases of certain low Arachnids (Tardigrada),
and of the probably degenerated Crustaceans known as Barnacles
(Cirripedia). The Arthropoda are with but few exceptions oviparous,
but some produce the larvee already hatched.
Among the three classes of air-breathing or tracheated Arthropoda,
the InsEcra are, as their name implies, specially distinguishable by the
very marked division of the body into the three separate portions of
head, thorax, and abdomen. In the Arachnida the head and thorax
coalesce into one mass (cephalo-thorax), while in the Myriopoda the
thoracic and abdominal segments exhibit no distinctly separate grouping.
Insects and Arachnids agree in never having any jointed limbs attached
to the abdominal segments; but the former never have more than six
(three pairs) ambulatory or walking limbs, while the latter have eight ;
and insects alone in the sub-kingdom are provided with wings. These
organs are not true limbs like the hollow jointed legs, but merely
expansions of the integument, springing from the sides of the middle
and hind segments of the thorax; they are traversed, and at the same
time extended and supported by hollow, horny, stiff, rib-like tubes,
INTRODUCTION. 3
known either as veins or nervures. The possession of six thoracic
legs only, and of four thoracic wings, are the unmistakable marks of
Insects properly so called. The number and position of the legs are
quite constant; but the lowest groups (Collembola, or “ Spring-tails,”
and Thysanura, or “ Fish-insects”) have no wings, the Diptera (House-
flies, Gnats, &c.) have the hind pair of wings undeveloped, and in all
the winged Orders cases of wingless forms occur.
Closely associated with the possession of wings—which is the
exclusive privilege of the adult insect—is the more or less complete
metamorphosis, or series of changes from one stage or state of develop-
ment to another, undergone in the course of progress from the egg to
the Imago, or perfect Insect. This is very striking in those Orders
(Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Newroptera, and Coleoptera) in which
the larva is cylindrical and worm-like, and the pupa, or chrysalis,
perfectly quiescent and helpless; while in the others (Hemiptera and
Orthoptera) the close resemblance of the larva when hatched to the
adult, with the result that there is no true pupal state, but unbroken
activity throughout life, renders the acquisition of wings a matter of
more gradual and apparent development, as the successive casts of skin
or moultings are gone through.
While the Orders of Insects were named by Linneeus, and are still
for the most part conveniently grouped, in accordance with characters
peculiar to the wings, a more trustworthy basis for their classification,
as far as external structure is concerned, is found in the parts of the
mouth. When these are carefully studied, they are found in the several
Orders to be fairly constant modifications of the typical insect-mouth,
which consists of (1°) a single horny upper lip (labrum) articulated to
the fore-part (clypeus) of the head; (2°) a pair of principal seizing or
biting jaws (mandibles); (3°) a pair of accessory masticatory jaws
(mawille); and (4°) an under lip (/abiwm), which is formed by the
more or less complete coalescence of a second pair of maxille. This
typical form of mouth, so well adapted for seizing, holding, and tearing
up food, is most fully shown in the Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Praying-
insects, Leaf-insects, Dragon-flies, &c.), and Coleoptera (Beetles). In
the Neuroptera (Ant-lions, Lace-wing flies, Caddice-flies, &c.), while
the masticatory type prevails, there exist certain groups in which
there is modification towards a suctorial type (Panorpide), or con-
siderable atrophy of the mouth-organs generally (Phrygancide). In the
Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, Ichneumon-flies, &c.), there is a
series of gradations from the masticatory to a combined masticatory
and suctorial mouth. Lastly, the Orders Hemiptera (Bugs, Cicadas,
Aphides, &c.), Diptera (House-flies, Gad-flies, Gnats, &.), and Lepid-
optera (Butterflies and Moths) are exclusively suctorial, the mouth-
organs being profoundly modified to form a channel for liquid food.
As compared with the other two suctorial Orders, in which all the
typical mouth-parts are well expressed, though altered in order to the
4 | SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
formation of the beak-like proboscis (rostrum), the Lepidoptera exhibit
a remarkable suppression or abortion of all the organs except the
maxillee, which are greatly lengthened and so shaped as together to
form a tubular “trunk” (haustellwm), capable of being rolled up spirally
when not in use.
IlL—THE ORDER LEPIDOPTERA.
From what has been stated above, it will be apparent that the
Butterflies and Moths belong to the higher or more specialised Insects,
distinguished by a more concentrated nervous system, and accompany-
ing compactness and very distinct partition of the three regions of the
body, as well as by the complete metamorphosis they undergo. From
the latter character, the five Orders Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera,
Neuroptera, and Coleoptera, constitute a Sub-Class named Metabola.
The following may be regarded as the distinguishing features of the
LEPIDOPTERA, V1z. :-—
(a.) Imago (or Perfect Insect).
Body and limbs clothed with scales and hairs.
Head with the labrum, mandibles, and (except in some of the
lower Moths) maxillary palpi, rudimentary; but with the maxille
elongated and modified into a tubular haustellum; labium much
reduced, but the labial palpi moderately developed and laterally com-
pressed, forming a protection to the haustellum when coiled up. The
lateral compound eyes large and prominent; two simple eyes (stem-
mata) on the vertex in some groups. Antennz: many-jointed, very
variable in shape and structure, inserted on upper part of head, between
compound eyes.
Thorax very compact and robust; its first segment (prothoraz)
very small, bearing the first pair of legs; its second segment (meso-
thorax), bearing the first pair of wings and second pair of legs, much
enlarged, and constituting the mass of its bulk; its third segment
(metathorax) small, bearing the third pair of legs and second pair of
wings. Prothorax also bearing dorsally a pair of small, horny, scale-
like organs (patagia); mesothorax bearing laterally, immediately
above the bases of the fore-wings, a pair of similar appendages (tegul@
or pterygodes). Wings very large, exceptionally broad, not folding
(except longitudinally in the hind-wings of many, and the fore-wings
of a few Moths), clothed with scales both above and beneath. Legs
short and weak, little used for walking (especially the first pair, reduced
to atrophy in many Butterflies); the coxe immovable, solidly affixed
to the thorax; the middle and hind tibia armed with a pair of spurs
at their extremity, and-the hind ones (except in the typical Butterflies)
with a second pair rather beyond their middle; the tarsi five-jointed
(except in the fore-legs, when much atrophied).
Abdomen composed of eight or nine segments, sub-cylindrical,
INTRODUCTION. 5
elongate, compressed laterally; the anal and genital apertures at its
extremity.
(o.) Larva (or Caterpillar).
Worm-like, cylindrical or sub-cylindrical, presenting thirteen seg-
ments (taking the head as the first); the integument generally softer
and more elastic than in the Imago. Head hard and horny, divided
into two more or less distinct lobes by a frontal depression ; inferiorly
these lobes are divergent, between them lying the clypeus. Hyes not
compound, but tubercular and simple (stemmata), usually six on each
side, situated in a ring at the lower end of the cephalic lobe. Antennze
horny, small, short, conical, three- or four-jointed, situated inferiorly,
between the simple eyes and the base of the mandible. Labrum of
moderate size. Mandibles large, very hard, strongly and acutely
toothed on their inner meeting edges. Labium and maxille united ;
the former lying between the latter, and presenting at its extremity a
small tubular organ (spinneret) containing the common duct of the two
silk-glands, and a pair of very minute palpi; the maxille small, much
softer than the mandibles, conical, three-jointed, adapted for prehension
(not mastication), bearing minute palpi near their extremity.
Legs (true) six, borne on the three segments next succeeding the
head (which answer to the thorax of the perfect insect), short, horny,
cylindrical, composed of five short joints, of which the terminal one
(tarsus) forms an acute curved claw. Posterior to the sixth segment,
a series (two to five pairs) of highly retractile, stout, fleshy “ claspers ”
or pro-legs, fringed at their extremity by numerous small hooked
bristles." Breathing-pores (spiracles) lateral, inferior, a pair on each
segment except the head, and the third, fourth, and thirteenth.
(c.) Pupa (or Chrysalis).
Hlongate, more or less sub-conical, blunt anteriorly, and pointed
posteriorly ; closely invested by a hard membrane, which binds the
developing limbs of the future Imago closely to the breast and basal
part of the abdomen, but leaves their form more or less defined ;
mummy-like, quiescent, only‘the abdominal segments capable of motion.
Regional boundaries of head, thorax, and abdomen distinctly defined
by the sutures of the investing membrane (theca). Abdomen consist-
ing of nine segments, gradually decreasing to the last, which is more
or less acutely pointed. Hach abdominal segment except the last
bearing a pair of lateral spiracles.
The Eggs (ova) laid by Lepidoptera are very variable in form,
being found globular, pyriform, regularly ovate, melon-shaped, &Xc.,
and the shell or external membrane is very commonly distinguished
* The seventh, eighth, and ninth segments may want pro-legs (as in the Geometer larvae),
and very rarely the thirteenth or last segment (as in the Bombycid Dicranura), but the maxi-
mum number is five pairs, and the minimum two pairs. The fifth, sixth, eleventh, and
twelfth segments never possess pro-legs.
6 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
by intricate raised or impressed sculpturing of the most varied pat-
terns. Their colouring also varies, and is often not uniform, but
exhibits contrasted hues in the form of spots or bands.t The number
produced by the individual mother is usually large; and they are laid,
singly or in smaller or larger groups, on the leaves, twigs, or trunks of
trees for the most part,—a viscid fluid which invests them on exclu-
sion usually in hardening glueing them to the surface on which they
are deposited.
On emerging from the egg, the young lepidopterous Larva or
caterpillar is sufficiently advanced in general structure, and in the
development of its mouth-parts especially, to enable it at once to
begin a more or less active independent life of voracious eating
and correspondingly rapid growth. The nature of the integu-
ment (which, though not so hard as that of the perfect insect, is,
nevertheless, the external skeleton to which the muscles are attached)
is such that it does not admit of gradual accessions to: suit the
growth of the animal, but is only so far accommodating as its
natural elasticity allows. It follows that, at a certain point of the
animal’s increase in bulk, the too limited investing skin must be
got rid of, and one of more capacity secreted in its stead. The cater-
pillar temporarily abstains from eating, and its skin becomes faded,
dry, wrinkled, and detached as the new one is developed beneath it.
The process of detachment is aided by the dilating and contracting of
the segments, and by various other motions of the larva; and at length
the old integument splits dorsally, and the insect emerges through
the rent. The moult is a most complete one, extending to the head
and legs, and even including the fine membranes of some of the prin-
cipal internal organs. The new external skin (which often differs in
colour or marking from the discarded one) soon hardens, and the
caterpillar resumes feeding with increased zest, sometimes (as I have
seen in Cherocampa Celerio), in the first place, devouring its old skin.
This process of moulting has been recorded to occur from three to as
many as ten times, but it appears seldom’to take place more than five
times. When the caterpillar has attained its full size, after some days
it finally leaves off eating, and sets about the necessary preliminaries to
assuming the pupa or chrysalis state. It commonly shows much rest-
lessness at this time, wandering about in search of a suitable retreat ;
and in those kinds which have smooth, brightly-coloured skins there is
often a remarkable change to dull and sombre hues. It is now that
the large reservoirs of silk are chiefly drawn upon, although the
amount employed by members of different groups varies very greatly,
from the mere disk to which the caterpillars of many butterflies hook
their last segment to the full cocoon fabricated by those of the typical
F? 1 Coloured figures of the eggs of forty-two European species are given by M. Th. Goosens
in illustration of his memoir, “‘ Les Giufs des Lépidoptéres,” in the Annales Soc. Entom. de
France for 1884 (October).
INTRODUCTION. ;
Bombycid moths, so well represented by the common silkworm. Many
caterpillars bury themselves in the ground before becoming pupe ;
others lie on the surface, only drawing together a leaf or two by silken
attachments; some introduce particles of sand, earth, or wood into
their cocoons, many hairy larvae even interweaving their own hairs ;
and in others, again, a higher degree of protection is obtained by the
abundance in the material of a hard-setting gummy secretion. In
those cases where the pupa is wholly exposed (as in nearly all butter-
flies), or is in the incomplete open-meshed sort of cocoon, there is no
difficulty in observing the changes in the form of the caterpillar prior
to its last moult, which consist mainly in its contracting to much
shorter, but at the same time thicker, dimensions, in the acumination
of the abdominal region, and in the shrinkage and withdrawal from
external projection of the head and legs. The abdominal pro-legs
now finally disappear, and it is only in the last cast-off skin of the larva
that any record of their having existed remains.
The caterpillars of Lepidoptera exhibit considerable variety in general
form, those of several groups not presenting the ordinary sub-cylin-
drical elongated shape so familiar to all in the silkworm, but being
more or less widened, shortened, and depressed. Some have the skin
smooth, while in others it is more or less roughened or granulated ;
and in a great number of others it is set with hairs, bristles, or spines.
Among the hairy kinds there is immense diversity in the distribution
and arrangement of the hairs, which are sometimes generally dispersed,
but as often disposed in tufts, or springing from tubercles, or arranged
in bands or local stripes and patches. Some of the more rigid and
acute spines in the larvee of certain Bombycid moths are modified into
weapons both defensive and offensive, being not only exceedingly sharp
and serrated, so as to pierce and greatly irritate, but grouped in clus-
ters or fascicles exsertible at the will of the animal. No other insect
larvae approach caterpillars in beauty and variegation of colour and
marking, whether we look to the smooth or hairy kinds. The few
almost colourless or very dull-coloured caterpillars are those that live
in the stems or at the roots of plants. The prevalent colour is green,
and this is highly protective in concealing from their enemies creatures
feeding almost entirely on leaves. But some of the most brilliantly
variegated patterns of caterpillars are really protective in nature, as is
well seen among the very large and beautiful larvee of the Hawkmoths
(Sphingide), where the stripes and spots of strongly-contrasted colours
are adapted to the lights and shades, the outlines and tints, of the
leaves, twigs, and buds of the plants the larvae frequent. Where this
adaptation to surroundings does not prevail, it has been found in many
cases that the gaudy, conspicuous caterpillars are unpalatable to birds
and other insectivorous animals, and so are not liable to the persecution
So generally experienced by their tribe. Some caterpillars of moths
(Psychide, and many of the Tinew) construct from the first a descrip-
8 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
tion of cocoon which they carry about with them, and from which only
the head and front segments bearing the legs protrude. These silken
fabrics are externally both strengthened and disguised by attached
pieces of objects among which the larva lives, such as woollen tissue
(in the case of the Clothes-Moth caterpillars), sand, small particles
of stone, bits of grass, or sticks. In the case of many of the latter,
the bits of grass or sticks are most neatly cut of the required length,
and firmly secured in most regular order, the whole resembling the
conventional fasces of the Roman lictor. E
Caterpillars are, apparently, of all insect larve the most liable
to attack by the parasitic Hymenoptera, known as Ichneumon-flies
(families Ichneumonidae, Chaleidide, &c.). The female fly is provided
with an acute ovipositor, by means of which she pierces the caterpillar’s
integument, and introduces her eges. The grubs of the Ichneumon-fly
soon hatch in the caterpillar’s body, and begin to devour its tissues,
They appear to avoid injuring the vital organs, and to derive nearly all,
if not the whole, of their sustenance from the spacious fat-body (corpus
adiposum) which envelops the caterpillar’s alimentary canal, &., and
fills almost all the space between those organs and the body-walls. The
caterpillar so infested usually lives to attain its full size, and sometimes
to assume the chrysalis form, but it never reaches the perfect state, its
devourers either emerging to spin their own little cocoons around its
skin, or undergoing their metamorphosis within it. Other deadly
parasites are the species of Zachina, flies of the Order Diptera, which
fasten their eggs on the surface of the caterpillar, into whose body the
maggots hatched from them penetrate.
There is much difference among caterpillars as regards activity
of motion. Those of Butterflies are for the most part remarkably
sluggish, scarcely moving except from one leaf to another, and those of
the Hawkmoths and higher Bombyces are as a rule but little more
active. Among the latter, however, the well-known hairy larvee of the
lovely Tiger-Moths (Arctvidw) are an exception, being frequent and
rapid walkers. The caterpillars of many of the lower groups of moths
(Noctue, Pyrales, Geometre, and Tortrices) are very quick in their
motions, a few even exhibiting the power of leaping away when dis-
turbed. The Geometre larvee almost invariably have only two pairs of
“claspers” or pro-legs, situated posteriorly on the tenth and thirteenth
segments, with which peculiarity is associated the mode of progression
which led to their name; this consisting of their stretching out the
body forward and grasping with the true legs near the head, and then
bringing up the pro-legs close to the others, so that the long inter-
mediate legless portion of the body is looped or arched. In this way
they proceed by long-measured steps, instead of by the continuous
undulatory motion of caterpillars with the full complement of pro-legs.
These Geometer larvee have in a great many instances the extraordinary
power of keeping the body for hours rigidly extended from its base of
INTRODUCTION. 9
attachment by the four posterior pro-legs, at a very considerable angle
to the twig on which it rests. This strange attitude, in association
with special colouring and configuration, is eminently protective, render-
ing the caterpillar almost indistinguishable from the twigs it frequents.
Many caterpillars of Moctuw, having in addition to two pairs of pro-
legs possessed by the Geometers only one pair (on the ninth segment),
approximate the latter in their mode of progression, and are commonly
known as “ half-loopers.”
While nearly all lepidopterous larvee are solitary, or only found in
close proximity owing to their having been hatched more or less re-
cently from a cluster of eggs, there are a few among those of moths
which are distinctly social, constructing a common silken nest in which
they remain until eventually assuming the chrysalis state. ‘The most re-
markable of these social larvee are those of the so-called “ Processionary ”
Bombycid moths, which not only live in community, but, when they leave
the nest, proceed in long columns widening from the single leader to
many abreast, and return, after feeding, in the same regular order."
On its first disclosure by the moult of the last skin of the cater-
pillar, the lepidopterous Pwpa or chrysalis exhibits a soft moist sur-
face, usually of a greenish or yellowish tint, the viscid secretion upon
which gradually hardens into a rather thin, but hard and firm, outer
casing or horny shell, closely investing the entire body, and binding
flatly upon the breast and sides the incipient trunk (haustellum),
antenne, palpi, legs, and wings. It is very remarkable that in the
chrysalis, from the very first, these various limbs are all distinctly
present in outline, or in mould as it were, and are to a great extent
free from the body at first, though subsequently the investing secretion
glues them down.
Pupe, leading an absolutely quiescent life and requiring no food,
present but little variation in comparison to the larvae. In form, be-
sides being more elongate and slender in some groups than in others,
the only marked difference is presented by the chrysalides of most
butterflies, in which the head and thorax are more or less sharply
angulated. The surface in some is very smooth, but in most more or
less granulated or pitted. Many of the angulated butterfly chrysalides
bear on the back of the abdomen two rows of tubercles, usually more
or less pointed, and in a few cases prolonged into spinous processes.
Some of the Bombycid pupe (Liparide), and also that of a South-
African Lyceenid butterfly (D’Urbania), have dense tufts of hair.
The colours of pupze are considerably varied in the case of those
fully exposed to the light or in very thin cocoons, but limited to various
1 A characteristic “‘ Processionary ” inhabits the eastern part of Cape Colony and Natal ;
it is the Anaphe Panda of Boisduval.
Westwood long ago described a Mexican Pieride butterfly (Zuchetra socialis), the larve
of which “construct a very strong parchment-like bag, in which they not only reside, but
undergo their change to the pupa state ;” but he has not recorded, I believe, whether these
caterpillars are processionary.
10 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
shades of reddish-brown, deep-brown, or blackish in those enclosed in
dense cocoons or buried in the earth. ‘The immense majority of butter-
fly chrysalides are included in the former class, and some of them
(Nymphalide) exhibit the brilliant golden spots or patches which gave
origin to the name of chrysalis or awrelia. But much of the colouring
of these exposed pupz is protective, closely resembling that of the
objects to which they may be attached; and, as has of late been
discovered, the general tint of different individuals of the same brood
will, in some kinds, be found to vary (within certain limits) in accord-
ance with the colour of the objects upon which they assume the pupal
state.’ Besides this, there are instances where the form as well as the
colouring aids in the protective resemblance, as Mr. Mansel Weale and
I have shown in the case of the South-African Papilio Cenea ; and the
hirsute chrysalis of ’Urbania amakosa, already mentioned, appears
from Mrs. Barber’s observations to resemble certain lichens growing
on the rocks to which it is attached.
The motions of lepidopterous pupe are very limited, and those of
butterflies, whose caudal extremity is fixed to a silken attachment, are
all but motionless. The abdominal segments have, however, consider-
able freedom of movement in many moths, and such pup, by the aid
of a strong caudal spine (mzcro)—and, in some cases, of a series of
small dorsal spines on the other segments—are able to push themselves
along, either in the ground or in the hollowed interior of the stems of
plants. Many display this particular sort of activity when the perfect
insect is about ready to emerge.
The structural changes wrought during the chrysalis state of
quiescence are astonishingly great. The body becomes distinctly
divided into the three heteronomous portions of head, thorax, and
abdomen, and covered with scales; ample wings are developed, also
covered with scales; the pro-legs disappear, and the true legs as well
as the antennz are much lengthened and completely altered in shape.
The eyes are enormously enlarged and developed; and while the
united maxilla and labium are separated and profoundly modified into
the long spiral sucking-tube (haustellwm) and the under-lip bearing
well-developed palpi, the large jaws (mandibles) are reduced to the
merest rudiments. Not less profound are the accompanying internal
changes, for the thoracic nervous ganglia become approximated and
united into two masses, while the two basal pairs of the abdominal
segments are aborted; the alimentary canal is differentiated into well-
defined tracts of cesophagus, crop, stomach, &c. ; the silk-glands entirely
disappear; the great fat-body (corpus adiposwm) is almost wholly
absorbed; and the reproductive organs are fully developed. —_—,
1 One of the most remarkable cases of this kind is that of the pupe of the well-known
South-African Papilio Nireus, recorded by Mrs. Barber in the Transactions of the Entomo-
logical Society of London for 1874, pp. 519-521. The same observer informs me that the
pup of Callidryas Florella present quite a parallel case.
INTRODUCTION. II
What renders the transformation the more remarkable is the brief
period in which it is commonly accomplished. The duration of the
pupa state varies very much, and development is greatly accelerated
by a high temperature and acide by a low one. Among South-
African species the shortest time I have noted is in the case of the
common butterfly, Acrwa Horta, which remains only eight or nine days
in the chrysalis form during the height of summer, but in the winter
months of June and July is twenty-four days developing. As a rule,
the smaller species produce the perfect insect much sooner than the
large ones. The summer brood of Papilio Demoleus is from twenty-
one to twenty-four days in the pupa state, but the offspring of this
brood remain pupe from April to September or October. Instances
are, moreover, not rare in which certain individuals do not complete
their development simultaneously with the rest of the brood, but
remain arrested until the corresponding season of the next year,
notwithstanding that all the conditions of food, temperature, &c., may
have been identical as respects the entire brood. That this “ standing
over” until next season of a certain number of the year’s brood must
be of advantage to the species concerned can scarcely be doubted, but
in what way it is brought about has not, to the best of my knowledge,
been explained.
When the Jmago, or perfect insect, of the lepidopterous Order
makes its appearance from the cracked skin of the pupa, all its organs
are completely developed with the exception of the wings. ‘The latter
are short, thick, and much folded or wrinkled, but exhibit in miniature
the colouring and marking proper to the species. They consist of two
separate membranes, upper and under, and are traversed by hollow
horny nervures situated between the two membranes. ‘The insect
climbs to some situation where it can cling with the little moist
crumpled wings hanging freely downward, so that they can gradually
expand without obstruction,—a process effected by the steady extension
of the nervures. The elongation and stiffening of the latter tubular
organs seems to be due to their distension by introduced air, and partly
also by the entrance of fluid matter from the body. As the membranes
become stretched and tense they approach each other and _ finally
coalesce. This growth of the wings to their full extent is aided by
slight movements of the insect in turning from one side to the other,
or partly spreading the wings. Except in some of the largest species
the process is not of long duration, a few minutes sufficing in the case
of the smaller Butterflies,’ while in some of the largest Moths I have
known it to occupy five or six hours.
The Lepidoptera surpass all the other Orders of Insects in the
immense size of their wings in comparison with that of the body.
1 One of the larger South-African Butterflies, a female Diadema Misippus, which I
timed from the moment of its complete extrication from the chrysalis, was exactly fifteen
minutes in acquiring the full expansion of the wings,
12 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
This is especially noticeable in the Butterflies, and reaches its maximum
in the Morphite of tropical South America, in many species of which
magnificent group it is difficult to comprehend how the small slender
thorax can contain sufficient muscular power to work the enormous
wings.’ The scales, which give to these organs their infinite variety
of colouring and marking, and to the Order its name (Aemis, scale,
mTepov, Wing), are planted in the membrane by slender, very minute
foot-stalks, and arranged so closely in transverse (not always quite
straight) rows, that the basal portions of the scales of each row are
hidden by the overlapping outer portions of those of the next row.
These scales are in themselves objects of remarkable beauty under the
microscope, their shape presenting a wonderful variety of outline, and
their surfaces being covered with raised longitudinal and transverse
lines forming a reticulation of the utmost minuteness and delicacy.”
The entire Order consisting of insects which live solely on fluid
nutriment, there is not much variation in the mouth-parts except as
regards the adaptation of the trunk or haustellum (modified maxillee)
to obtaining liquid from various sources. A certain number of Moths
take no food, their trunk being rudimentary ; these mostly belong to
the group Bombyces, of which the common Silkworm Moth is a familiar
example. The great majority of Lepidoptera, however, is in the per-
fect state dependent on the honey of flowers, and the trunk varies
greatly in length in accordance with the form of the nectar-yielding
blossoms frequented. ‘T’he nectaries of many flowers are shallow and
open, and to rifle these a short haustellum suffices; but where the
honey lies in a long tubular receptacle, a proportionately elongated
trunk is necessary. The greatest development of this kind is reached
in the typical Sphingide, or Hawkmoths, which are thus enabled to
take their food on the wing, without settling, and to reach supplies
shut out from all other members of their Order. Thus, the haustellum
of the common and widely-distributed Unicorn Hawkmoth (Sphinx
Convolvult) is four inches long, or twice the length of the whole body ;
and a huge South-American ally, Amphonyx Cluentius, has a trunk
over nine inches in length. The in many ways aberrant Death’s-Head
Hawkmoth (Acherontia Atropos)—as well-known and much-dreaded in
South-Africa as in other parts of the world—has, on the contrary, a
short, stiff, broad proboscis, specially adapted for piercing the waxen
lid of, and abstracting the honey from the cell of the hive-bee. Again,
various large Moctuww—such as the well-known South-African Achwa
Chameleon—-are able to pierce the skins of peaches and other fruits,
1 Thus in Morpho Iphictus the whole body is but an inch long, and the thorax less than
half an inch long and a quarter of an inch in breadth, while the fore-wings not only expand
six and a half inches from tip to tip, but are two inches broad at the outer edge, and the
hind-wings are each two and a half inches long and two inches broad.
* A favourite “test object” for some powers of the microscope has long been the scale of a
Morpho Butterfly,—a good glass giving clear definition of the delicate ridges on the surface
of the scale.
INTRODUCTION. 13
and the end of their trunk (as has been well shown by Mr. F. Darwin
in the case of the Australian Ophideres fullonica, which penetrates even
the rind of oranges) is bayonet-shaped and armed with saw-like teeth
and ridges.
The antennze of Lepidoptera have the characteristics of being well-
developed and many-jointed throughout the Order, and in the great
majority of genera long and conspicuous. ‘The shortest antenne are
found in the Moths known in England as “Ghosts” and “ Swifts”
(family Hepialide), and the longest in the so-called ‘“ Long-Horns ”
among the smallest Moths (family Zincide). Their form varies greatly,
from the simple thread-like (jiliform), or gently tapering (setzform), to
the doubly comb-toothed (bipectinate) or feathered (plumose). Their
office has not yet been certainly made out; they do not appear to be
employed as many insects of other Orders use them, viz., as feelers or
organs of touch ; but, if they are the seats of any special sense, it seems
probable, from the fact of their being, in very many cases, much more
highly developed in the male sex, that they are olfactory. The pro-
minence of the antenne and the facility with which they can be
examined, no less than the fact that their various forms are very
characteristic in the main of certain large natural groups, have led to
the employment of these organs as representative ones in separating
and naming the divisions of the Order. Dumeril, in 1823, proposed
four such divisions ; of which the first, Ropalocéres, comprised the Butter-
flies or Clubbed-Horns, having the antenney knobbed or thickened at
the tip; the second, Closterocéres, the Moths whose antennee are thickened
about the middle (fusiform), included the Sphinges or Hawkmoths ;
the third, Nematoceres, or Thread-Horns, contained the Bombyces; and
the fourth, Chétocéres, or Bristle-Horns, was composed of all the remain-
ing Moths. The last of these divisions was a most heterogeneous
assemblage, and neither it nor the two preceding divisions (which are
comparatively natural ones) have been adopted by any lepidopterist ;
but the first, Rhopalocera, was accepted by Boisduval in 1836, and by
Westwood in 1840. ‘The former of these authors professed himself
unable to separate the Sphinges from the other Moths as a primary
division of the Order, and united all Duméril’s three groups into one,
which he styled Heterocera, or Varied-Horns; and in this also he was
followed by Westwood, who stated that he could not adinit the minor
divisions of the nocturnal Lepidoptera “ to a rank equivalent to that of
the whole of the Diurna.” This simple partition of the Lepidoptera
into the two great groups of those with clubs or terminal thickenings
of the antenne, and those without them (however variable the organs
1 It is noteworthy that the antenne are very highly developed in the males of those
Bombycide which so readily discover the sedentary female under circumstances (such as
enclosure in a shut box) which seem to preclude the employment by them of any but a sense
of smell of extraordinary keenness. That this sense is the one exercised seems to be proved
by the fact (to which I can testify in the case of Lasiocampa Quercus) that males are
attracted by the empty box from which a female has been removed.
14 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
may be in other respects), has been generally adopted; and although
not satisfactory—the greater of the two divisions being founded on a
negative character—it is undoubtedly preferable to the older arrange-
ment into Diuwrna, Crepuscularia, and Nocturna, which were mere equi-
valents of the original Linnzean genera, Papilio, Sphina, and Phalena.
The English terms, Butterflies and Moths, exactly correspond to these
two Sub-Orders of Rhopalocera and Heterocera. The name Rhopalocera
has been objected to on the ground that some Butterflies have no
actual club or knob to the antenne ; but these exceptions are few, and
even in them there is always, as far as I have seen, a slight and
eradual thickening or incrassation towards the extremity of those
organs. Herrich-Schiiffer announced, in 1843, a further distinction in
structure between the antennz of the two Sub-Orders—viz., that their
joints (or at least those of the middle third of the organs) were in
the Rhopalocera twice as long as, or much longer than, thick; but in
the Heterocera about equal in length and thickness, or not longer
than thick.
The present work deals only with the South-African species of the
first Sub-Order, viz., the Rhopalocera or Butterflies.
RHOPALOCERA.
ImaGo.—Head of moderate size (rather large in the family Hespe-
ride). Antenne slender; the joints of the middle third longer than
broad; some of the terminal joints almost always broadened more or
less, so as to form a club; bases of insertion close together (except in
the Hesperidw). Labial palpi well-developed, ascendent, three-jointed,
scaly, more or less hairy (except in mary cases the terminal joint) ;
the middle joint almost always the longest. Haustellwm always well-
developed (longest in the Hesperide). Stemmata obsolete.
Thorax compact, rounded anteriorly and posteriorly, usually rather
thick and deep, with the sides somewhat flattened; mesothorax with
its dorsal median suture and posteriorly-situated triangular scwtellum
usually very distinct. Wings large and broad, without the bristle and
socket (retinaculum) found in most Heterocera ;' general outline of
fore wings sub-triangular, of hind wings sub-circular ; newration almost
wholly longitudinal, with the exception of the disco-cellular nervules,
and in its main plan the same in both fore and hind wings; near
bases, especially in hind wings, usually a clothing of fine hairs as well
as of scales; fringe of hair-like scales (cilia) projecting from outer
edge (hind-margin) of wings usually short. JZegs slender, rather short ;
the first pair often atrophied (family Nymphalide, and males of family
Erycinide) ; femora generally hairy ; tvbice and tarsi finely spinulose ;
tibie of hind pair armed with a terminal pair of spurs only (except in
the Hesperide, almost all of which have an additional pair rather
beyond the middle of the joint); ¢avsi terminating in a pair of simple
or bifid claws, usually accompanied by a foot-cushion (pulvillus) and
two bifid supplementary membranaceous claws (paronychia).
Abdomen short (except in the Sub-Families Danaine, Heliconine, and
Acreine), slender, laterally compressed, dorsally arched, and with more
or less of a median ridge; the extremity inferiorly obliquely truncate,
and fissured longitudinally for the anal and genital outlets.
Larva.—Usually elongate and sub-cylindrical (but widened and
inferiorly flattened—onisciform—in Family Lycenide and in some
1 This structure, which links together the fore and hind wings in many Moths (and is
particularly well shown in the Sphinges), is formed by the free precostal nervure at the base
of the hind wing passing through a small horny loop or ring, which arches the subcostal
nervure near the base on the under side of the fore wing.
16 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Erycimde) ; smooth, granulated, transversely ribbed, downy, or spiny ;
always with ten pro-legs. Head often horned superiorly; tail some-
times forked.
Pupa.—Smooth or granulated, usually more or less angulated:
head with one more or less acute anterior median projection, or two
divergent ones; thorax dorsally prominent or humped; abdomen often
dorsally tuberculated, rarely spinose. Attached by the tail to a silken
web, and either hanging free vertically or braced horizontally or at an
angle by a silken girth. Not enclosed in any cocoon or covering
(except in a few Papilionide and the Hesperide generally, which are
partly enclosed in a leaf drawn together by silken threads, and certain-
Satyrine and Lyccenide which are hidden in the ground).
I. DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF RHOPALOCERA.
In the diagnosis of the Sub-Order given above, the more promi-
nent characters distinguishing Butterflies are, in the perfect insect, the
long-jointed and clubbed antennze; the absence of stemmata or simple
eyes, of retinaculum, or retaining ring and bristle,’ and of transverse
or reticulated neuration in the wings; and the want (except in one
Family) of a second pair of spurs on the tibiz of the hind-legs. There
do not appear to be any points of structure in the larve or pupe
which are not discoverable among those of the Sub-Order Heterocera ;
although it is quite an exception to find any pupa of a Moth angulated,
freely exposed, or suspended by caudal and median silken attachments,
like those of nearly all Butterflies.”
There are, however, some secondary characteristics of Butterflies
which are worth noting, although not absolutely peculiar to them.
The first of these is the distinctness or definition of the colouring and
marking of the under side of the wings, which usually displays an
entirely different pattern from that of the upper side, and is often more
elaborate in decoration, and sometimes more brilliant and varied in
hues. The second, which is evidently in close relation to the first, is
the almost universal habit of holding the wings vertically when at rest,
by which attitude the under side of those organs is (often for a long
1 Blanchard employed the presence or absence of this character, in naming his two
divisions of the Lepidoptera respectively Chalinoptera (=Heterocera or Moths), and Achali-
noptera (= Rhopalocera or Butterflies).
* Until recently I was not aware that any Moth chrysalis existed which was attached by
the tail only, in the manner so frequent among Butterfly chrysalides, but this case has
occurred to me (August 1884) in rearing what I believe to be an aberrant member of the
Tortrices from larve tunnelling the woody receptacle of Protea mellifera. ‘The larva was of
the ordinary sub-cylindrical form, but the pupa was in appearance intermediate between the
Lycenid and Hesperid types, and, to my astonishment, was attached horizontally to the lid
of a breeding-cage by the tail only, quite in the manner of several species of Lycenide. The
three larve I had all assumed the pupal state in this position, but only one imago was pro-
duced. The stout, thick pupa, alike in colour, size, and shape (except for a small pointed
projection on the front of the head) nearly resembled that of Thecla Lynceus as figured by
Duponchel (Iconogr. Chen., pl. viii. fig. 31).
RHOPALOCERA. 17
time) fully exposed, while the upper side is concealed. In Moths the
under side of the wings is nearly always duller and paler than the upper
side, and any pattern or colouring presented more or less indicates
what is on the upper side; and these Lepidoptera, instead of holding
the wings erect over the back, deflect them at various angles when at
rest, and for the most part so dispose them that the longitudinally
folded hind-wings and the abdomen are covered or roofed by the fore-
wings. The only group of Moths containing numerous exceptions to
this rule is the Geometre, and it is very noteworthy that these alone
have the rhopalocerous habit of resting with wings erect.
A third distinction of Butterflies is their diurnal flight; but, as
certain groups are crepuscular (many lesperide, some Morphite, all
the Brassolinw, and a number of Satyrinw), and as a great variety of
Moths in all the great divisions, including some entire Families
(Zyenide, Uranide), are diurnal in their habits, this can only be
taken as much more characteristic of Butterflies as a whole than of
Moths as a whole.
2. CLASSIFICATION.
A satisfactory arrangement of the Sub-Order is admittedly most
difficult to arrive at, the fundamental structure of its members (as
indeed may be said of the entire Order Lepidoptera) presenting but
comparatively slight modifications, and those being often inconstant in
character. As regards the Jmago, the most important features from a
classificatory point of view are (1°) the neuration of the wings, (2°) the
condition of development of the first pair of legs, and (3°) the presence
or absence of a second pair of spurs on the hind pair of legs. In the
Pupa, the mode of its suspension affords the most trustworthy character,
while in the Larva the general form, the nature of the dermal append-
ages, and the smooth or spined condition of the head, are points of chief
importance. It is remarkable that in proportion to the atrophy of the
first pair of legs, which is the character in which the higher Butterflies
differ most absolutely from all Moths, the chrysalis is free from silken
attachments. Thus the pupe of the Hesperide, the group of Butter-
flies in all respects most intimately related to Moths, and whose fore--
legs are invariably fully developed in both sexes, are not only attached
by the tail and girt with silk, but also secured by many silken threads,
which in many cases form a slight cocoon. Those of the Papilionida,
a family which also has the fore-legs perfect in both sexes, are always
attached by the tail and also girt; and, in the case of the remarkable
Alpine genus Parnassius, the chrysalis, like those of the Hesperide just
mentioned, is further enclosed by many additional silken threads. It is
when we come to the Lycwnide, in which, although the fore-legs of the
female are perfect, those of the male begin to exhibit the failure of the
tarsal articulation and claws, that we first find instances of chrysalides
attached by the tail only, but still in a fixed horizontal or slightly
B
18 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
inclined position. Going on to the Hrycinide, the males of which have
the fore-tarsi smooth and reduced to two joints (or even one only), there
appear first a series of girt pups, then one of ungirt but rigidly
inclined pupze, and finally—in the Sub-Family Libytheine—pupe sus-
pended freely by the tail. This last mode of suspension is universal
in the Nymphalide, the perfect insects of which display reduced and
atrophied fore-legs in both sexes. In the males of these ¢etrapod or
“four-legged” Butterflies, and even in the females of some in the Sub-
Families Danaine and Satyrine, the fore-legs are so reduced as to be
hardly noticeable in their folded position against the prothorax.
In the neuration the most serviceable distinctive characters are to
be found in the number and points of crigin of the branches or nervules
of the subcostal nervure of the fore-wings, and in the completeness or
otherwise of the transverse or oblique disco-cellular nervules, which
serve to connect, in both fore and hind wings, the discoidal or radial
nervules (the main trunk or nervure of which is atrophied in all Butter-
flies), with the subcostal nervure above them and the median nervure
below them. The short disco-cellular nervules in question constitute
the outer limit of the so-called discoidal cell, lying between the subcostal
and median nervures; when the lowest of these nervules is developed
the discoidal cell is said to be closed, and when it is obsolete or rudi-
mentary the cell is styled open.
As regards the presence of a second pair of spurs on the tibie of
the hind-legs, this is among Butterflies a feature of the Hesperide only.
But this aberrant and curious family, by common consent the nearest
to Moths, possesses a kindred feature common and peculiar to itself
and the Papilionine only, viz., a process or expansion, sometimes
acuminate, on the inner side of the tibia of the fore-legs.
Further aids to the scientific arrangement of the Butterflies are to
be found in the length and gradual or abrupt clavation of the antenne ;
the size and clothing of the labial palpi; the smoothness or downiness
of the compound eyes; the size, shape, clothing, and texture of the
wings, and the prevalent colouring and pattern of the latter organs.
The two last named of these are of considerably more weight in the
Lepidoptera than in the other Orders of Insects; the coloured scales
on the immense area of the wings being apparently affected in their
arrangement and tints in direct relation to any modification arising
in the species, and so serving, as Mr. Bates has well observed,’ as
natural tablets on which are registered all the changes of organisation,
however small.
The claws at the end of the tarsi, with their curious appendages
(first illustrated carefully by M. Doyére in 1843, and afterwards so
1 T adopt Doubleday’s modification of Lefebvre’s analysis of the system of neuration in
the Lepidoptera, given by the former in the Transactions of the Linnean Society, 1845, vol.
xix. pp. 477-485, and in Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera, i. p. 31 (1847).
* Naturalist on the Amazons, 2d edit., p. 413.
RHOPALOCERA. 19
thoroughly examined by Messrs. Doubleday and Westwood in their
Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera), present features worth considering in
comparing the structure of the different groups. The claws themselves
(wngues) seem to be simple throughout the various Families, except in
the Sub-Family Pierine, in many genera of the Satyrinw, and in a
single species of Papilignine,' where they are more or less deeply bifid.
But the appendages to the claws, termed pulvillus and paronychia, are
more or less developed in all groups, except in some of the sub-
family Danaine, in the Acrewine, and in the Papilionine; and they
appear to attain their greatest development in the Sub-Family Nym-
phaline.
Taking into consideration all the details of structure above
mentioned, and having regard to the earlier stages as well as to the
adult or perfect state, an approximately natural arrangement of butter-
flies is arrived at; but, as is the case throughout Nature, the linear or
serial classification, which for convenience has to be employed, can only
very inadequately represent the affinities which exist.
In consequence, originally, of Linné’s beginning his genus Papilio
(equivalent to the whole group of Butterflies) with his so-named
Hquites, and of these being naturally retained as the representatives of
the restricted Papiliones, when that great genus was broken up into
several others, it remained for many years the practice to place the
Family Papilionide at the head of the Sub-Order Rhopalocera, and
to put between them and the WHesperide all the remaining groups.
Though Herrich-Schaeffer in 1843 (Syst. Bearb. der Schmett. von
Europa, i. p. 16) amended this by commencing the series with the
Nymphalides, continuing with the JLibytheides and Hrycinides, and
placing the Pierides, Lycenides, and finally the Hywitides, next above
the Hesperides (which he separated altogether from the other Butter-
flies) ; yet, mainly I think from the influence of Boisduval’s system,
published in 1836, which placed the Suspensi (= entire Family
Nymphalide) between the Succincti (= Families Papilionide and
Iycenide and most Frycinide) and the Involuti (=Hesperide), the
more natural classification was not adopted by entomologists generally.
The magnificent Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera of Doubleday and West-
wood (1846—52) perpetuated the old arrangement, which was adopted
by all English lepidopterists, and followed by myself in Rhopalocera
Africe Australis (1862-66). The adoption of late years of the
more natural system is mainly due to the able advocacy of it by Mr.
H. W. Bates, whose memoirs dealing with the matter appeared in the
Journal of Entomology (1861 and 1864) and in the Transactions of
’ One of the genus Leptocireus. Doubleday (Gen. Diurn. Lep., i. p. 23) records this
exception, at the same time inentioning that in the only other known species of the genus
the claws are simple! Blanchard, with evident reference to this case, abandons (Metam. ete.
des Insectes, 1868, p. 160) the idea that the structure of the claws can be employed with
any advantage in distinguishing genera or groups ; but this appears to me to be too sweeping
a decision.
20 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
the Linnean Society, vol. xxiii. (1862).’ Mr. Bates’s later arrangement,
the details of which are given at p. 176 of the Journal of Hntomology
for 1864, will be followed in this work, and the linear order stands
thus, viz. :—
Family I.—NyMPHALIDA,
Sub-Family 1.—Danaine.
2.-—Satyrine.
3.—Brassoline.
4.—Acreine.
5.—Heliconine.
af 6.—Nymphaline.
Family I].—Erycrnipa.
Sub-Family 1.—Libytheine.
. 2.—Stalachtine.
5 3.—LHrycinine.
Family I1J.—Lycanip2.
Family [V.—PapriLionipm™.
Sub-Family 1.—Pilerine.
4 2.—Papilionine.
Family V.—HEspPERIDz.
In this classification the Family characters employed by Mr. Bates
are those above mentioned, viz., the structure of the fore-tarsi in both
sexes, and the mode of suspension of the pupa. For the grouping of
the Sub-Families of the Vymphalide he relies firstly on the development
or atrophy of the lower disco-cellular nervule at the extremity of the
discoidal cell; secondly, on the shape and clothing of the larvee ; thirdly,
on the clothing of the palpi; and fourthly, on the presence or absence
of a pre-discoidal cell in the hind-wings. He divides the three Sub-
Families of the Lrycinide in accordance with the mode of suspension of
the pupa, either freely by the tail only, rigidly in an inclined position
by the tail only, or by the tail and a girdle.” The two Sub-Families
1 Mr. A. R. Wallace, whose opinion is entitled to the most careful consideration, opposed
the removal of the Papzlionide from the head of the Butterflies in his most excellent paper
on the Malayan members of the Family in vol. xxv. of the same Zransactions ; and after I
had, in vol. xxvi. (1869), adduced various structures in which the Papilionide showed their
affinity to the Moths, he argued at length, as late as 1871 (see his Contributions to the Theory
of Natural Selection, 2d edit.), in favour of their being retained at the summit of the Rhopa-
locera, But in his Geographical Distribution of Animals (vol. ii. 1876) I was glad to notice
that he had virtually abandoned his contention, by placing (p. 479) the Family at the end of
the series, next above the Hesperide.
2 In a subsequent paper of great value on the entire Family Lrycinide (Journ. Linn.
Soc., Zool., ix. p. 367, 1868), Mr. Bates gave up this character of the position of the pupa as
distinctive of the Sub-Families, having found that in a species of Hmesis, one of the Lry-
cinine, the pupa was suspended as in the typical Stalachtine. He omits the Libythwina,
and arranges the Family into Nemeobiine, Eurygonine, and Erycinine, in accordance with
the number of branches of the subcostal nervure of the fore-wings, and (in Hurygonine) the
position of the lower radial nervule in the hind-wings. As it is preferable, for purposes of
classification, to depend upon the characters of the imago, it will be well to accept this
amendment, but at the same time not to exclude the Libytheine.
RHOPALOCERA. 21
of the Papilionide are separated by the circumstance that in the
Papilionine the inner margin of the hind-wings is hollowed or curved
inwards, while in the Pierine it is convexly prominent.
The following tabular view of the Rhopalocera, in which only the
characters of the Perfect Insects are employed, may be found helpful in
determining the Family and Sub-lamily to which any given butterfly
may belong.
Susp-OrRDER RHOPALOCERA.,
A, Antenne close together at origin; tibie of hind pair of legs with a
terminal pair of spurs only.
b. Tarsi of first pair of legs imperfect, and the whole hmb much re-
duced in both sexes.
Family L_—Nympnuarip”.
c. Discoidal cell of hind-wings closed.
d. Hind-wings without a pre-discoidal cell.
e. Palpi very short, slender.
Sub-Family 1.—Danaine.
ee. Palpi of moderate length or long, not slender.
J. Fore-wings short, broad; their nervures often swollen at
the base.
Sub-Family 2.—Satyrine.
Jf. Fore-wings much elongated, narrow; their nervures
never swollen at the base.
g. Tarsal claws without appendages, but much enlarged
basally ; head of moderate breadth.
Sub-Family 4.—Acreine.
gg. Tarsal claws with paronychia and pulvillus; head
very broad.
Sub-Family 5.—Heliconinee.
dd. Hind-wings with a pre-discoidal cell.
Sub-Family 3.—Brassoline.
cc. Discoidal cell of hind-wings open or incompletely closed.
Sub-Family 6.—Nymphaline.
BB. Tarsi of first pair of legs imperfect in male, perfect in female.
Family [1.—Erycinipz.
h. Palpi very long.
Sub-Family 1.—Libytheine.
hh, Palpi of moderate length or short.
7. Subcostal nervure of fore-wings with four branches.
Sub-Family 2.—WNemeobine.
vz. Subcostal nervure of fore-wings with from two to four
branches; radial (or discoidal) nervule of hind-wings
intimately connected with subcostal nervure.
Sub-Family 3.—Hurygonine.
22 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
tit. Subcostal nervure of fore-wings with three (in one species only
two) branches; radial nervule of hind-wing somewhat dis-
connected from subcostal nervure, being united to it only by
an imperfect transverse nervule.
Sub-Family 4.—Lrycinine.
BBB. Tarsi of first pair of legs in male wanting one or both claws,
but spined beneath ; perfect in female.
Family I11.—Lycanipz.
BBBB., Tarsi of first pair of legs perfect in both sexes.
Family [V.—PapiLionip&.
k. Tarsal claws bifid; inner margin of hind-wings prominently
rounded.
Sub-Family 1.—Pvrerine.
kk. Tarsal claws simple; inner margin of ‘hind-wings hollowed ;
tibie of first pair of legs with a small process on their inner
edge,
Sub-Family 2.—Papilionine.
AA. Antenne wide apart at origin; tibie of hind pair of legs with an
additional pair of spurs rather beyond the middle.
Family V.—HeEsPerip&.
3. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.
Taken as a group, Butterflies may be described as of almost uni-
versal distribution over the earth, there being scarcely any known spots *
(except in the Antarctic lands and islands) where in the summer, at
least in favourable years, some species do not occur. In the highest
northern latitudes yet explored various kinds have been met with, even
Grinnell Land, in the extreme north of America (between lat. 78° and
83°), having yielded five species belonging to three families.” The
most southern known station of Butterflies is at the other extremity of
America, several kinds inhabiting Tierra del Fuego, on the shore of the
Strait of Magellan. These remote outposts are, however, highly un-
favourable to butterfly existence, which finds its highest development
in the Tropical Regions, and, speaking generally, thins out and wanes
in proportion to distance from the equatorial belt. In the same way,
as a broad rule, these insects become scarcer as a higher altitude is
reached, although there are many peculiar and abundant alpine forms;
and where flowering vegetation dies out, the limit of the actual habitat
of Rhopalocera is found, seeing that the larvee are exclusively, and the
1 Tceland is perhaps one; Dr. Staudinger, the well-known lepidopterist, having found no
butterflies among the thirty-three species of Lepidoptera he collected in that island. But I
believe he only collected during a single season ; and several butterflies have been reported
as inhabiting Iceland.
* See M‘Lachlan’s Report on the Insects collected on the Arctic Expedition of the
“ Alert” and “ Discovery” in 1875-76 (Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool., xxv. p. 98, 1878).
RHOPALOCERA. 23
perfect insects almost exclusively, dependent on the higher plants for
food. It is very noteworthy that the Butterflies met with at great
altitudes are of the same genera, and sometimes even of the same
species, as those found in the highest latitudes; and this intimate
alliance of high alpine and circumpolar forms points with unmistak-
able significance—as in the parallel case in plants—to the long pre-
valence of the last cold period or glacial epoch."
Of the five Families of Butterflies, the Nymphalidw, Lycenide, and
Papilionde are the most widely and generally distributed; but two
Sub-Families of the first of these, viz., the Heliconine and Brassoline,
are peculiar to Tropical America (Neotropical Region), and the Sub-
Family Papilionne of the third is very poorly represented in Europe
and temperate Asia (Palearctic Region) and in North America. The
Erycinide have one Sub-Family, the Libythwine, which (though con-
sisting of but one genus and twelve species) ranges over the globe—
without penetrating, however, into the coldest parts; but while the
Nemeobtine have a few representatives scattered about the world, the
great majority of them is Neotropical; and the remaining Sub-Families,
Hurygonine and Erycinine, are confined to America, where but very
few of the latter exist north of Mexico, by far the larger part and all
the Hurygonine being limited to the tropical (chiefly Brazilian) lands.
The Hesperide, although very much more generally spread than the
Erycinide, still find their metropolis in the wonderfully rich Neotropi-
cal Region, twenty of the thirty-three genera recorded from there being
peculiar to it, and several of those genera containing very numerous
species. Two Sub-Families of the Nymphalide, the Danaine and
Acreine, may also be regarded as by no means of general distribution,
because, although both have a very wide range of longitude, and the
former group sends a few stragglers into the Nearctic and Palearctic
Regions, they are almost wholly tropical and sub-tropical in their range ;
the Danaine prevailing in the Neotropical and Oriental Regions, and
the Acrwine in Africa and its islands (Ethiopian Region).
Tropical America is undoubtedly by far the most productive region
for Rhopalocera. Some idea of its riches may be formed from the
facts that at Para, at the mouth of the Amazons River, a year’s collect-
ing yielded Mr. Bates about 600 species; and that in four years, at
Hga, on the Upper Amazons, he obtained 550 species, Para has
1 As the climate in either Northern or Southern Hemisphere grew continuously colder, it
seems clear—as so many able naturalists have pointed out—that there must have been a
gradual retreat towards the equator of animals and plants of temperate latitudes, accom-
panied by a simultaneous advance in the same direction of the organisms characteristic of
the frigid zone. The geological evidence shows how very severe cold prevailed over the
present temperate latitudes ; and it is reasonable to suppose that, when at length gradually
rising temperature set in, and the organisms unfitted for a warm climate had to retreat in
the direction of the pole, many animals and plants existing at the base or on the foot-hills of
mountains would, as time went on, find their refuge at hand on the higher elevations, and
finally remain isolated there, while their kindred were driven to higher latitudes, and sup-
planted in temperate lowlands by the advancing forms from nearer the equator.
24 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
actually produced no less than 700 species. Mr. Wallace notes
(Geogr. Distrib. of Animals, ii. p. 14) that no less than about 200
genera, or not far short of half the total number (431) of known
genera, are peculiar to the Neotropical Region; and Mr. Kirby’s Cata-
logue shows that more than half the entire number of known species
have been found within its limits. The Oriental Region, consisting of
Tropical Asia and the Indo-Malayan Archipelago, holds the second
place, and yields an immense variety of forms,—Mr. Wallace observing
that a few months’ assiduous collecting in any of the Malay islands
will produce from 150 to 250 species, and that thirty or forty species
may be obtained any fine day in good localities (Zropical Nature, &c.,
p- 74, 1878). Africa, so far as we know at present, is, in comparison
with the two regions just mentioned, very poor; the whole number
recorded for the Ethiopian Region (which extends to the Tropic of
Cancer northward, and includes Madagascar and various groups of
small islands) by Mr. W. F. Kirby? being but little over a thousand
species. The Australian Region would be less productive than the
Ethiopian were the continent of Australia alone to be considered, its
poverty in butterflies, except in the north and north-east, being most
surprising; but when with Mr. Wallace we add the very rich Austro-
Malayan islands, the number and variety are greatly augmented,—
New Guinea, the Moluccas, and Celebes yielding a long series of
splendid forms. The Palearctic Region, notwithstanding its enormous
area, lies wholly beyond the Tropic; and although its western half
(Europe and the Mediterranean basin) has been incomparably better
searched than any other division of the globe, it has not yielded more
than about five hundred species.”
The Nearctic or North American Region, in strange contrast to the
Neotropical, is no richer than the Palearctic one, except in the fact
that, while the number of known species in the two regions is about
the same, the area of the Nearctic is estimated at less than half that
of the Palearctic Region. Generically, all the forms of the former are
represented in the latter region.
Oceanic islands are particularly poor in Rhopalocera, whether lying
in tropical or temperate latitudes, and in this respect—as, indeed, in
regard to their entire fauna and flora—exhibit (as Darwin, and espe-
cially Wallace, have shown) a marked contrast to both recent and
ancient ‘ continental” islands, viz., those which have at some time
been connected with a continent. All the isolated Atlantic islands,
and many of the very numerous Pacific ones, are cases in point, the
few butterflies they possess being unmistakably, for the most part,
chance settlers from other lands—usually the nearest continent—or
1 Tn his most careful and invaluable Synonymic Catalogue of Diurnal. Lepidoptera
(1871), and Supplement (1877).
2 Dr. Staudinger’s very thorough Catalog der Lepidopteren des Europeischen Faunen-
gebiets (1871) gives 456 species arranged in 44 genera.
RHOPALOCERA. 25
their slightly modified descendants. But there is no case of the kind
so striking as that of New Zealand, which, though 1200 miles distant
from Australia, lies wholly in temperate latitudes (between 33° and
53 8.), is in extreme length 1100 miles, and has an area not much
less than that of Great Britain and Ireland, but has not hitherto
yielded more than sixteen species, of which, as Mr. A. G. Butler points
out, six are probably of Australian origin, and one is a recent intro-
duction from America. ‘This extraordinary scarcity is the more appa-
rent when it is remembered that the British Isles, one of the very
poorest countries in Hurope for butterflies, have sixty-three undoubt-
edly native species.
The total number of Rhopalocera now known to science must be
between ten and eleven thousand. Mr. W. F. Kirby’s Synonymic Cata-
logue, published in 1871, included about 7700 species, and his Sup-
plement of 1877 enumerated nearly 1800 additional forms brought:
to light during the intervening six years, making together about
9500 species. ‘Taking the five families in the order of their respective
numbers, it is found they stand as follows, viz.:—1. Nymphalidae,
4040; 2. Lyceenidw, 1550; 3. Hesperrde, 1550; 4. Papilhonide,
1400; 5. Lrycuude, 900. The continual discovery of new species
is not likely to change this order of numerical relation between the
families; but almost certainly the ranks of the smaller members of
the Lycenide and Hesperide will be largely augmented, and the great
disparity in numbers between those families and the Nymphalide
proportionately reduced. When the twelve Sub-Families are placed
according to the number of species they respectively contain (the Lycw-
nide and Hesperide are excluded from this series, not being divided
into Sub-Families), they stand thus, viz. :—
1. Nymphaline, . . 1980] 7. Nemeobiine, ; a7
2. Satyrine, : . ro4o| 8. Heliconina, . ‘ < a50
3. Pierine, ; ; . goo} g. Acreinz, . : . Ifo
4. Danaine, ; : . 680] 10. Eurygonine, . : : go
5. Erycinine, . ; . 650/11. Brassoline . : 70
6. Papilionine, . . . 510/12, Libytheine, . : ; II
The Ethiopian Region, of which extra-tropical Southern Africa
constitutes a characteristic zoological province or ‘‘ Sub-Region,” has
all the families and eight of the twelve sub-families, the four of
the latter that are not represented being the Heliconine and Brassoline
among the Nymphalidw, and the Hrycinine and ELurygoninw among
the Hrycinidw. South Africa is poorer by one sub-family than the
Region, having hitherto yielded no representative of the Nemeobiine.
4. DIFFERENCES PRESENTED BY THE SEXES.
With very few exceptions, the male is smaller than the female, and
his wings are comparatively narrower, the fore-wings often being more
1 Trans. Wellington Philos. Soc., 1878, p. 263.
26 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
pointed. The abdomen of the male is more slender and compact, and
laterally compressed, while the thorax is relatively larger and thicker.
The more atrophied condition of the fore-tarsi in the male of three of
the five Families has been already treated of; in contrast to those of
the female, the fore-tarsi are especially noticeable for their imperfect
development in the male Lrycinide. This sex is also distinguished in
many genera by various badges on the wings, consisting of a small sac
(Danazs), smooth patches of peculiarly arranged scales (Zuplaa), streaks
of short appressed hairs along the nervures (Avgynnis, some species of
Papilio), or tufts of hair (Callidryas, Mycalesis)."_ The prehensile or
clasping organs at the extremity of the abdomen, although not very
apparent externally (except in the Papilionine, where the outer valves
are conspicuous), are of remarkable development and complexity; and
in all cases where the sexes are much alike in general appearance they
afford with a little pressure a certain means of determining the male.”
Many of the Danainw (genera Danas, Huplea, Amauris, Lycorea, Ituna)
possess, in the same region of the body, a pair of elongate organs
provided with a dense terminal fascicle of radiating hairs, which do
not appear to be often exserted, and which I have found only in the
males. Where there is much difference in colouring, it is almost
always the male that is the more brilliant in hue, most of the notable
exceptions being cases in which the female has been modified in pro-
tective resemblance to some species of another group. In the Danaine,
the Heliconine, a large number of the Satyrine and Nymphaline, most
Papilionine and some Lycwnide, the sexes are alike, or differ merely
in the female being somewhat duller than the male, and the same may
be said of most of the Hesperide. Among the Acreine, on the con-
trary, it is rare to find a species whose sexes are alike. It must be
noted, however, that in the cases of widest dissimilarity between the
sexes, it is almost invariably only the wpper surface of the wings that
exhibits so great a contrast, the under surface presenting very slight,
if any, differences.” The manifest reason of this is that, with scarcely
an exception, the colouring of the under side (exposed when the butterfly
1 These are regarded as scent-organs by Fritz Miiller and some other observers ; but I
have not seen proof of this view adduced, and am disposed, with Mr. Bates, to regard them
as “an outgrowth of the male organisation,” without special function.
2 These accessory male organs have been carefully investigated by Dr. F. Buchanan
White throughout the European Butterflies, and by Mr. P. H. Gosse in the genus Papilio
from all parts of the world. In the allied group of Trichoptera, Mr. R. M‘Lachlan has
found in the homologous parts good classificatory characters ; but the astonishing differences
which they exhibit in closely-allied species of the genus Papilio (e.g., P. Demoleus of Africa
and P. Erithonius of India, or the African P. Nireus and Bromius) render them apparently
of little value for systematic arrangement. See Trans. Linn. Soc., Zool., 2d Series, vol. i.
p- 357, and vol. ii. p. 265 (1877 and 1883).
3 This is practically a character of the greatest assistance to the collector and student,
enabling him to identify the sexes of a species in numberless instances where, if both
surfaces of the wings had greatly differed, it would have been impossible to arrive at any
satisfactory conclusion.
RHOPALOCERA. 27
is at rest) is more or less protective, from its obscurity or its resem-
blance to the tints of the customary surroundings.
In two genera of butterflies, viz., Acrwa of the Sub-Family Acrwine,
and Parnassius of the Sub-Family Papilionine—which are very remote
from each other in almost every respect except their semi-transparent
wings—the females exhibit a very remarkable and quite peculiar
structure, in the form of a horny pouch or sac, attached to the under
side of the abdomen. In Acrwa this appendage is on the penultimate
segment, and is of moderate size, being best developed in A. Neobule
and A. Horta; but in Parnassvus it is much larger, and in P. Delius
is widely open posteriorly, and occupies the whole under side of the
abdomen. ‘The use of this pouch—which is often detached and lost
during life—has not been satisfactorily determined.
A curious difference between the sexes is presented in several genera
of Lycenide,—such as Lumeus, Myrina, Deudorix, and Capys,—where
the palpi of the female are considerably longer than those of the male.
The same character is noted by Westwood Gn Gen. Diwrn. Lep.) as
occurring in three genera of Hrycinide, viz., Alesia, Nymphidium, and
Arioris.
It occasionally happens that the male and female characters are
combined in one and the same individual butterfly, and, where the
secondary sexual differences are very marked, the appearance of such
an example is very singular. Boisduval (Sp. Gen. Lep., 1. p. 27) men-
tions eight species of which so-called ‘‘ hermaphrodite ” individuals had
been noticed by authors, and a good many other cases have been re-
corded. A recent instance in South Africa is that of a specimen of Lyceena
Telicanus (Var. pulchra, Murray), taken near Grahamstown by Mr. F.
Billinghurst, in which the wings of the right side are of the female
pattern and colouring, while the left-hand wings are of those of the male.
5. LZAUNTS AND HABITS.
The dependence of Butterflies on vegetation (especially in their
caterpillar state), and their need of shelter from high winds, explain
how it is that they chiefly abound in wooded districts. Sunshine, a
still atmosphere, and flowers are the surroundings most favourable to
the great majority of them: in exposed spots, when the weather is
boisterous, nearly all species are helplessly driven before the gale, and
they speedily succumb to combined cold and rain. There exists, of
course, a large number of species found in open country, and many are
peculiar to such tracts (especially in mountain stations), but forest-clad
lands are incomparably richer. Only a few butterflies, however, inhabit
the depths of woods, the great gathering of them being on the out-
skirts, or where the forest is broken by open spots and the sunshine
has access. In South Africa, the richest collecting-ground is the
wooded coast of Kaffraria, Natal, and Zululand, and the country about
Delagoa Bay seems almost equally productive.
28 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
The food of these insects in their perfect state consists mainly of the
honey of flowers, and this renders them of great importance to the
world of plants; their downy heads and bodies, and in some cases their
long trunks, conveying the pollen to the stigma of the flowers which
they visit. Hermann Miiller has well indicated (Befruchtung der Blu-
men, Engl. transl, 1883, p. 594, &c.) how exactly and reciprocally
many flowers and butterflies are thus adapted to serve each others’
purposes, especially in the Alps, whose exceptionally brilliant flora
appears to lay itself out, as it were, to attract the Rhopalocera, which
are more numerous at considerable altitudes than any other group os
diurnal insects. Many other liquid substances, however, prove attrac-
tive to butterflies,—water, the juice of fruits, sap of trees and other
plants, and even animal excreta, blood, and decomposing matter attract-
ing various species.. It is not uncommon to find small clusters or
groups of various species drinking at damp sand or mud on the edge
of water; and observers on the great tropical rivers never fail to notice
the brilliant effect of the larger assemblies of this description there
prevalent. The butterflies that affect the stronger drinks above men-
tioned are chiefly members of the Sub-Family Vymphaline, some of
which (the genus Charazes, for instance) appear never to visit flowers ;
but several Lyceenide and some of other groups are found indulging in
the same liquids, especially at the sap exuding from the wounds in
trees. ‘The compound of sugar and beer used by collectors to attract
nocturnal moths proves also very seductive to butterflies with the tastes
described, and may be used with considerable effect in bringing some
of the high and rapid flyers within reach. There are, again, a good
many species that appear to take little or no food in their imago state ;
such are various Satyrinw and Lycwnide, and apparently nearly all the
Erycinide, of which latter Mr. Bates observes* that very few species
frequent flowers, though he mentions that some were noticed imbibing
the moisture from damp sand.°
The flight of butterflies varies very greatly in speed, height, and
duration. The Danainw, Acrwine, and Satyrine are nearly all slow
flyers, and the latter are erratic and wavering, and seldom rise far
above the herbage. The Hrycinidw, Lycenide, and Hesperrde—espe-
cially the latter—are all characterised by the shortness of their flight,
though they show every degree of speed. Most of the Pierinw are very
active insects, and they exhibit the peculiarity of travelling onward in
one direction, instead of fluttering about particular spots. Nearly all
1 Oberthiir has observed (Etudes d’Entomologie, i. p. 17, 1876) that the beautiful Zeracolus
Charlonia (Donzel) of Northern Africa seemed to be attracted by the sweat of horses; and
Mr. H. O. Forbes records (Naturalists Wanderings in Eastern Archipelago, p. 138, 1885)
that in Sumatra Huplea Ochsenheimeri settled numerously on the perspiring bodies of the
natives and on his own hands; and that another large butterfly, Cynthia Juliana, was also
often caught at the bodies of the natives.
2 Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool., ix. p. 369 (1868).
3 Naturalist on the Amazons, 2d edit., p. 331.
RHOPALOCERA. 29
the Papilionine have a powerful sustained flight, and some soar to a
considerable elevation. For habitual high flight certain groups of
Nymphaline, represented by the genera Morpho and Charazes, are most
noticeable, those of the latter group being also immensely rapid on
the wing. The males are in all butterflies the stronger and more
frequent flyers; but this difference is less pronounced in the Vympha-
line than in the other divisions. In South America, as Mr. Bates and
Mr. Wallace inform us, the males of many Nymphalinew and Pierine
congregate in sunny open places in the forenoon, while the females
remain retired in the forests, to which the males resort in the afternoon.
In the South African woods I have noticed that the fine pale-yellow
males of Papilio Cenea follow a set course during all the forenoon,
sometimes sporting with each other, or stopping on their way to visit
flowers, but not diverging far from the circular track they pursue.
The females, however, keep near the ground and fly but slowly, often,
too, remaining motionless for a long time in some shady spot.’ Colonel
Bowker and Mr. W. D. Gooch have noticed the same habits in the
grand Papilio ophidicephalus. The males of many butterflies are very
combative, not only in rivalry with those of their own species, but with
members of wholly different families. I have observed this chiefly
with members of the Nymphalinw, Lyceenidw, and Hesperide ; and it
has often amused me to see a pugnacious little ‘“‘ Copper ” or ‘‘ Skipper ”
take up his station on some tall flower, and persistently drive off all
other visitors. Having no offensive weapons, butterflies’ encounters
do not lead to more serious results than the impairing of their beauty
to a small extent; but they sometimes show much pertinacity in their
conflicts. Captain Harford sent me, through Colonel Bowker, in 1879,
two males (differently coloured) of Acrwa Encedon, which he had
observed struggling together on the ground for a long time; and Mrs.
Barber informs me that even the females of Acrwa Horta contest with
much fury the possession of a leaf on which to deposit their eggs.
From certain observations of Colonel Bowker in 1882 at D’Urban,
Natal, on the Diadema Misippus, it appears that this determined
defence by the male of a particular station is in some cases due to the
fact of there being in the immediate vicinity the chrysalis of a female
just about to disclose the perfect insect; and this is confirmed by Mr.
W. H. Edwards’ notes on Helwonia Charitonia in the Southern United
States, and the Rev. W. D. Cowan’s on Papilio Demoleus in Mada-
gascar.”
The carriage of the wings when at rest varies a good deal among
butterflies, and is not always the same during a mere temporary sus-
pension of activity and during prolonged repose. ‘The erect position
of all four wings is the most general, and prevails among the Vym-
1 Mr. J. P. Mansel Weale notes (Trans, Ent. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 132) that in the later
afternoon the females show themselves more, and are then hotly pursued by the rival males.
2 See Proc. Lint. Soc. Lond., 1882, p. iv.
30 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
phalide, Lycenide, Prerine, and many Hrycinide ; but most of these,
when temporarily settled, open and shut the wings, or keep them a
little apart. The Papilionine usually settle with wings erect, but are
fond of resting with the wings expanded, in such a way that the hind-
wings are more or less covered by the fore-wings; and they have further
the peculiar habit, when visiting flowers, of keeping the wings in rapid
vibration. The Lycenide universally, when settled temporarily, pro-
ceed to move the erect or half-erect hind-wings alternately up and
down.’ 69 ; : ; 6
Species . ; - 380 : : 165
Though the proportion of peculiar genera is thus little more than
one-twelfth of the entire number represented, it should be noted that
no fewer than twenty-one other genera—making twenty-seven in all,
or rather over two-fifths—are confined to the African Region. Simi-
larly, while but slightly above half the species appear to be endemic,
yet only thirteen,’ or about one-twenty-ninth, are known to extend
beyond the Region. .
The genera which are not known to extend into Tropical Africa are the
following, viz., two in the Family Vymphalide (Sub-Family Satyrine),—
Meneris (one species) and Cenyra (one species); and four in the Family
Lycenide,—Capys (one species), Arrugia (three species), D’ Urbana
(three species), and Deloneura (one species).
There are seventeen Tropical-African genera besides Abisara, of
which no South-African representatives are known, viz., (Satyrine)
Bieyclus, Heteropsis ; (Nymphaline) Tera, Elymnias, Discophora, Dole-
schallia, Ergolis, Enotrea, Cyrestis, Aterica, and Philognoma ;* (Lyccn-
ide) Phytala, Epitola, Miletus, and Hewitsonia ; and (Hesperide) Cera-
trichia and Carystus. The rich Tropical genera Huryphene, Hupheedra,
1 These are Danais Chrysippus, Atella Phalantha, Pyrameis Cardui, Hypanis Ilithyia,
Diadema Misippus, Melanitis Leda, Ypthima Asterope, Lycena Betica, L. Lysimon, L.
Trochilus, Terias Hecabe, Pieris Mesentina, and Teracolus Eris.
* Varanes, Cram., seems properly referable to Charazes,
RHOPALOCERA. AI
and Harma (all Nymphaline) are each represented by a single species
only.
The following table exhibits, as far as known to me, the total
representation of the Rhopalocera in Extra-Tropical Southern Africa,
and the proportion borne to it by the genera and species which appear
to be peculiar to the Sub-Region :—
SouTH-AFRICAN RHOPALOCERA.
Families and Sub-Families. Total Representation in | Genera and Species peculiar
South Africa. to South Africa.
Genera. Species. Genera. Species.
NyYMPHALIDA—
Danaine : ‘ 2 4 ee
Satyrine . : , : 9 29 2 21
Acreine . , : ‘ 4 24 — 6
Nymphaline 5 ; : 20 61 — 20
—— 35 —— 118 | —— 2 -—— 47
ERYCINIDH—
Lrbytheine. : : ; I I
— I —— I -—... —...
LYCHENIDE . . : : 15 116 4 75
PAPILIONIDA—
Pierine : : j 8 69 wee 28
Papilionine : : ; I 15 Se 7
OA ee —— 65
HESPERIDZ . ; : é 9 61 a 38
69 380 6 195
Omitting the solitary representative of the Hrycinide, it will be
seen that the several Families almost follow their scientific order as
regards their respective numbers of genera and species, the Nymphalide
leading with 35 genera and 118 species; Lycwnide following with
much fewer (15) genera, but with an almost equal number (116) of
species; and the Papilionide and Hesperide succeeding, with the same
number of genera (9), but with 84 and 61 species respectively.
The genera most richly represented are two of the Family Lyceenide,
viz., Lycena (46 species) and Zeritis (28 species), and one of the
Family Papilionide, viz., Teracolus (37 species). The next most
numerous genus is the Nymphalide one of Acrwa, which has 20 South-
African species.
As regards endemic forms, the genera richest in them—apart from
the six genera above mentioned as themselves peculiar to South Africa
—are exactly those which have just been indicated as the most fully
represented in the country, viz., Lycena with 29, Zeritis with 23, and
Teracolus with 22 species, which have hitherto not been recorded as
occurring out of the Sub-Region. As regards genera, the Lycwnide
exhibit, both absolutely and relatively, the greater peculiarity, more than
42 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
one-fourth (4 out of 15) being peculiar, while the Satyrinw have less
than one-fourth (2 out of 9); but in species the latter show a much
larger proportion of peculiar forms, nearly three-fourths (21 out of 29)
being known only from the Sub-Region, while among the Lycenide
rather less than two-thirds (75 out of 116) are peculiar.
There can be no doubt that, with the exception of the eastern
coast-belt, from about the Kei River to Delagoa Bay and Inhambane,
Southern Africa is very scantily supplied with butterflies. Here and
there some more productive spots, such as a river-bank, a flowery
hummock or “ kopje,” or a patch of dense scrub in a ravine, will
occur; but taking the great area generally, notwithstanding its
temperate climate and its wealth in many parts of flowering plants,
butterflies are certainly rare, both in species and in individuals. The
country is, indeed, too bare and dry, and too little wooded, to afford
the conditions of food and shelter most favourable to butterfly life ;
and it is only near the coast of Kafirland, Natal, Zululand, and farther
northward, where the warm Indian Ocean current appears to produce
conditions quite tropical in character, that there is anything striking
either in the aspect or abundance of the Rhopalocera. So accustomed
are we to associate butterflies with flowers, that I well remember how
much the dearth of those insects surprised and disappointed me when
first I contrasted it with the unrivalled variety and beauty of the flora
of the Cape district." A residence of nearly twenty-five years (with
the exception of five intervals of from four to thirteen months on leave
of absence) at Cape Town, during which a great part of my leisure has
been devoted to the subject, enables me to state with some certainty
that the species inhabiting the neighbourhood, including the entire
peninsula and a radius of twelve miles at least to the northward and
eastward, do not number more than: forty-seven. This remarkable
poverty of butterflies is rendered the more striking from the circum-
stance that twenty-nine of the species are small Lycwnide (22) and
Hesperide (7), and that the bulk of the remainder consists of sombre
Satyrine (10) of medium size. The Acrwinw are represented by
Acrea Horta only, and the Nymphaline by none but the ubiquitous
Pyrameis Cardui; and the only other species at all conspicuous from
elther size or colouring are Danais Chrysippus (not common), Meneris
Tulbaghia, Capys Alpheus (very local), Pieris Hellica (the solitary
representative of its genus), Colias Hlectra, and Papilio Demoleus.
Six stragglers occasionally make their appearance in the summer
and autumn months, viz., Junonia Cebrene, Diadema Misippus, Pieris
Mesentina, Hronia capensis, Callidryas Florella, and a species of Tera-
colus; but all are found only rarely and singly, and of the last named
1 T believe that when the Cape flora comes under investigation as regards fertilisation
by insect agency, it will be found that a great proportion of its large and brilliant blossoms
are adapted for the visits of Diptera, and a good part of the remainder for those of Hymen-
optera. ‘The great number of densely hairy flower-frequenting Coleoptera in South Africa
must also play a large part in plant fertilisation.
RHOPALOCERA. 43
I have seen but one example on one occasion. ‘The long isolation of
the present Cape peninsula from the mainland by a wide arm of the
sea between the existing False and Table Bays, where the sandy
“Flats” now extend, is the probable explanation of much of this
poverty of butterfly life; but the violent winds that sweep the whole
tract render it a highly unfavourable station; and it must also be
remembered that, as far as is known, the. entire western and north-
western districts of the Colony are but little more productive in the
Rhopalocera. The “karoo” tracts universally, but especially the more
northern and elevated ones beyond the second mountain range travers-
ing the Cape Colony from west to east, are apparently exceedingly poor
in butterflies, though possessing some peculiar forms of Satyrinw and
Lycenide.
It is only when we progress eastward along the belt between the
first mountain range and the sea-coast, that the Rhopalocerous fauna
finds conditions more and more favourable for its development. Thus,
at Knysna, where extensive forests of large trees clothe a large area, I
collected, during nine months’ residence, sixty-two species; and I have
no doubt that a more prolonged investigation of the district generally
would yield several others. Considerably farther eastward, the Albany
district (especially the neighbourhood of Grahamstown, where Mrs.
Barber and other good collectors have resided) has produced eighty-
three species; and, from the little that has been done at Port Alfred,
at the mouth of the Kowie River, I anticipate that this number will
be considerably increased when that part is attended to by a resident
collector. British Kaffraria (chiefly the vicinity of King William’s
Town) yielded ninety-four species to the researches of Mr. W. 8. M.
D’Urban many years ago, and the rich district of Hast London, when
properly worked, will undoubtedly add largely to the local list. Across
the Kei River, in the wooded valley of the Bashee, Colonel Bowker
collected 117 species, and added several others from the Tsomo (the
principal tributary of the Kei) and other parts of the territory. From
the Bashee River northward, little is on record respecting the native
butterflies until reaching D’Urban, on the coast of Natal, where the
augmentation of their ranks is most remarkable. At this spot, the
Rhopalocera become a constant and beautiful feature of the scenery,
and, from their size, abundance, and beauty, cannot be overlooked by
the most casual observer. I was so much struck with their prevalence,
that, on several days during the summer of 1867, I made a careful
register of all the kinds met with. The most productive day was the
4th February, when, in a radius of certainly not more than three miles
from the town, I captured or determined with certainty no less than
jifty-four species,’ and believe that several examples which I noticed
1 One more species than the vicinity of Cape Town has yielded to careful research by
many collectors, and by myself for twenty-five years, even including the six occasional
stragglers named in the text. Such a “bag” in a single day’s collecting compares well
even with Mr. Wallace’s experience (mentioned above) of the rich Malayan Islands.
44 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
without being able to reach or identify them belonged to species not
included in that number. On the coast of Natal, as far as the Tugela,
I took in a period of ten weeks 134 species; and 206 are now known
to me as certainly inhabiting the tract.
At Delagoa Bay—the richness of whose butterfly fauna has only
of recent years been made known by the late Mr. J. J. Monteiro and
by Mrs. Monteiro—not only do the characteristic forms of the Natal
coast prevail, but there are numerous very fine additions, for the most
part belonging to the Tropical Hast-African series. Such are the glassy
Acrea Rabbaie, the conspicuous green and yellow Huphedra Neophron,
the remarkable Godartia Wakefield, Charaxes Castor, Papilio Colonna,
&c., which do not appear to occur in Natal; while the lovely Crenis
fiosa seems only to have been met with elsewhere at the Victoria
Nyanza, and Pseudacrea Delagow, Charaxes Pheus, Deudorix Dariaves,
Pamphila producta, &c., are peculiar to the district. Swaziland and
the Lydenburg district of the Transvaal have been respectively the
scene of considerable collections by the late Mr. E. C. Buxton and by
Mr. T. Ayres; they are evidently rich in butterflies, but have not
hitherto yielded the striking forms just mentioned as characteristic of
the not far distant Delagoa Bay.
As regards the high-lying interior country, there can be little
doubt that it is very poor. In Basutoland, Colonel Bowker’s assiduous
researches for more than two years produced only sixty-two kinds. I
have no record of the Orange Free State butterflies, but Dr. H. Exton,
a good observer, informs me that they are few and inconspicuous, and
the ten or twelve species I have seen are the same as some of those
inhabiting Basutoland. Griqualand West seems almost equally poor,
except along the course of the Vaal River, where Colonel Bowker and
Mrs. Barber found a good many rather striking forms. The elevated
Transvaal tracts must be richer, judging from Mr. T. Ayres’ collection,
received in 1879, which contained seventy-nine species from the south-
western district of Potchefstroom. The few Bechuanaland butterflies °
that I have examined were taken at Motito, many years ago, by the
late Rev. J. Frédoux; they were identical with species occurring in
Griqualand West. The great adjacent territory, styled the Kalahari
“ Desert,” has not to my knowledge had any of its Rhopalocera brought
to scientific notice; and the conterminous wide tracts between it and
the Atlantic, collectively named Great Namaqualand, are all but equally
unknown; Mr. W. C. Palgrave being the only traveller of my acquaint-
ance who noticed the butterflies among other insects there, and brought
me six or seven kinds, reporting that in the barren country he
traversed they were very scarce.
NYMPHALIDA. 45
Famity I.—NYMPHALID/As.
Nymphalide, Swainson, “Phil. Mag., Ser. II. vol. i. p. 18753 March,
moe fee
Suspensi (excl. Libythides), Boisd., Sp. Gen. Lep., i, pp. 162 and 164
(1836).
Nymphalide and Satyride, Swains., Hist. and Nat. Arrangem. Ins., pp. go
and 93 (1840).
Helicontide and Nymphalide, Westw., Intr. Mod. Class. Ins., ii. pp. 347
(1840).
Danaide, Ageronide, Heliconide, Acreide, Nymphalide, Morphide,
Brassolide, Satyride, and Eurytelide, Doubl. and Westw., Gen.
Diurn. Lep (1846-52).
Nymphalide, Bates, Journ. Ent., 1861, p. 220; 1864, p. 176.
ImaGo.—First pair of legs in both sexes much smaller and more
slender than the others, and too short to be used in walking or
clinging: in the male usually much more reduced than in the female,
and with the tarsus devoid of terminal claws, not jointed, or even
(rarely) wanting altogether ; in the female with the tarsus five-jointed
(the fifth joint sometimes scarcely perceptible), but without terminal
claws.
Larva.—Cylindrical: often set with spines generally; or some-
what rugose, with spines on the head; or tomentose, with the tail
bifid; or smooth, with a few pairs of flexible tentacles.
Pupa.—Suspended vertically by the tail only.
Throughout this great Family, which embraces six Sub-Families,
223 genera, and more than 4000 known species, amid very great
diversity of structure generally, one distinctive character only, viz.,
the greater or less atrophy of the fore-legs in both sexes, prevails
without exception. Functionally impotent in every member of the
group, these limbs are most reduced in the Sub-Families Danaine
and Satyrinw, the extreme in the former being reached in the South-
American genus Sais—the male of which, as Doubleday records,’
has the fore-legs only about one-sixteenth of the length of the middle
and hind-legs—and in the latter in the South-American genus
LIymanopoda and the Old-World genus Ypthima.* In two of the
cases referred to, besides the very small size of the fore-legs, both
tibia and tarsus are aborted, being represented by a small knob,
and in Ypthima even the femur is merged in the small appendage
which alone represents the limb beyond the coxa, The same legs in
the female are in these genera far more complete, but still very small,
and in many of the Satyrinw they are but little more developed than
in the male.
As indicated in the tabular view of the Sub-Order Rhopalocera
1 Gen. Diurn. Lep., i. p. 132.
2 A species of this genus, Y. Asterope, Klug, is a widely distributed native of South
Africa.
46 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
given above, a characteristic point in the neuration of the wings in
this Family is the presence or absence of the lower disco-cellular nervule
in the hind-wings, according to which the discoidal cell is closed or
open. ‘This nervule is well developed throughout all the Sub-Families
except the Vymphalinw, in which the majority of the genera has the
cell quite open, though in many others the closing nervule is distinctly
or feebly exhibited. |
Three of the six Sub-Families, viz., the Danainew, Acreine, and
Heliconine, are readily distinguished from the rest by their elongated
body and wings. In the Heliconide Danaine of South America and
in the Heliconine of the same region, which possess this elongation in
its greatest development, the antenne are also, in general, very long.
The Danaine present an apparently constant distinction in the internal
nervure of the fore-wings, which is very slender and short, and, instead
of having a free course to the inner margin, as in the Papilionine,
ends by anastomosing with the immediately superior submedian ner-
vure. The Acrwine differ from the Heliconine in their much narrower
head, thicker palpi, shorter and more abruptly clavate antenne, shorter
wings, and usually much longer discoidal cell of the hind-wings. All
these three Sub-Families are also characterised by the small develop-
ment of the thorax, which is much shorter and narrower than in the
Nymphaline and Brassoline—in this respect resembling that of the
Satyrine.
The Brassolinw, which are confined to South America, are singular
among the Nymphalide in possessing in the hind-wings a small pre-
discoidal cell, formed (as in the Papilionine) by the junction of the
lower branch of the precostal with the costal nervure. The principal
differences between the Nymphalinw and Satyrinw are that the former
have generally a more robust structure, especially as regards the size
of the thorax and the thickness and rigidity of the wings; their palpi
are more porrect, and clothed with scales more than with hairs; the
fore-legs of the male are better developed ; and the discoidal cell of
the hind-wings is usually open or but imperfectly closed.
When we turn to the Zarve and Pupe of the several Sub-Families,
we do not find that the differences among them are such as to make
the divisions founded upon them correspond closely with the groups
formed from the characters of the perfect insects, but there is never-
theless very considerable agreement between the two arrangements.
Thus the Danaine larvee differ from all the rest in having the skin
smooth, with simply a few pairs of thread-like tentacles or two rows of
small tubercles; while the pupz are very round, short, and smooth,
with a blunt head. The Satyrinw larve are attenuated towards the
hinder extremity, which is usually bifid or forked, and their skin is set
with a stiff sparse clothing of extremely short hairs; their head is
1 The same arrangement of the internal nervure recurs in some of the more robust genera
of Pierine, such as Hebomoia, Eronia, Callidryas, &e.
DANAINZ. 47
usually rounded, but sometimes more or less cleft superiorly, and
occasionally furnished with a pair of spines or horns. ‘The pupe are
more elongate than those of the Danaine, but still thick and rounded,
only a few of them exhibiting any approach to angular prominences.
In these characters, however, the earlier states of the Satyrine very
much resemble not only those of the Srassoline, but also those of the
large and important portion of the Nymphalinew represented by the
genera Apatura, Charaxes, &c. ‘The rest of the Nymphaline agree
with the Heliconine and Acreime in the larvee being thickly set with
branched or bristled spines, but only a portion of the first-named group
have the head armed with spines as well as the rest of the body. The
pup are elongated in both Heliconinw and Acrwine ; they appear to
be almost without angles in the former, and are only bluntly angulated
in the latter; but those of the Nymphalinw with spinose larve are
much thicker, more curved abdominally, and prominently angulated,
with the head strongly bifid.
The Family Nymphalide is better represented in South Africa
than any other, thirty-five genera being recorded, comprising 118
known species. The Sub-Family Mymphaline is by far the richest,
including five more genera (20) and four more species (61) than
those of the three other Sub-Families combined. The Satyrinew
follow with nine genera and twenty-nine species, and after them the
Acreine with four genera and twenty-four species, while the Danaine
present only two genera and four species. With respect to the last, it
should be remarked that their very small number does but reflect the
poverty with which the Danaine are represented in Africa generally,
only fourteen species belonging to three genera being known from the
whole Hthiopian Region. This paucity of forms is the more singular
because these African Danainew are unquestionably protected species,
and no less than nine of the fourteen are known to be the direct objects
of mimicry by butterflies of other groups. ven more striking, how-
ever, 18 the scarcity of the Acrwinw to-the eastward of Africa, only
three species being known from the entire Oriental Region, and only
two from the Australian Region; but not one of these five species is,
so far as I am aware, the object of mimicry, whereas numerous cases of
this occur among the African, and some among the American Acrwinw.
SuB-FaMiIty 1.—DANAIN/.
Danaides and Heliconides (part), Boisd,, Sp. Gen. Lep., i. p. 165 (1836).
Danaide and Heliconide (part), Doubl. and Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep.,
1. pp. 84, 96 (1847).
Danaine, Bates, Journ. Ent., 1861, p. 220; 1864, p. 176.
Imaco,—Head of moderate size, or rather small; eyes oval, pro-
minent, naked; palpi slender, short, divergent, rising but little above
48 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
forehead, clothed with scales and beneath also with hairs—terminal joint
very small and short; antennw rather thick, very gradually clavate,
rather short, or of moderate length in the Old-World genera, but long
or very long in the South-American genera. Thorax rather short and
narrow. ore-wings elongate, and usually produced in apical portion:
discoidal cell always elongate, closed; upper radial nervule united to,
and often apparently continuous of, subcostal nervule—the Ist disco-
cellular nervule being obsolete; lower radial in several New-World
genera penetrating discoidal cell; subcostal nervure 5-branched—the
Ist nervule branching off at some distance before the extremity of the
discoidal cell, and sometimes anastomosing with the costal nervure; in-
ternal nervure very slender and short, uniting with submedian nervure
at a little distance from base. Hind-wings large, obovate, more elongate
in the New-World genera; discoidal cell usually rather elongate,
closed ; costal nervure short, sometimes joined to subcostal nervure for a
little distance from base ; radial nervule usually appearing more associ-
ated with the subcostal than with the median nervure, and in several
New-World genera penetrating discoidal cell; internal nervure well
developed and terminating at, or a little before, anal angle; inner
margin convex near its origin, but not channelled completely so as to
receive abdomen. Jliddle and hind legs rather long and thick; tibia
spiny, with terminal spurs of moderate size. ore-legs very small and
short ; the tarsi in the male reduced to one joint (or rarely two), in the
female usually to four joints, and without any claws.
Abdomen elongate, slender, but usually thickened towards extremity ;
very long in the South-American genera.
Larva.—Moderately stout, smooth, somewhat attenuated towards
the head, with two or more pairs of long fleshy dorsal filaments, or
with two rows of small tubercles.
Pupa.—Short, stout, rounded, smooth; somewhat constricted at
junction of thorax and abdomen. Often wholly golden, or with golden
spots and lines.
The Butterflies of this Sub-Family are well characterised by their
long abdomen and fore-wings, very gradual clavation (in the genus
Festia all but obsolete) of the antennz, very small palpi, and slender
internal nervure anastomosing with the submedian nervure of the fore-
wings. As mentioned above in the notes on the Family Nymphalide,
the atrophy of the fore-legs attains an extreme degree in the males of
some of the New-World genera, tibia and tarsus together being repre-
sented by a single small thick joint; but it is also very well marked in
those of the Old World; and it is to be noted that the same limbs in
the female are often better developed and with more distinct tarsal arti-
culations among those South-American genera whose males exhibit the
extreme atrophy mentioned, than in the case of other (especially Old-
World) genera, where the male fore-legs are not so greatly reduced.
The males of many species of Danais and Huplea present conspicuous
DANAIN AX. 49
secondary sexual characters in the form of small vesicular sacs, or of
smooth differently-scaled streaks or patches on the wings; and several
of the latter genus have the inner margin of the fore-wings greatly
expanded convexly, so as to cover a considerable space of the hind-
wings, and the two opposed surfaces are smooth and glistening, and
coated with scales of different form from those clothing the wings
generally. I believe that the peculiar tufted organs protruded from
the extremity of the abdomen by many species of these two genera,
as well as of Amauris, Lycorea, and Itwna, are also peculiar to the
male.
The South-American (Heliconioid) forms of Danainw are more
specialised, and depart farther in structure and appearance from the
other groups of Nymphalide and of butterflies generally, than the Old-
World forms. In such genera as Mechanitis and Melinwa, the elonga-
tion of antenne, wings, and abdomen is extraordinary; and it is
scarcely less in Methona, Athesis, and Jihomia, which are rendered of
even more remarkable aspect by the great (in many Jthomiw almost
entire) transparency of their wings. The neuration of their hind-
wings exhibits many peculiarities, particularly that of the crowding
together of the costal and subcostal nervures (with the branches of the
latter) close to the costa; and in a good many cases the arrangement
of the disco-cellular and radial nervules differs considerably in the sexes
of the same species.
The maximum of size in the Sub-Family is attained by the species
of the very remarkable Oriental and Austro-Malayan genus Hestia—
semi-transparent white or greyish butterflies, strongly veined and
spotted with black—some of which expand over six inches across the
fore-wings. Many of the Huplew from the same region are also of
large size, and nearly all the species of Danais are butterflies of con-
siderable stature.
Conspicuous rather than brilliant colouring prevails throughout the
eroup, the bands and spots being usually in strong contrast to the
eround-colour; but many of the Huplww have a splendid purple-blue
gloss over their dark-brown white-spotted wings. There are few, if
any, instances of marked disparity in the colouring of the sexes. The
head and thorax throughout the Old-World forms, and in many
of those characteristic of the Neo-Tropical Region, are spotted with
white. |
Africa, as stated above, is singularly poor in Danainw, The great
Hastern genus Huplwa only reaches the edge of the region in two
species inhabiting the Mascarene Islands and Madagascar. One of
these, H. Goudoti, Boisd., was recorded as having occurred in Zululand,
a specimen ticketed with that locality having been presented to the
British Museum by Dr. (afterwards Sir) Andrew Smith ; but no South-
African example has since been met with, and it is almost certain that
the habitat assigned to Dr. Smith’s specimen was a mistaken one.
VOL. I. D
50 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
The genus Danais, also numerously represented in the Oriental Region,
has but two species known to inhabit the African continent, viz., the
very widely-spread D. Chrysippus (Linn.) and a variety of D. Limniace
(Cram.) The ten remaining Kthiopian Danaine belong to the endemic
genus Amauris, very closely allied to Danais.
South Africa possesses only four known species of the Sub-Family,
viz. Danais Chrysippus, and three species of Amauris, two of which
inhabit also South Tropical Africa, while the third, A. Eeheria (Stoll),
has occurred north of the equator at Fernando Po. All these four
species are the direct objects of the remarkable mimicry by butterflies
of other groups which has been mentioned above, and the known cases
of which in South Africa are tabulated at p. 37.
The plants eaten by the Danaine larvee mainly belong to the
Orders Asclepiadacew and Apocynacee ; but according to a note by Dr.
Thwaites (Moore’s Lepid. of Ceylon, i. p. 2), some of them in Ceylon
feed also on species of fig.
Genus DANAIS.
Danais, Latreille, Encyc. Meth., ix. p. 10 (1819), [Part].
Euplea, Fabricius, Syst. Glossat., in Iliger’s Mag., vi. p. 280 (1807), [Part].
Danais, E. Doubl., Gen. Diurn. Lep., i. p. 89 (1847), [Part].
Imaco.—Antenne rather short, about half as long as the whole
body, from 1 to % the length of the fore-wings, gradually but distinctly
clubbed. Fore-wings prolonged in apical region ; apex rounded ; hind-
margin slightly hollowed; inner margin rather prominent in basal
half; first subcostal nervule given off a little before the end of dis-
coidal cell, and ending freely on costa,—second at end of cell,
immediately above junction of upper radial nervule——third midway
between second and fourth,—fourth terminating at apex,—fifth a little
below apex; disco-cellular nervules forming a rather acute angle at
junction of lower radial nervule. Hind-wings rather elongate, but
obtusely rounded; costa nearly straight; discoidal cell rather short,
its extremity widened, obliquely closed by lower disco-cellular nervule,
which forms an acute angle with third median nervule; on lower side
of first median nervule, or between it and submedian nervure, the ¢
with a small pouch or sac, in some species free and very prominent
on the under side. Jore-legs very small, about equal in size in the
two sexes; tarsi in the ¢ one- or indistinctly two-jointed, in the 2
indistinctly three- or four-jointed. Middle and hind legs with tarsi
well spined; the terminal claws long, without pulvillus or paronychia.
Abdomen considerably shorter than inner margin of hind-wings.
Larva.—A. pair of long dorsal filaments on the third segment; a
similar pair of shorter ones on the twelfth segment ; sometimes (as in
D. Chrysippus) with a third pair of moderate length on the sixth segment.
DANAINZ. 51
Pupa.—Thickest abdominal segment with a dorsal and lateral half
ring, ridged and finely tuberculated.
The first (Amauris, Hiibn.) and fourth (/deopsis, Horsf.) sections
of this genus, established by EH. Doubleday (op. cit.), have been separated
by later writers, Danais as restricted including the two sections of
which D. Chrysippus (Linn.) and D. Limniace (Cram.) are represen-
tatives. Besides the different form and slightly different position of
the sac in the hind-wings of the ¢, the sections are distinguishable by
a very different colouring, the Chrysippus group being chiefly ochre-
red with white-spotted black margins, while the Limniace group has
the wings blackish or brown with greenish or whitish stripes and spots
between the nervures.
It is curious that of this genus, containing about forty species and
the most widely distributed of the Sub-Family, only two species should
be found in the whole of the African continent. D. Chrysippus ranges
all over Africa, and is a common species all through the Southern
Extra-Tropical Sub-Region; but the other, a variety of D. Limmniace
which was named Petwwerana by Doubleday (and subsequently Leonora
by Mr. A. G. Butler), representing so decidedly Oriental and Australian
a form, has hitherto only been brought from the Gold Coast and Angola
on the west, and from Mombas and the Upper Nile on the east. It
is very probable that other races of this section of Danais will be found
to inhabit Eastern and Central Africa, and possibly a representative
may extend as far as the Delagoa Bay district.
The dominant American species, D. Hrippus (Cram.), which is
apparently abundant from Canada to Uruguay, is at the present time
ranging widely afield, having of late years appeared in New Zealand,
and even been captured in England. JD. Chrysippus (as will be seen
below) has also an immensely wide, though different, distribution,
extending north and south from Southern Italy to Cape Town, and
west and east from Sierra Leone to Timor.
1. (1.) Danais Chrysippus (Linnezus).
Papilio Chrystppus, Linn., Mus. Lud. Ulr. Reg., p. 263, n. 82 (1764) ;
Syst. Nat., ed. xii, tom. 1, pars 2, p. 767, n. 119 (1767).
Papilio ioe. Cram. aaeap. Exot. pole eexey Ullal By ON) (177.0);
¢ and 92, Limnas ferrug. Chr ysippus, Haba, Samml. Exot. Schmett. bd.
Mh (1806) ; EKuplea Chrystppe, Hibn., "Vez. Bek. Schmett., p. 15,
ny Ot (1816).
Danais Chrysippe, Godt., Encyc. Meth., ix. p. 187, n. 38 (18109).
3, 2, and Vars., Danats Chrysippus, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. p. 88,
i. 56 (1862), and i. p. 333 (1866).
2, Danais Chrysippus, Trim., Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., vol. xxvi. pl. 42,
f. 5 (1869).
Var, A. Papilio Aleippus, Cram., op. cit., pl. cxxvii. ff. 5, r. [3].
Var. B. Euplea Dorippus, Klug, Symb. Phys., dec. v. t. 48, ff. 1-5 (1845).
3, Danais Dorippus, Oberthiir, Etudes d’Ent., iii, pl. 1, f. 5
(1878).
52 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
LARVA AND PUPA.
(Javanese).—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. Lep. EH. I. C. Mus., vol. i. pl. 4, ff
7, 74 (1857).
(South-African).—Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., pt. i. pp. 89, 90 (1862), and pt.
U. pl a di, 3; 3a (1300).
(Cingalese).—Moore, Lep. Ceyl., p. 7, pl. 3, f. 1b (1880).
Exp. al., 2 mm. 8 lin.—3 in. 7 lin.
Dull red-ochre, with whate-spotted black margins. Fove-wing : costa
with a narrow black edging as far as extremity of discoidal cell, where
the black suddenly widens, covering apical portion of wing, and
narrowing again to anal angle,—the inner edge of the black is
irregularly excavate; on costa, before middle, almost invariably an
elongate, small, white mark; followed, a little farther on, by a similar,
rather larger mark, immediately above extremity of discoidal cell,
where there is generally a small, rounded white spot; beyond these, an
oblique row of six more or less closely-connected, somewhat quadrate,
white spots, extends from costa to bend of hind-margin, meeting a
hind-marginal row of from four to six small white spots, situate close
to hind-margin’s edge, about its middle; two white spots at apex, the
outer one close to commencement of hind-margin ; above these two
spots, and a little before them, are sometimes two minute white dots; |
almost always a rounded white spot between third and second median ©
nervules, close to the junction of red and black; and between the same
nervules, immediately beneath the sixth spot of the oblique row, a
similar, rather smaller spot; cw/za conspicuously black and white
chequered. Hind-wing: rather paler than fore-wing ; three ill-defined |
black spots on upper side of discoidal cell,—the largest spot occupying |
extremity of cell; on costa, beyond middle, a narrow blackish mark, |
relieved with white on either side, connected by a black line with a |
moderately broad, inwardly much excavate, black hind-marginal bor-
der, sometimes containing a few white dots near anal angle, more |
rarely a few near apex, sometimes wholly spotless ; ¢ badge black; cilia |
as in fore-wing. UNDER sIDE.—White markings generally like those |
on upper side; apex of fore-wing (beyond oblique white band) and |
whole of hind-wvng, soft, creamy, ochre-yellow. Fore-wing: red darker |
than on upper side near costa, paler near inner margin; black colour- |
ing within the oblique white band as on upper side; a hind-marginal —
narrow black band from apex, containing a conspicuous outer row of |
white spots throughout, and an inner row of smaller spots only bor- |
dering the apical yellow. Mind-wing: base black, containing three —
white spots; nervures and black markings all relieved by a white or
whitish edging; costal spot broader than on upper side, with a con-
spicuous, white, black-tipped spot on each side of it ; before it, on costa, |
a narrower, less conspicuous, but similar, black and white marking; ©
hind-marginal band marked throughout with large and conspicuous |
white spots, arranged in pairs between nervules; spots bordering ©
DANAINA, 53
discoidal cell larger and blacker than on upper side; ¢ badge con-
spicuous, being centred with white. Cilia of both wings as on upper side.
Var. A. (Alcippus, Cram.) ¢ and 9.
Disc of hind-wing more or less widely suffused with white, particu-
larly on upper side.
Var. B. (Dorippus, Klug), $ and 2.
Black and white of apical portion of fore-wing wanting, replaced by
the red-ochre ground-colour ; hind-marginal black of both wings blurred,
and its white spots obsolete on upper side. General colour duller and
paler than in type-form. Disc of hind-wing often suffused with white,
as in Alcippus.
Aberration.—, Exp. al., 2 in. 10 lin.
In fore-wing, the costal spots, the sub-apical bar as far as third
median nervule, and (less completely) the small separate spot at junc-
tion of ground-colour and apical black, wnited into one broad, rather
suffused, white marking, which extends a little into discoidal cell and
narrowly along costa to before middle, leaving a thin black streak
closing the cell.
Hab.—King William’s Town (M. HE. Barber, August 1870). In
the collection of R. Trimen.
Larva.—Pale bluish-grey ; on the back transversely barred with
bright pale-yellow and streaked with black. Yellow bar on front of
each segment from 3rd to 12th (both inclusive), edged with black both
anteriorly and posteriorly, and usually divided mesially by a short
black streak uniting the black edges; three thin black streaks across
each of these segments in its middle and posterior portion, and three
similar streaks also on 2nd and last segments; front of head with
a black horseshoe-shaped streak; spiracular stripe bright-yellow, rather
suffused; legs bluish-grey barred with black. Three pairs of moder-
ately long, black, flexible filaments, springing from the back of the 3rd,
6th, and 12th segments respectively, in each case from near the ex-
tremities of the transverse yellow bar; all these filaments are crimson
just at the base, and the front pair longer than the others. Length,
iin. 6—9 lin.
Food- plants: Gomphocarpus fruticosus and other Asclepiads.
“Near Grahamstown on Gomph. fruticosus, EH. Meyer; in Trans-Kei on
Ceropegia Barberw, Harvey” (M. E. Barber). “ Near King William’s
Town on Stapelia sp.” (J. H. Bowker).
Pupa.—Semi-transparent ; either green or pinkish, and sometimes
of a tint including both hues. A raised golden spot on each eye, at
the base of the wings, and about the middle of the costal edge of the
wings ; also two similar spots on each side of back of thorax. On fourth
Segment of abdomen, dorsally and laterally, a thin blackish tuberculated
ridge, edged posteriorly by a continuous row of golden dots. Attached
to twigs of the larva’s food-plant. Usual period of development into
imago, fourteen to twenty days.
54 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
This well-known butterfly is an abundant species in nearly all parts of
South Africa, but seems much less common near Cape Town than elsewhere.
Its size and boldly-contrasted colours, in conjunction with its rather slow flight »
and habit of frequenting open ground and gardens, render it a very conspicuous
object. Though so indifferent to concealment, I have often noticed that, when
conscious of being pursued, it very considerably increases its speed, and exhibits
very respectable powers of flight. Apart from the unpalatable nature which.
renders it distasteful to insect-eaters, there can be no doubt that the wide pre-
valence of Chrysippus is largely due to the circumstance that its larva affects
chiefly, if not solely, asclepiad plants, which very few, if any, herbivorous
mammals will feed upon.
I have met with the butterfly on the wing from November to May; Mr.
W.S. M. D’Urban noticed it in British Kaffraria from December to July.
The larva is very conspicuous, and lives fully exposed on its food-plants. In
walking, the first pair of filaments is kept in continual slow motion backward and
forward, each filament moving alternately ; but the other pairs are motionless.
I have not found the variable colouring of the pupa to accord with its im-
mediate environment, though I have allowed the larve in confinement free
choice of various convenient surfaces for pupation, with the view of ascertaining
whether there was any relation between the green or reddish tint and the
colouring of adjacent objects. It seems not improbable that this brilliant pupa
stands in no need of special protection, but, like the imago (and apparently the
larva also), is avoided by insectivorous animals.
The African specimens of Chrysippus differ from the Asiatic in their deeper
red ground-colour, narrower subapical white bar in the fore-wings, and (usually)
smaller and fewer white dots in the hind-marginal black borders.
The Variety Aleippus, Cr., with white suffused hind-wings but ordinary
fore-wings, prevails very largely on the Western Coast of North-Tropical Africa,
while on the Eastern Coast, and in Abyssinia, Nubia, &c., the Variety Doruppus
appears to be as common as the type-form.
In South Africa the former is not uncommon, but the white on the hind-
wings is less developed as a rule. Dortppus, on the contrary, is seldom met
with, and the only example I possess was taken by the late Mr. M‘Ken at
D’Urban, Natal. It is a @, considerably larger than Klug’s figure (op. cit.),
with very little sign of the hind-wing’s white suffusion, and much less fuscous
clouding on costa of fore-wing, but with a good deal of the dusky tint over the
basal half of both wings shown in Klug’s Var. ¢ (fig. 5). ||
Mr. A. G. Butler (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1884, pp. 480, 481) has published
Major Yerbury’s notes on D. Chrysippus at Aden, from which it appears that
both the above-named varieties occur there commonly in company with the
typical form, and that the latter and the variety Dorippus were very frequently
taken 7m codtu.
This Danais is very accurately mimicked by the 4 Diadema Misippus
(Linn.), even its varieties Aleippus and Dorippus being copied by corresponding
varieties of the @ Diadema. Less exact but very obvious mimickers are the
form of the @ Papilio Cenea (Stoll), named Zrophonius by Westwood, and
the @ Argynnis Niphe (Linn.) The latter butterfly, so common in India and
China, is recorded by M. Ch. Oberthiir among the species taken in Abyssinia
by the Marchese Antinori in 1877.
The very extensive range of D. Chrysippus is as follows, viz. :—
I, South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a, Western Districts. —Cape Town. Caledon (Genadendal: G.
Hettarsch). Worcester. Robertson. Victoria West (Kenhart:
F. Chittenden). Oudtshoorn (Adams). Knysna and Pletten-
berg Bay. Ookiep, Namaqualand District (Z. Péringuey).
DANAIN/. 55
b. Eastern Districts—Murraysburg (J. J. Muskett). Colesberg (A.
F. Ortlepp). Uitenhage (S. D. Bairstow). Grahamstown. Kowie
River Mouth (J. fry). King William’s Town.
d. Basutoland. —Maseru (J. H. Bowker).
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Butterworth (J. H. Bowker). Bashee River
(J. H. Bowker).
EK. Natal.
a. Coast Districts—D’Urban. Verulam. Tongaati River.
b. Upper Districts. —Pietermaritzburg. Greytown. Estcourt (J. J.
Hutchinson).
F, Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (H. Tower).
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom (7. Ayres). Marico and Upper Limpopo
Rivers (£. C. Selous).
L. South Bechuanaland.—Motito (J. Prédoux).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast. — Damaraland (Otjimbingue: H. Hutchinson) ;
‘‘ Swakop River (Wahlberg) ”: Wallengren). Angola (‘S. Paolo
de Loanda (2. Meldola)” : A. G. Butler). Congo (“* Kinsembo
(HT, Ansell)”: A.G. Butler). “Chinchoxo (Falkenstein)” : Dewitz.
aa. St. Helena.
a1. Interior—Khama’s Country, near Bamangwato (i. Barber).
“ Gubuleweyo and Umvungu (Oates).”—Westwood.
b. Hastern Coast.—Zambesi River (fev. H. Rowley). Mozambique
(“ Querimba” : Hopffer). “ Zanzibar (Rafray).”—Oberthiir.
b1. Interior.—* Victoria Nyanza (ev. J. Hannington.)”’—A. G. Butler.
“ Kilima-njaro (H. H. Johnston.)”—F. D, Godman [Dorippus].
bb. Comoro Islands: “Johanna (C. W. Bewsher).”—A. G. Butler.
Madagascar (Layard). ‘‘ Bourbon”: Boisduval. Mauritius.
“ Rodriguez (Gulliver)”: A.G. Butler. Socotra (J. B. Balfour).
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Fernando Po (Bourke). Gold Coast (Swanzy).
Sierra Leone (Cutter).
b. Eastern Coast.—Somaliland (Cape Guardafui: Heuglin). Abys-
sinia (“Shoa (Antinort))”: Oberthiir; “ Atbara”: A. G.
Butler). Red Sea (‘ Akeek Island and Harkeko (J. K. Lord)).”—
F. Walker. Nubia (‘ New Dongola and Ambukohl”: Klug).
C. Extra-Tropical North Africa,
a. Western Coast.—Canary Islands (Teneriffe : Coll. Brit. Mus.)
b. Eastern Coast.—LEgypt (“ Cairo (J. K. Lord)).”—F, Walker.
III. Europe.
A. Southern Coast.—Italy (“‘ Naples.”—Gagliardi). Greece (“‘ Athens.”
—Doubleday). “ Turkey.”—A. G. Butler.
IV. Asia.
A. Southern Region.—Asia Minor. Syria. Arabia (“Wady Nash
(J. K. Lord)).”—F. Walker. “ Aden (J. W. Yerbury.)”—A.
G. Butler. Persia. India (“ N.W, Provinces”: De la Chau-
mette ; Scinde :—“ Kurrachee”: C. Swinhoe. Madras: E. Ind.
Mus.) ; Darjeeling: E. Ind. Mus.) Ceylon (Layard). Penang:
Brit. Mus. Coll. China (Hongkong: Brit. Mus.)
B, Malayan Archipelago.—Java: Brit. Mus. “ Philippine Islands.”—
A. G. Butler.
V. Australia.
A. Austro-Malayan Archipelago. Ceram: Brit. Mus. “ Timor”: Godart.
56 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Genus AMAURIS.
Amauris, Hiibner, Verz. Bek. Schmett., p. 14 (1816).
Danais, E. Doubl., Gen. Diurn. Lep., i. p. 89 (1847), [Part].
Amauris, Reakirt, “ Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., 1866, p. 240.”
. Butler, Lep. Exot., p. 54 (1870).
ImMaGo.—Characters of Danats, except the following, viz., Antenne
rather longer, with the club more abruptly formed, thicker, and curved ;
palpi with the third joint longer, more porrect. Fore-wings with the
disco-cellular nervules forming a much more obtuse angle (or even a
continuous curve only) at junction of lower radial nervule. Hind-wings
with discoidal cell longer, and wider near its extremity; sexual badge
of the ¢ not a distinct sac, but a double, elongated, shining patch, near
anal angle, divided by the submedian nervure. Abdomen rather longer,
and more distinctly thickened posteriorly.
Larva.—With five pairs of divergent subdorsal filaments, on the
2nd, 4th, 6th, 11th, and 12th segments (4. Echeria).
Pupa.—Gibbous, moderately angulated.
The structural distinctions from Danais are so slight, that, without
the additional characters presented by the larva and pupa, the peculiar
facies of the group, and its absolute limitation to the Ethiopian Region,
I should have hesitated to follow Reakirt and Butler in treating
Amauris as a distinct genus.
The ten or eleven species known are all black or brownish-black,
with extremely conspicuous, semi-transparent, white (rarely ochrey-
yellow) spots and patches. In A. Ochlea, Nossima, and dominicanus,
the white patches are so much enlarged as to occupy half the area of
the wings, but in A. Niavius they are much reduced, and in the others
still smaller and more broken into spots. The hind-wing patch, so
conspicuous and. largely developed in the majority of the species,
becomes smaller in A. Damocles, very small in A. inferna, and altogether
disappears in A. Vashti. Seven of the species (including the three
South-African ones, A. Hcheria, A. Ochlea, and A. dominicanus) are very
accurately mimicked by butterflies of quite different groups (Wympha-
line and Papilionine), and it is probable that the remaining species
will also be found to have their faithful imitators in the countries
where they occur.
Of the three species inhabiting Southern Africa, only A. Echeria,
Stoll, is at all widely distributed, being found in wooded spots very
generally, but not, as far as I know, occurring farther westward than
the Knysna District of the Cape Colony. The very striking and con-
spicuous A. dominicanus, mihi, and A. Ochlea, Boisd., have not hitherto
been recorded south of D’Urban in Natal, All the species of Amauwris
appear to be strictly sylvan in their haunts, but I have taken 4.
Phedon, Fab., in Mauritius, on flowers in gardens at some little distance
from the woods.
DANAIN 2. 57
In flight the members of this genus have a very deliberate, floating
motion, and keep much about one spot. Unless they happen to be
sporting about some elevated branches beyond the collector's reach,
they are usually easy of capture.
9. (1.) Amauris KEcheria (Stoll).
Papilio Echeria, Stoll, Suppl. Cram. Pap. Exot., pl. 29, ff. 2, 2b (1791).
Amauris Echeria, Hiibn., Verz. Bek. Schmett., p. 14, n. 68 (1826).
Danais Vaillantiana, Godt., Encyc. Meth., ix. p. 183, n. 25 (1819).
Danais Echeria, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 86, n. 55 (1862), and
Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., xxvi. t. 42, f. 3 [ oJ, (1869).
Var. A. Euplea Hcheria, Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg. dans l Afr. Aust.,
p. 589, n. 48 (1847). .
», Danais Echeria, Trim., op. cit., p. 87 (1862), and Trans. Linn.
Soe, (oc, ci. b Az. 1, 7 9):
Exp. al., 2 in. 9 lin—3 in. 2 lin,
Deep velvety-black, with pale ochrey-yellow and white spots. ore-
wing: in discoidal cell, a little beyond its middle, a narrow, elongate,
irregularly shaped, oblique, yellow spot; below cell, and in an oblique
line with the last-named spot (but a little beyond it), between second
and first median nervules, a conspicuous, oval, large spot,—the largest
on the wing; at extremity of cell, but above sub-costal nervure, a small
yellow spot; a little beyond, and in a line with it, close to costa, a
yellow dot is the first of a row of four spots, obliquely crossing apical
portion of wing to near hind-margin, of which the second and third
are the largest, and somewhat quadrate in form, and the fourth is near
hind-margin, immediately beneath third median nervule; two small
white spots near apex, that nearest costa being often split into two by
the third subcostal nervule; near hind-margin, a small yellow spot
beneath second median nervule, and another similar spot below first
median nervule; in some specimens, on hind-margin about middle, and
more rarely near apex, a few minute yellow or white dots; fringe
narrow, white dotted. Mind-wing: on costa, about middle, commences
a yellow band, which at first extends to extremity of discoidal cell,
whence it abruptly turns almost at right angles, and in a suddenly
much broadened form, to inner margin, of which it occupies the greater
portion,—it is divided into nine unequal portions by the nervures
crossing it; near hind-margin a row of yellow spots parallel to it,
varying from three to nine in number; d badge on submedian ner-
vure well marked, but smaller than in A. Ochlea. UNDER SIDE.—
Very similar in marking, but paler than upper side. Fore-wing: spots
close to costa, and near hind-margin, white ; row of white dots along
hind-margin clearly defined and numerous, arranged in pairs between
nervules,—two pairs between first median nervule and submedian
nervure; apical portion of wing tinted dark-brown. Hind-wing:
glossed with brown, particularly in hind-marginal portion; two con-
58 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
spicuous white spots at base, close to thorax; inner and outer row of
hind-marginal spots both white and conspicuous, arranged in pairs
between nervules,—between third median nervule and submedian
nervure there are three spots in the inner row, and four in the outer.
Fringes of both wings white-dotted.
Var. A. f and 2 (Albimaculata, Butl.)—All the spots in fore-
wing pure white. Under side paler; the ground-colour of hind-wing
and apical portion of fore-wing pale-brown. Hab. Natal, almost to
exclusion of type-form.
Wallengren (Lep. Lhop. Cafir., p. 20, in Kongl. Sv. Vetens.-Akad.
Handl., ii. pt. iv., 1857) notes a “ Kaffrarian” specimen in Wahlberg's
collection, belonging to this variety, in which the outer hind-marginal
row of white spots on the under side was entirely wanting.
Var. B. ¢.—Spots very small throughout, slightly tinged with
yellow. ind-wing patch unusually small, pale-yellow. Hab. Fer-
nando Po (Lieut. EH. Bourke, R.N.) 7
The species most nearly allied to A. Echeria is A. Egialea (Cram.), a native
of West Africa, known to inhabit Sierra Leone, Cape Palmas, and Ashanti.
Echeria is readily distinguished by the whole of its markings being smaller
and less transparent (especially the spot in the discoidal cell of fore-wing), and
by the small and well-defined yellow band of the hind-wing, the corresponding
marking in Lgialea beginning quite close to the base, and externally very
gradually shading off into the brown ground-colour.
«= A, Phedon (Fab.), inhabiting Mauritius, is also a close ally, but its mark-
ings are, on the other hand, smaller than those of Echeria (with the exception
of the hind-marginal spots, which are larger), and the yellow band of the hind-
wing is totally different, being a rather straight and even bar across outer area
of the wing.
Larva.—Black, with narrow blue and orange longitudinal stripes.
Median dorsal stripe, from 5th to 13th segment, very narrow, bright-
blue; subdorsal lateral stripe interrupted, yellow-orange; spiracular
stripe (superior) interrupted, pale-orange, (inferior) festooned on each
seoment, yellow-orange. Spiracles faintly ringed with light-blue.
Skin slightly rugose. Head smooth, black. ive pairs of rather
short, divergent, subdorsal black filaments, springing respectively from
the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 11th, and 12th segments.
Food-plant not known: two specimens found in clearing bush.
Pupa.—Thick, short, gibbous, moderately angulated. Shining
silvery-golden; the angles and points defined with markings of red
and black.
Attached by the tail only ; imago disclosed on the sixteenth day.
(The foregoing descriptions of larva and pupa are drawn up from
Mr. W. D. Gooch’s notes and pencil drawings of specimens observed at
Little Umhlanga, near D’Urban, Natal, in October 1873.)
Like most of the Danaine, this butterfly is rather gregarious, and the
males are far more frequently met with than the females on the wing. It is
strictly confined to woods and copses, and gardens immediately adjacent to
'
DANAINZ. 59
them. Its flight is remarkably graceful and leisurely, and on calm days higher
than that of Danais Chrysippus, though not nearly so extensive in range. It
is fond of floating across open spots in the woods, flapping its wings twice or
thrice in its course, and then of settling on some projecting twig and remaining
for some time motionless, usually with the wings closed and hanging down-
wards. When in pursuit of a companion, or when itself pursued by the
collector, Hcheria displays the power of much more rapid motion. I have
noted its appearance throughout the warmer months, viz., from the beginning
of October to about the middle of April.
The typical form figured by Stoll is that which prevails in the Cape
Colony and in that part of Kaffraria Proper which is near the eastern border of
the Colony; but I took one specimen at Port Natal in the summer of 1867.
The Variety A., with white spots in the fore-wings (first noticed by Boisduval),
is, on the contrary, very scarce in the Colony—lI only met with one at Knysna—
but becomes more frequent on the Bashee River in Kaffraria, and is the prevalent
form at Natal. Colonel Bowker also met with this variety at Delagoa Bay
in 1878.4
The Variety B. above noted is in colouring much nearer to the type-form,
- and is remarkable as the only West-African: (and indeed the only Tropical)
example of Echeria that is known to me. J examined the fine collection made
on the West Coast by Lieutenant Bourke of H.M.S. Druid in 1873, and he
distinctly recollected the capture of this solitary specimen at Fernando Po.
Without further material it is impossible to determine whether this specimen
represents a characteristic West-African form or is a mere aberration.
Amauris Echeria is of special interest in relation to the mimicry by other
butterflies of which it is the object. It may be said more than even Danazs
Chrysippus to set the fashion in South Africa. The most accurate imitator
is the @ Papilio Cenea, Stoll, small examples of which it is almost impossible
on the wing to distinguish from her model. Almost as gooda mimic is Diadema
mima, Trim., both sexes very closely resembling the white-spotted variety of
Echertia. The 2 Papilio Echerioides, Trim., is also an excellent copy ; while
P. Brasidas, Feld.—an unstable species closely allied to P. Leonidas, Fab.—
presents some variations which very fairly imitate the favourite pattern. Some
examples of the Nymphaline Pseudacrea Tarquinia (Trim.), especially the
females, also indicate a decided leaning towards the prevalent livery.
Localities of A. Heheria.
I, South Africa.
B, Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.—Knysna.
b, Eastern Districts.—Grahamstown (Highlands: J, £. Barber).
D. Kaffraria Proper—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker’).
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts—D’Urban. Avoca (J. H, Bowker).
b. Upper Districts.— Pietermaritzburg (diss Colenso).
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Hf. Tower).
H. Delagoa Bay (J. J. Monteiro, and J. H. Bowker).
II. Other African Regions,
A. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Fernando Po (£. Bourke).
1 It should be noted that intermediate specimens, viz., with only the spots near costa of
fore-wings white, are occasionally captured.
60 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
3. (2.) Amauris Ochlea (Boisduval).
Euplea Ochlea, Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg. dans Afr. Aust., p. 589,
n. 47 (1847).
Danais Ochlea, Trimen, Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 85, n. 54 (1862), and ii.
pl. 2, £. 6 (1366):
Hp. al., 2 in. 11 lin—3 in. 6 lin.
d Black, with a large semi-transparent white patch in each wing,
and smaller sumilar submarginal spots; cilia black varied with white.
Fore-ning : originating before middle, a large oblique, elongate, irregular
patch, divided into three portions by median nervure and first nervule,
extends from subcostal nervure to submedian nervure considerably
beyond middle; at extremity of discoidal cell (but above subcostal
nervure) a small spot; a little beyond it a smaller spot; an oblique
subapical bar of three confluent spots, extending from subcostal nervure
to third median nervule; a submarginal row of four widely-separated
spots, of which the first (near apex), third, and fourth are minute, but
the second (near extremity of subapical bar) is of moderate size and
rounded. Mind-wing: a very large sub-rhomboidal patch, divided into
ten very unequal portions by crossing nervures, leaves a small triangular
space at base, a very narrow costal edging, and a broad apical and
hind-marginal border, widening greatly in anal-angular region, black;
this patch extends to its farthest point between radial and third median
nervule, and is narrowest (and rather suffused with greyish) on inner
margin; a submarginal row of two or three minute white spots, the
first close to apex and the last just below third median nervule; sexual
badge large and conspicuous, the two smooth spaces occupying both
sides of submedian nervure almost throughout its passage across the
black portion of the wing. UNDER SIDE.—Chief white markings as on
upper side; ground of hind-wing and apical portion of fore-wing glossy
ochreous-brown. Fore-wing: two minute white spots close to apex; a
row of four or five white dots along middle part of hind-marginal edge.
Hind-wing: submarginal row of spots increased by several white dots,
of which the last is just above submedian nervure; an outer row of
white dots arranged in inter-nervular pairs along the whole hind-may-
ginal edge as far as submedian nervure; basal space and costal edging
pitchy-black, the former with a small but conspicuous white spot.
2 rather larger than 6, but with the same markings. Hind-wing:
anal-angular inner-marginal region dull brownish-grey. —
This Amauris is in colouring and pattern much like A. dominicanus, mihi,
but at once distinguished by its inferior size and by the oblique median white
bar (instead of white inner-marginal space) of its fore-wings. It is more nearly
related to A. Nossima, Ward, a native of Madagascar, but the latter is also a
much larger butterfly, and its white markings are proportionally so much more
extensive as to occupy in both fore and hind wings the greater part of their
area; the principal white patch of fore-wing occupying the discoidal cell almost
to the base. Another ally is A. Hyalites, Butl, from Ambriz, leading in the
direction of A. Hgialea (Cram.); this butterfly has the hind-wing patch very -
DANAINZ, 61
like that of Ochlea, but may at once be recognised by its presenting in the
middle of the fore-wing two widely separated spots instead of the broad un-
broken bar.
I did not meet with this species while in Natal. Mr. W. D. Gooch informs
me that it appears in very unequal numbers in different years, but is sometimes
numerous. He found it, like A. Echeria, a strictly sylvan butterfly.
Colonel Bowker took nine examples at Delagoa Bay in September 1878,
and described the species as abundant at Lorenco Marques, flying about with
A. Echeria. At Quilimane he noticed it sporting in company with A. domint-
canus. He subsequently (in 1879) forwarded several specimens captured on
the coast of Natal.
Like the other South-African Danaine, A. Ochlea is the object of mimicry
by a Diadema, the imitator being D. deceptor, Trimen, an exceedingly rare
species inhabiting the coast of Natal; but there is no known Papilio which
copies it.
Localities of A. Ochlea.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban (M‘Ken and J. H. Bowker).
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (1. Tower).
H. Delagoa Bay (J. J. Monteiro and J. H. Bowker).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
b. Eastern Coast.—“ Quilimane.”—J. H. Bowker. “ Zanzibar.”—
Boisd.
4, (3.) Amauris dominicanus, Trimen.
Danais Niavius (Linn.), var., Trimen, Trans. Linn. Soc., xxvi. pp. 511,
s2r, pl. 42, £. 6 (2), (1869).
3 2 Amauris dominicanus, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1879, p. 323.
Exp. al., (3) 3 in. 11 lin,—g4 in.; (2) 3 in. 10-11 lin.
Black, with semi-transparent white patches and spots. Fore-wing :
inner-marginal white patch large, roughly semicircular, not extending
to base or anal angle or into discoidal cell; subapical oblique white
bar broad, its extremities not attaining quite to costal or hind-marginal
edges; a very oblique elongate white spot in outer half of discoidal
cell; another (longitudinally) close to costa, immediately before sub-
apical bar; two small rounded spots close to apex; a submarginal row
of 3—4 small spots just below subapical bar, succeeded by a hind-
marginal row of smaller spots. Mind-wing: one large white patch
occupies the greater part of the area, leaving only a narrow basal, a
linear costal, and a broad hind-marginal (much widened at anal angle)
border, diminishing gradually along inner margin to base. UNDER SIDE
similar, but the white markings all larger and with suffused edges—
notably the hind-wing patch, which covers the whole inner-marginal
and anal-angular region, and leaves only a rather narrow brown border
at apex and along upper part of hind-margin. ore-wing: apical
region beyond bar brown. Hind-wing: two small white spots at base.
In the ¢ the nervures are strongly clouded with black, as well as
62 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
the inter-nervular rays, in the large white patch of both wings; in
the ? this character is either wholly wanting or very faintly indicated.
Closely allied to A. Niavius, Linn., but seems constantly to differ
as follows, viz. (1) ws size is bone neraely larger, the West African
form expanding only 34 to 33 inches; (2) the great extent of the white
patches (especially that of the hind-wings, which in Miavius does not
extend beyond the extremity of the discoidal cell) readily distinguishes
it. In the clouding of the nervures and inter-nervular rays the 6
Dominicanus exceeds the 6 Miavius, but the reverse appears to be the
case with the ¢s.
I only on two occasions met with this very fine Amauris, viz., on the 6th
February 1867, in the Botanic Gardens, and on the 22nd, at the Umgeni
Bridge, near D’Urban, in Natal. Three or four examples were floating about
a wooded slope, quite in the manner of A. Hcheria, but none descended within
reach. The late Mr. M. J. M‘Ken at different times forwarded several
D’Urban specimens to the South-African Museum; and Colonel Bowker has
recently, viz, on 2oth November 1880, taken the butterfly in the forest at
Clairmont, near the same place.
A. dominicanus is the austral representative of A. Niavius (Linn.), the well-
known species of Tropical Western Africa, which is recorded from Angola,
Ashanti, and Sierra Leone. It extends, however, far up the Eastern Coast,
Colonel Bowker having taken several examples at Quilimane, and Gerstaecker
(Gliederth.-Fauna des Sansibar-Gebietes, 1873, p. 367) recording two speci-
mens from Mombas.
This butterfly is most accurately mimicked by Euralia Wahlbergi, Wallen-
eren, which is the southern representative of the West-African 2. Anthedon,
E. Doubl., and differs from its tropical ally in exactly the same manner as
A. dominicanus does from A. Niavius. Another imitator is a black-and-white
form of the 9 Papilio Cenea, closely allied to the West-African ? of P. Brutus,
Fab., formerly known as P. Hippocoon, Fab. ; and it is most interesting to
note that while the Western 9 Papilio and Huralia copy the Western Amauris,
the Southern ones closely follow the differing pattern of A. dominicanus.
Localities of A. dominicanus.
T. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts. —D’ Urban.
H. Delagoa Bay (J. J. Monteiro).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
' b, East Coast.—Zambesi (Rev. H. Rowley.) Quilimane (Col. J. H.
Bowker.) ‘“‘Mombas (Dr. O. Kersten).”—Gerstaecker.
Susp-FaMInty 2.—SATYRINA.
Satyrides, Boisd., Sp. Gen. Lep., i. p. 166 (1836).
Satyride, Swains., Hist. and Nat. Arrangem. Ins., pp. 93, 94 (1840), [Part].
* Doubl. ‘and Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep.; i. p. 3527 (1351):
Satyrine, Bates, Journ. Ent., 1861, p. 220% 1864, p: 176:
- ImaGo.—Head small or rather small, always more or less hairy,
often with a distinct frontal tuft of longer hairs; eyes usually naked,
SATYRINA:, 63
put in several genera hairy ; palpi more or less flattened or compressed
laterally, rather long, ascendant, nearly always very hairy beneath ;
antenne usually short and slender, with the terminal club generally
very long and gradually formed, and in some genera scarcely notice-
able. Thorax short and narrow. Jore-wings large and broad, the hind-
margin commonly entire, without angulation or dentation; discoidal
cell rather long, always closed; one or more of the nervures generally
more or less swollen at the base. Hind-wings large, usually rounded,
but in some genera tailed or angulated at extremity of third median
nervule, and in one (Corades, Hewits.) at anal angle; discoidal cell
closed; groove or channel formed by inner margins shallow and incom-
plete, generally leaving the apical half of abdomen exposed. JLiddle
and hind legs rather short and slender; the femora often finely hairy,
the tibie scaly and often spinose, the tarsi usually finely spinose.
Fore-legs very small, or even minute (especially in the ¢); sometimes
altogether concealed by the hairy clothing of the thorax. Abdomen
slender, rather short, seldom more than two-thirds of the length of the
hind-wings.
Larva.— Smooth or (more commonly) pubescent, attenuated towards
hinder extremity, which terminates in two more or less pronounced
points or in a bifid fork. Head superiorly often bifid, sometimes with
two distinct horns.
Pupa.—Moderately long, but rather thick; not or only bluntly
angulated; head rounded or more or less bifid.
The Satyrine are, on the whole, probably nearer to the Nymphaline
than to any other group, being certainly in all their stages not far
removed from Morpho and the allied genera, or very far from the section
represented by Apatura, &c., as regards their earlier stages. The
generally weaker structure, thinner and less rigid wings, shorter and
more slender antennee, very prevalent inflation of the bases of the
nervures of the fore-wing, and constantly closed discoidal cell and
incomplete inner-marginal groove of the hind-wings, are characters
serving to distinguish the perfect insects from the Mymphaline gene-
rally; while the extreme atrophy of the first pair of legs points to a
strong affinity to the Danainw. The relationship to the Mymphaline
is best shown in some of the larger forms, such as the Indian genus
Neorina, Westw., and the South-American JZisiphone, Hiibn., in which
the fore-wing nervures are not or but slightly dilated, and also in the
genera Debis, Westw., and Melanitis, Fab. It is with some hesitation
that I have determined on placing the South-African Meneris, Westw.,
‘among the Satyrinw, looking to its robust structure generally, and its
long and rather thick antennz; but the hirsute palpi and eyes, the
striking development of the ocellated spots of the hind-wings, the
habits of the butterfly, and the characters presented by its larva and
pupa, taken altogether, seem to justify the position so long ago assigned
to this fine insect by Hiibner.
64 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
The known larve of Satyrinc feed on grasses, and are remarkably
difficult to detect, being coloured like those plants, and’ marked with
longitudinal stripes which accord with the lines of growth of the grass,
The singular fact that the larvee of some species of the European
genus Satyrus do not suspend themselves to assume the chrysalis state
is supplemented in South Africa by the case of Leptoneura Clytus
(Linn.), whose pupa has been discovered lying quite unattached on the
ground under a stone.
The Satyrinw are nearly all of middle size, only a fow forms
exceeding, and not many falling below it. Their colouring is for the
most part rather sombre, fae generally of a darker or lighter
shade of brown, very commonly marked with spaces of brick-red or
ochreous-yellow, and usually bearing more or less distinct eye-like
spots (ocelli) in rings of a hue paler than the ground-colour. Among
the more brilliant exceptions adorned with bright or metallic hues
may be mentioned the blue Ptychandra Lorquiniw of the Philippine
Islands; the transparent, rosy- or violet-flushed South-American
Hetere ; the New Zealand Argyrophenga with silvery stripes, and the
New Guinea and Australian Hypocyste with silvery rings on the under
side; and, most splendid of all, Argyrophorus argenteus, from Chili,
whose entire surface is like burnished silver. Silvery centres, single or
double, of the ocellated spots are, however, commonly met with; and
a semi-iridescent gloss over the general surface of the wings is not
uncommon.
The members of this Sub-Family are almost all very weak on the
wing, their flight being wavering and erratic, near the ground, and
never long sustained. I have noticed that the more active of them
are those which do not possess the basal inflation of the fore-wing
nervures so characteristic of the group generally. The haunts of most
of the genera are in open ground, but a good many of the more re-
markable and aberrant forms inhabit woods; some even preferring the
thickest shades, and not voluntarily taking flight before sunset. The
inexhaustible supply of grasses, which constitute the sole known food-
plants of their caterpillars, probably accounts for the extreme abund-
ance of many of the Satyrinw, familiar to every one who has traversed
meadow, plain, or mountain in the summer or early autumn. The
innumerable Satyri and EHrebiew of Europe are represented in South
Africa by the much less numerous species of Leptonewra and Pseudo-
nympha, several of which, however, occur in the utmost profusion of
individuals. The last-named genus is the largest, containing eleven
species, while Leptonewra has seven representatives. Of the remain-
ing seven South-African genera, four—viz., Ypthima, Physcceneura,
Cenyra, and Meneris—have single representatives only, and the two
ee
latter appear to be restricted to the extra-tropical region. Out of |
the twenty-nine recorded species as many as twenty-one seem to be
endemic; six extend into the Southern Tropic; and two have a much
Se
SATYRINZ. 65
wider range,— Vpthima Asterope inhabiting all Tropical Africa and a
great part of Southern Asia, and Melanitis Leda extending throughout
- the Old-World Tropics.
Genus YPTHIMA.
Ypthima, Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep., ii. p. 394 (1851).
Yphthima, Hewitson, Trans. Ent. Soe. end , 3rd Ser., ii. p. 284 (1865),
Monograph.
IMaco.—Head small, hairy in front; eyes smooth; antenne short,
slender, with an elongate, narrow, but distinct club; palpi long, slender,
divergent, thickly clothed inferiorly with long bristly hairs, except the
terminal joint, which is long, slender, and with only a few short hairs.
Thorax short, narrow; downy and hairy beneath. Fore-wings with
apex rather pronounced ; hind-margin entire; costal nervure much,
median nervure slightly, swollen at base; discoidal cell short, broad,
abruptly sub-truncate, the middle and lower disco-cellular nervules form-
ing a slightly-curved continuous line; first subcostal nervule originating
just before extremity of cell, second at a considerable distance beyond it.
Hind-wings much rounded externally, entire ; discoidal cell short, broad,
obliquely truncated at extremity. ore-legs in the d extremely small,
quite concealed among the hair of the prothorax, reduced to one
rounded piece attached to the coxa; in the ¢ small (but very much
larger than in the d), of the ordinary development, slender, scaly.
Middle and hind legs rather short, slender, clothed with scales, the
femora slightly hairy beneath.
Abdomen short, slender.
This genus is mainly Asiatic, seventeen of the twenty-two recorded
species being natives of Asia or the Indo-Malayan Islands. Two of these
(Y. Asterope, Klug, and Y. Nareda, Kollar) extend to Africa, where
they are widely distributed, and two others (Y. Batesiz, Felder, from
Madagascar, and Y. Jtonia, Hewits., from the White Nile) appear to
be confined to the Ethiopian Region. The three remaining species
inhabit Australia or the Austro-Malayan Islands. The only species
that enters the South-African Sub-Region is the very widely-ranging
Y. Asterope.'
The Ypthime are small and dull-coloured butterflies, usually of
an unvaried obscure greyish-brown on the upper side, bearing a well-
marked bipupillate black ocellus near the apex of the -fore-wings, and
from one to six smaller unipupillate ocelli towards the hind-margin of
the hind-wings. The under side is closely hatched with minute, irregular,
short, dark and light lines, and the ocelli on it are usually more con-
Spicuous than on the upper side.
The extraordinary atrophy of the fore-legs of the male, and the
1 Professor Westwood (App. to Oates’s “ Matabeleland,” 1881, p. 350) gives Y. Nareda
as having been taken by the late Mr. Oates near the Victoria Falls of the Zambesi River,
VOL. I. E
66 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
disposition of the subcostal nervules in the fore-wings, combine with
the peculiar facies of these butterflies to distinguish the ‘genus. Their
structure is very weak, and their flight feeble and near the ground,
The larvee and pupze do not ¢ ppear to have been observed.
5. (1.) Ypthima Asterope (Klug).
3 9 Hipparchia Asterope, Klug, Symb. Phys., dec. iii, t. xxix. ff. 11-14
HOs2):
2 eee Asterope, Lederer, Verh. Zool.-Bot. Vereins in Wien, 1855,
t. i. f. 6 [apud Hopffer, op. cit. |
Ypthima Asterope, Hopff., Peters’ Reise Mossamb., p. 395 (1862).
Yphthima Asterope, Hewits., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 3rd Ser., i. p. 283,
TW) 1(0605):
Yphthima simplicia, Butl., Ann, and Mag. Nat. Hist., 4th Ser., xviii. p. 481
1876).
aoe ‘pthima Norma, Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep., pl. 67, f. 1 (1851).
Exp. al., 1 in. 3-8 lin.
Brownish-grey ; wm fore-wing, a large, or rather large, black subapical
ocellus with two bluish-silvery pupils and a well-defined pale-yellowish
iris ; in hind-wing, a subanal-angular similar (but unipupillate), small,
or very small, ocellus. Fore-wing: ocellus in a discal more or less
distinct rounded paler space, defined by a darker encircling streak ; iris
of ocellus externally edged with a dark ring. AHind-wing: ocellus
between first and second median nervules, sometimes minute, but seldom
indistinct; in some examples a faintly-marked submarginal dark line.
UNDER SIDE.—Hoary-grey, finely and closely hatched or striolated with
greyish-brown. Fore-wing: ring of ocellus paler, brighter; dark en-
circling streak well defined inwardly and outwardly, and inferiorly
merged in a good-sized discal brownish-grey patch, free from any
intermixture of hoary-grey, which reaches inner margin and posterior
angle. Hind-wing: besides the ocellus between Ist and 2nd median
nervules (which is usually smaller than on upper side, and occasionally
very minute), there is usually a subapical, quite similar one between
the subcostal nervules, and almost invariably a third very small or
minute one close to anal angle itself; three irregular brownish trans-
verse strize (of very variable definition, and seldom really distinct), viz.,
one (the most ill-expressed) before middle,—the second (usually the
most apparent) just beyond middle, angulated rather acutely on radical
nervule,—and the third (commonly fragmentary) submarginal, and
biangulated on radial and third median nervules.
In a ¢ taken on the Shashani River (Makalaka Country) by
Mr. F. C. Selous, not only is the principal ocellus of the hind-wing
larger than usual on the upper side, but the minute one at anal angle
is represented, and there is a third minute ocellus quite abnormally
situated between 2nd and 3rd median nervules; while in the fore-wing
a very minute ocellus is inferiorly attached to the large subapical one.
CO ——
SATYRINZ. 64
These peculiarities are alike on right and left sides, but are limited to
the upper side.
The largest example (1 in. 8 lin. in expanse) is a 9 taken at Delagoa Bay
by Mrs. Monteiro. This specimen has the ocelli on the under side of the hind-
wing very minute, but the transverse striz better marked than usual.
The Arabian and Syrian type of this butterfly—with which Mr. Butler’s
Y. simplicia from Abyssinia seems very closely to agree—has the ocelli repre-
sented as larger than those of the South-African specimens which*I have
examined, especially in the @; and scarcely any trace is depicted of the
transverse strie of the under side of the hind-wing. This latter feature is
almost always more or less characteristic of the species, the central stria only
being of frequent definition. The only individual in which I have found all
three stria well marked is a g taken in Swaziland by the late Mr. E. C.
Buxton; but a ¢ sent from Delagoa Bay by Mrs. Monteiro (in which the
hind-wing is whiter than usual) exhibits them very fairly, and so does also a
¢ captured by Mr. W. Morant at Colenso, in Natal. As a rule, these stria
are most obsolete, as far as South Africa is concerned, in examples inhabiting
the Cape Colony, and more developed in the countries to the east and north-
east of it. A Cape Coast Castle ¢ in the South-African Museum, which was
taken by Mr. J. Morton Pask, not only has the striz well defined on the under
side, but the central and marginal ones also expressed strongly on the upper
side. The dark discal space below the ocellus on the under side of the fore-
wing is variable in extent, but, as Hewitson (loc. czt.) points out, a constant
distinguishing character of Asterope.
I have not seen the Y. Norma of Westwood, from China; but both
Hewitson and Mr. A. G. Butler (Cat. Satyride in Brit. Mus., p. 148) agree in
regarding it as a variety of Asterope, and the figure in the “Gen. Diurn. Lep.,”
cited above, appears to differ only in its smaller size, darker colour, and want
of the ocellus on the upper side of the hind-wing. Hewitson (loc. cit.) notes
that “there are similar varieties from the Holy Land.”
In 1867 I took a single ? near Greytown, in Natal, in the same spot in
which Physceneura Panda and Cenyra Hebe occurred; its weak flight and
habit of frequently settling on the ground made it resemble those two species.
I also met with several specimens at Klipdrift, on the Vaal River, Griqualand
West, in September 1872; they were flitting among and sitting on the large
stones on the river-banks; and I observed the same habits in others of the
species which, in the summers of 1876 and of 1877, I found near Montagu
and Robertson in the Cape Colony. Robertson is the most southern locality
of this butterfly known to me; but the insect is so very inconspicuous and
haunts such arid rocky stations, that it would easily escape the notice of any
one but a lepidopterist, and may occur in many places from which it is at
present unrecorded. In 1870 Colonel Bowker sent me the paired sexes,'cap-
tured by him at Aliwal North, on the north-eastern boundary of the Cape
Colony ; except in its larger size and less pronounced darker streaks, the 9?
example does not differ from the ¢.
Localities of Ypthima Asterope,
I. South Africa,
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.—Robertson. Montagu.
b. Eastern Districts.—Between Somerset East and Murraysburg (J.
H. Bowker), Aliwal North (J. H. Bowker). Burghersdorp (D.
R. Kannemeyer).
ce. Griqualand West.—Klipdrift.
68 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
|
E. Natal. |
b. Upper Districts—Greytown. Estcourt (J. M. Hutchinson). Colenso |
(W. Morant). Ladysmith, Biggarsberg, and Rorke’s Drift (J. _
H, Bowker). \
F, Zululand.—Isandlhwana and Napoleon Valley (J. H. Bowker). St. |
Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower). |
G. Swaziland (Z. C. Buzton). |
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourencgo Marques (Mrs. Montero). |
K. Transvaal (7. Ayres).
L. Bechuanaland.—Motito (Rev. J. Frédouw).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—“ Damaraland (R. Swakop: Wahlberg).”—
Aurivillius. ‘ Angola (Pogge).”—Dewitz.
b. Eastern Coast.—“ Querimba (Peters).”—Hopffer. Zanzibar (J. _
H. Bowker). ‘‘ Mombas (Kersten).”—Gerstaecker. |
br. Eastern Interior.—Between Limpopo and Zambesi River (7. |
Ayres). Shashani River (f. C. Selous). Zambesi (/. C. Selous).
B. North Tropical.
a. West ance. Calabar.” —Hewitson. Cape Coast Castle (J. WM.
Pasi).
b. East Coast.—Red Sea: “ Harkeko and Hor Tamanib (J. K.
Lord).”—Walker.
br. Eastern Interior.—Abyssinia: ‘‘ Atbara.”—Butler. |
IV. Asia.
A. Southern Region.—‘‘ Arabia and Syria.”—Klug, et auct. “Aden —
(J. W. Yerbury).’—Butler. ‘Java and China (Coll. Brit. :
Mus.)’”—Butler.
Genus CGINYRA.
Cenyra, Hewits., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 3rd Ser, ii. p. 281 (1865).
ImaGo.—Closely allied to Ypthima. Antenne rather longer, the
club less distinct, more gradually thickened, Palpi with shorter, less
bristly hair beneath ; terminal joint shorter, not so acute. Fore-wings |
with costa much arched; apex not pronounced; hind-margin decidedly —
convex ; costal nervure much swollen, but median simple; first sub-
costal nervule arising considerably, second a little, before extremity —
of discoidal cell; in ¢, on submedian nervure, before middle, a large,
elongate, darker patch or badge, set with scattered hairs; discoidal cell
a little longer than in Ypthima, the middle and lower disco-cellular ner-
vules of about equal length, and together forming a strong inward curve.
Hind-wings much rounder, especially at base of costa and at anal angle.
Abdomen considerably longer than in Ypthima.
Mr. Hewitson founded this genus on a beautiful South-African
Satyrine, described by me in 1862 as Yphthima Hebe. The characters
given rightly distinguish this butterfly from the genus Ypthima, and
the curious marking, exhibiting rufous transverse streaks on both sur-
faces, and in the fore-wings two unipupillate ocelli of equal size, instead
of the single bipupillate one of Ypthima, renders the species easy of
——— ee
SATYRINA, 69
identification. Owing to paucity of specimens, I have not been able
to examine the fore-legs of the ¢, but they are evidently very minute ;
those of the 2 agree with the same limbs in the 2 Ypthima.
6. (1.) Coenyra Hebe (Trimen).
6 Yphthima Hebe, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 3rd Ser., i. p. 280 (1862);
Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 205, n. 118, pl. 4, f. 3 [3 var.], (1866).
2 $ Cenyra Hebe (Corycia in plate), Hewits., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,
Brdvoersdl p. 250, pl ty; it, 2 | 2 |) (dos).
Exp. al., 1 io. 4-8 lin.
S Dull greyish-brown ; fore-wing with four indistinct transverse fer-
ruginous strie and two silvery wnipupillate ochreous, yellow-ringed, black
ocellt of about equal size; hind-wing with four or five similar smaller
ocelli. Fore-wing: strie commencing on subcostal nervure,—the first
short, oblique, not reaching below median nervure,—the second (a little
before middle) straighter, longer, reaching to submedian nervure,—the
third short, curved, marking end of discoidal cell, inferiorly joining the
fourth or third median nervule,—the fourth longer, reaching to sub-
median nervure, curving outwardly below ocelli; beyond this last strize
are the two discal subapical ocelli, separated by the third median ner-
vule, and faintly encircled with ferruginous; two submarginal parallel
dark-brown streaks. Hind-wing: the two ocelli between first and third
median nervules, of about equal size, much larger than the rest, which
are very small; submarginal streaks as in fore-wing, but closer to-
gether. UNDER SIDE.—Pale dull-yellowish; the striw conspicuous,
ochreous-red, and marking hind-wing as well as fore-wing; all ocellr
very distinct, with pale-yellow ring, and circled with ferruginous. Fore-
wing: swelling of costal nervure edged with ochreous-red; submar-
ginal streaks very distinct. Hind-wing: five transverse strie, viz.,
the first, third, and fifth (respectively close to base, before middle, and
about middle) quite across from costa to inner margin; the second (in
cell near base) and the fourth (closing discoidal cell) short and thin,—the
fourth inferiorly joined to the fifth on third median nervule; six ocelli,
of which the first, between subcostal nervules, is the largest, and the
second, third, and sixth smaller than the remaining two; submarginal
streaks very distinct.
2° (from Hewitson’s figure and description, loc. cit.) Paler and
duller ; transverse strie darker, more suffused,—the third and fourth
indistinctly present on upper side of hind-wing; ocelli of hind-wing
larger, especially the two upper of the four.
Var. A. (gf and 2). [f fig. Rhop. Afr. Aust.]—Z much paler ;
the strice orange-red, and some of them much enlarged inferiorly ; ocelli
all in pale-yellow (rather dull) rings, and circled faintly with dusky-
brownish ; hind-margins tinged with dusky-brownish. ore-wing: the
70 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
second and fourth stria much widened inferiorly (especially the fourth), |
and sometimes confluent below first median nervule; inner-marginal
badge fuscous, conspicuous. Hind-wing: the fifth stria occasionally
indistinctly represented, dull-reddish ; ocelli above third median nervule |
rarely obsolete; in one example the fifth (subapical) ocellus is repre-
sented. UNDER SIDE.—The striw arranged as in type-form, but much
enlarged (especially the 2nd and 4th in fore-wing and the 3rd and 5th
in hind-wing) ; better defined, and of brighter red than on upper side ;
all the ocelli very distinct in clear pale-yellow rings, narrowly encircled
with fuscous-brown.
2. Paler; red striz brighter and better marked superiorly in fore-
wing, and the three outer of them well represented in hind-wing; ocelli |
larger, especially in hind-wing, where the first (subapical) and sixth
(subanal-angular) are more or less distinctly represented. UNDER SIDE.
—Quite as in f, but markings, if anything, rather brighter and better
defined.
(A g aberration, taken by Colonel Bowker in the Bashee River, has
the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th striz of the fore-wing on both upper side and
under side, and the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strize of the hind-wing on the
under side, completely confluent throughout, so as to form a broad
fascia.)
Hab.—Hastern Cape Colony and Kaffraria Proper.
The variety just described was first discovered in Kaffirland by Colonel
Bowker, and its appearance is so dissimilar from that of the type-form from
Natal, that I felt disposed at first to separate it as a distinct species. Except,
however, the great development and much brighter colouring of the transverse
striz, there is no character of importance to warrant its separation from Hebe
proper. While the variety, though very local, does not seem to be very scarce
as regards individuals, the typical Hebe from Natal is still very rare. I met —
with only one, in the “ Thorns” country near Greytown, on 12th March 1867.
It was flitting about stony slopes, in company with Physceneura Panda (Boisd.),
and frequently settled on the ground. ‘This, like the specimen from Natal in
the British Museum, on which I founded the species, was a ¢; and not having |
seen any other examples of either sex, I am obliged to describe the ? from the
late Mr. Hewitson’s rough figure and very brief description. Colonel Bowker |
wrote from the Bashee that there was nothing in the habits of the beautiful —
variety to distinguish it from other commoner Satyrine.
Localities of Cenyra Hebe.
I, South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
b. Eastern Districts.—Kleinemond River, Bathurst (Mrs. Barber and
Miss Ff. Bowker.—Var. A.) King Wilham’s Town (J. #.
Bowker.—Var, A.) East London (P. Borcherds.—Var. A.)
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker.— Var. A.)
ki. Natal.—Greytown.
H. “ Delagoa Bay” (Kirby, Cat. Hewits. Coll.)
SATYRINA. aX
GENuS PHYSCAENEURA. |
Physceeneura, Wallengr., Kongl. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl, 1857, Lep. Rhop.
Catt, py 32.
Periplysia, Gerst., Gliederth.-Fauna d. Sansibar-Geb., p. 370 (ee 2):
ImaGo.—Closely allied to the two preceding genera, Ypthima and
Cenyra. Antenne very short and slender, with a cylindrical, elongate,
gradually-formed but distinct club, rather blunted at the tip; palpr
with long bristly hairs beneath (not so thickly set as in Ypthima), the
terminal joint very long and sharply pointed, not hairy. Sore-wings
shaped as in Ypthvma, except in being a little more elongate and
more rounded at apex; costal nervure largely swollen basally, the other
nervures simple; first subcostal nervule originating before extremity
of cell (a little nearer base than in Ypthima), the second at some
distance beyond it. Hind-wings longer than in Ypthima, and more
rounded at anal angle. Cilia of wings remarkably long and sparse,
especially in 9.
I have not had sufficient material to admit of dissection, but it is
evident under the lens that while the fore-legs of the § cannot be
made out at all among the hairs of the breast, those of the ? are
ereatly reduced, being very much smaller than those of 2 Ypthima,
and with the tarsus apparently almost obsolete.
Irrespective of the structural differences mentioned, Physceeneura
exhibits the peculiarity in marking of possessing on the fore-wings a
series of five, and on the hind-wings a series of six or seven ocelli,
which, while conspicuous and silvery-centred on the under side of the
wings, are on the upper side ill-defined and almost blind (Panda), or
wanting altogether (Leda). The two known species differ remarkably
in colouring, P. Panda (Boisd.) being on the upper side of the ordi-
nary dull-brown, with dull-rufous, ill-marked ocelli, while P. Leda
(Gerst.) is white margined with blackish, after the manner of a 7erias ;
and on the under side the conspicuous vermiculation, general in Panda,
is confined in Leda to the margins of the wings.
The genus is not known to extend northward beyond South-Tropical
_ Africa; and while Panda, the type of the genus, ranges from Natal to
Matabeleland and Damaraland, Zeda has hitherto only been recorded
from Mombas on the Hast Coast, where it was discovered by Dr. Kersten.
7. (1.) Physceeneura Panda (Boisduval).
Satyrus Panda, Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg., 11. p. 594, n. 85 (1847).
Physceneura Panda, Wallengr., Kongl. Sv. Vet.-Akad., 1857, Lep. Rhop.
Caiitge 0:33:
2 Lrebia Panda, Hopft., Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb.,—Ins., p. 392, pl.
Rave ti. 1, 2 (1662) "
3 Hrebia Panda, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii, p. 204, n. 117 (1866).
ie SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Exp. al., 1 in. 5—9 lin.
g. Dull-brown, each wing with a discal transverse row of rather
dull ochrey-red, black-centred spots. Fore-wing.: swollen base of costal
nervure ochrey-red ; five spots of discal row confluent, forming a toler-
ably broad band near hind-margin. Hind-wing: spots of discal row
three to five (the two upper ones often wanting), smaller than in fore-
wing, quite separate, the last (close to anal angle) bipupillate; in some
examples a more or less distinct thin white line, black-edged on both
sides, on inner and hind margins near anal angle, UNDER sIDE.— Very
closely striated transversely with numerous irregularly-confluent, slender,
alternate, very pale-yellowish and fuscous streaks ; spots of transverse discal
row bright ochrey-yellow with brilliant-silvery centres. Fore-wing: swell-
ing of costal nervure ochrey-yellow; all inner-marginal area below
median nervure and first median nervule dull-fuscous without any pale-
yellowish striolation; band of confluent spots edged with fuscous on
both sides; hind-marginal border beyond spots pale-yellowish, almost
free from any black striolation, but with two well-defined, almost paral-
lel, black linear streaks from costa to a little below first median ner-
vule. Hind-wing: transverse striolation extends to inner-marginal
edge; five spots of discal row much larger than on upper side, con-
tiguous, finely black-edged; an additional, similar, larger spot before,
and apart from, the row of five, between subcostal nervules ; submar-
ginal black linear streaks as in fore-wing, but the inner one slightly
sinuate-dentate.
2. Paler, the striolation of the under side vaguely perceptible; ochrey-
red spots larger; in fore-wing more suffused, and forming a broader band ;
in hind-wing not fewer than four (usually five), sometimes contiguous.
UNDER SIDE.—Jore-wing: the general striolation extending to inner
margin.
Specimens of both sexes taken at Delagoa Bay by Mrs. Monteiro are smaller
and darker than those which I met with in Natal; and in one ¢ the spots of
the fore-wing on the upper side are very small, and those of the hind-wing
obsolete except that close to anal angle. It is very singular that in all the six
examples (three of each sex) captured by Mr. H. Barber in the Northern Trans-
vaal, in a @ obtained on the Upper Limpopo by Mr. F. C. Selous, and also in
a 2 taken by the former gentleman in the Matabele country, the inner of the ©
two submarginal linear black streaks is in the fore-wing rather sharply dentate
(instead of being nearly straight), and in the hind-wing quite deeply festooned
(instead of being sinuate-dentate). I find the same peculiarity noted as present
in the single specimen (a g/) brought by the late Mr. C. J. Andersson from
Damaraland ; but none of the Delagoa Bay examples exhibit it, nor does it
appear in the figure of the female obtained at Inhambane by the Peters Expe-
dition. I cannot discover that this feature is associated with any other dis-
tinction in the specimens possessing it, except a slight tendency to more con-
fluence in the black striole of the under side generally.
The remarkable beauty of the under side of this butterfly is'in striking con-
trast to the dull £rebia-like colouring of the upper side, and at once distin-
guishes Panda from all the other South-African Satyrine. Its only known
congener (P. Leda, of Gerstaecker, from Mombas) is of totally different aspect,
owing to all the field of the wings being pure white; the upper side having an
—$—$$$ =
SATYRIN A, 73
unspotted fuscous margin, and the under side a slightly striolated one, with
spots resembling those of Panda.
Only on one occasion have I seen this species in life, viz., on the 12th March
1867, when it was by no means uncommon in the “Thorns” country near
Greytown, in Natal. About the steep exposed hillsides specimens of both
sexes flitted constantly, but with no activity, keeping close to the ground, and
frequently settling on it. The elaborately-ornamented under side of the wings
was not conspicuous at a little distance.
Localities of Physcencura Panda.
I. South-Africa.
E. Natal.
b. Upper Districts.—Greytown. Estcourt (J. MM. Hutchinson).
F. “ Zululand (Delegorgue).”—Boisduval.
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourengo Marques (Mrs. Montevro).
I. “Inhambane (Peters).”—Hopffer.
K. Transvaal.—North-West District (ZZ Barber). Upper Limpopo
River (£. C. Selous).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Damaraland (C. J. Andersson).
br. Eastern Interior—Kama’s Country and Matabeleland (Z.
Barber).
Genus PSEUDONYMPHA.
Pseudonympha, Wallengren, Kongl. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1857, Lep.
; Rhop. Caffr., p. 31.
Erebia (Dalman), Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep., ii. p. 376 (1851); Trimen,
Rhop. Afr. Aust., il. p. 196 (1866).
Imaco.—Head small, very hairy; eyes smooth; palpi long, slightly
ascendant, covered with hair throughout, but especially beneath, where
the hairs are densely set, long, and bristly,—the terminal joint rather
long, slender, acute; antennw short, with the club usually rather
elongate and gradually thickened, but in some species (P. Sabacus,
Hippia, vigilans, &c.) more abruptly formed.
Thorax short and narrow, more or less hairy above, densely hairy
beneath. Fore-wings with costa moderately or slightly arched; hind-
margin entire, nearly straight; costal nervure only swollen at base ;
discoidal cell short, broad, the nervules closing it forming a more or less
obtuse angle towards base at Junction of lower discoidal (radial) nervule ;
first branch of subcostal nervure arising just before or at extremity of
discoidal cell, second branch a long way beyond it. Hind-wings with
hind-margin entire or very slightly sinuated; anal angle somewhat
prominent; discoidal cell short superiorly but prolonged inferiorly,
the closing nervules running very obliquely, and the lower one being
twice as long as the upper. Jore-legs of d minute, scaly; tibia and
tarsus together but little longer than femur; a scanty clothing of
rather short bristly hairs on femur; tibia and tarsus densely clothed
with very long stiff hairs; of 9 rather long, slender, scaly ; femur and
74 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
tarsus of about equal length; tibia a little shorter, ending in a blunt |
spur, and with a few bristles superiorly ; tarsus with four joints, shortly
spinose beneath and at extremity. Middle and hind legs of moderate | |
length, rather slender; femur scaly; tibiee with a few spines beneath,
and with terminal spurs long; tarsi spinose inferiorly.
Abdomen short, in ¢ very slender.
The butterflies of this genus are very nearly allied to Hrebia—a
group well known from its great development in the Alpine tracts
of Central Europe. They are, however, separable by the following
characters, viz., (1) their much less robust structure generally, espe-
cially as regards the shorter and more slender abdomen, which in
the 3 is not thickened at the end; (2) the less density of their hairy
clothing, especially on the head, palpi, and thorax; (3) their shorter
and more slender antennz ; (4) the rise of the second subcostal nervule
of their fore-wings far beyond, instead of before or just about, the
extremity of the discoidal cell; (5) the constantly swollen base of the
costal nervure of their fore-wings; and (6) the greater width (and in
the fore-wings less length) of their discoidal cells.
The Pseudonymphe known are butterflies of small or moderate size,
very much resembling some of the species of Hrebia. Unlike the latter,
however, they are all of one pattern of colouring and marking. This
consists of a ground of paler or darker dull-brown, with a larger or
smaller discal patch of fulvous in the fore-wings and usually in the
hind-wings. Except in rare instances of aberrant individuals, the fore-
wings bear only a single bipupillate ocellus not far from the apex,
while the hind-wings (in some cases devoid of markings) usually pre-
sent two submarginal unipupillate ocelli. The underside is generally
mottled or freckled, and paler than the upper side; the fore-wings are
of the same pattern as above, but often with a larger field of fulvous;
while the hind-wings bear from two to six submarginal ocelli, and two
transverse streaks (often enclosing a darker or paler space) rather before
middle, as well as often a third streak beyond the ocelli. Of this
pattern the transverse streaks and the ocelli on the under side of the
hind-wings vary most in the different species, both characters being
almost obsolete in P. Hyperbius and P. wrrorata. The eleven species —
recognised by me as inhabiting South-Africa seem, with the exception
of P. Natalit (Boisd.), which extends beyond the Southern Tropic, to
be peculiar to that region, but a twelfth species, closely allied to P.
Natalti, occurs in Southern Tropical Africa, so that the genus may
perhaps have a wider range than has hitherto been assigned toit. The
species most generally distributed in South-Africa are P. Cassius (Godt.),
P. Sabacus (Trim.), and P. vigilans (Trim.), but the first-named seems
nowhere so abundant as the others. P. Narycia, Wlegrn., and P. Neita,
Wlgrn., are widely spread in Eastern South Africa, but cannot be
termed common; and the remaining species appear to be very local
and scarce. As the country becomes better explored, especially in its
SATYRIN Ai. 75
mountainous tracts, new forms of Pseudonympha will very probably be
discovered. The known species are very closely related, and in several
cases are difficult to distinguish. They all frequent open ground,
Cassius only seeming to show any liking for the neighbourhood of woods
or plantations, and their flight (except perhaps in the case of P. vigi-
lans) is very weak as well as wavering and close to the ground. They
bask on stones and on the bare earth, and only occasionally seem to
visit flowers.
8, (1.) Pseudonympha Hyperbius (Linnzeus).
Papilio Hyperbius, Linn., Mus. Lud. Ul. Reg., p. 257, n. 76 (1764); and
Syst. Nat., i. 2, p. 769, n. 130 (1767).
Q Papilio Hyperbius, Cram., Pap. Exot., ii, pl. clxviii. ff. 5, Fr. (1779).
Papilio Hyperbius, Wulfen, Descr. Capens. Ins., p. 32, n. 31 (1786).
Pseudonympha Hyperbius, Wallengren, Lep. Rhop. Caffr. in. K. Sv. Vet.-
Akad, Handl.,.1857, p. 32, 0...3.
Erebia Hyperbius, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., il. p. 197, n. 111 (1866).
Exp. al., 1 in. 6 lin—1I in. 9 hin.
Dark-brown, with a violaceous gloss; fore-wing much coloured with
deep-fulvous ; hind-wing with a small fulvous patch. Fore-wing: falvous
occupies the same space as in /. Sabacus, but is not externally dark-
edged, nor ever divided into two patches, though its cellular portion is
often much obscured in #; an apical ocellus, white-bipupillate, and
ringed indistinctly with pale ochreous, marks upper portion of fulvous.
Hind-wing : on median nervules an ill-defined fulvous patch, enclosing
two small unipupillate ocelli (one or both often wanting). Both wings,
but especially hind-wing, clothed with fulvous hairs on basal half.
UNDER SIDE.—Hind-wing, and costa, apex, and hind-margin of fore-wing
wrrorated with whitish atoms. ore-wing: faulvous paler (more regu-
larly extending from base in f); from its outer edge beyond ocellus
extends to costa a narrow ferruginous streak, sometimes almost obsolete ;
ring of ocellus more distinct. Hind-wing: beyond middle two parallel,
rather widely-apart, usually indistinct, ferruginous transverse lines,
parallel to hind-margin, between which is a row of inconspicuous
whitish dots, two of them representing the ocelli of upper side.
Aberration ¢.—Fore-wing : ocellus very small (not larger than those
often present in hind-wing), faintly unipupillate, in a very faint ring
scarcely distinguishable from contiguous fulvous; adjoining this ocellus
and immediately below it (in the left fore-wing only) a second, similar,
very minute and indistinct ocellus. Hind-wing: no ocelli, but a single
whitish dot (occasionally found in ordinary examples) on fold beyond
extremity of discoidal cell. UNDER siIDE.—Ordinary, except for the
very small ocellus in the fore-wing; no trace of the second ocellus in
left fore-wing.
Hab.—Cape Town, September 1870.
76 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
This is the darkest of the South-African species of Pseudonympha, and is,
moreover, peculiar in the dense fulvous hair coating the basal area of the wings.
The specimens taken by me in Namaqualand in 1873 were considerably smaller
than ordinary examples, expanding only 1 in. 4-6 lin.
It is the first of the genus to appear in the spring, in some seasons occurring
as early as the end of July, but is not long out, disappearing towards the end of
September. It frequents mountain-sides and rocky situations of some eleva-
tion, often sitting on large stones, and sometimes on flowers; its flight is very
low, feeble, and irregular. About Cape Town it is abundant, but in other
western districts I have not noticed many specimens; and to the eastward of
the district of Worcester it is not known to occur. I captured the paired sexes
near Cape Town on the 9th September 1870.
Localities of Pseudonympha Hyperbius.*
I. South Africa.
A. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.\—Cape Town. Kalbas Kraal, Cape District.
Malmesbury. Piketberg. Ookiep. Springbokfontein and
Tweefontein, Namaqualand District. Konstabel’s, Worcester
District.
9, (2.) Pseudonympha irrorata (Trimen).
Erebia trrorata, Trim., Trans, Ent. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 103, pl. i. f. 2.
Hope di. (4) 1 ame 5 lings {yo in G7
Pale greyish-brown. Fore-wing: a fulvous patch occupies discoidal
cell, not rising above it, but extending beyond it and over median
nervules to about their middle, as well as below median nervure and
its first nervule, but not reaching submedian nervure or quite to base;
touching extremity of upper portion of patch, a bipupillate black ocellus
in a pale yellowish-grey ring; costal margin indistinctly hatched with
greyish-yellow from base to beyond middle. MHind-wing without mark-
ings, UNDER SIDE—WHind-wing and costal and apical region, with hind-
margin of fore-wing wrrorated with greyish-yellow. Fore-wing: fulvous
patch slightly smaller than on upper side; ring of ocellus paler, more
distinct. Hind-wing: beyond middle a submarginal row of eight ill-
defined greyish-yellow spots; preceding fourth spot, and between it
and extremity of discoidal cell, a similar spot; an indistinct similar
spot near base, between median and submedian nervures; two smaller
ones on edge of cell, marking origins of radial and second subcostal ner-
vules; and two or three small ones on costa before middle. Jn both
wings, on hind-marginal edge, a row of small, inter-nervular, greyish-
yellow spots, more apparent in hind-wing than in fore-wing.
The sexes do not differ, except that the irrorations and spots of the
under side of the wings are more conspicuous in the &.
1 In Rhopalocera Africe Australis (ii. p. 198) I noted that a specimen of P. Hyperbius in
the British Museum was registered as having been collected in “ Afghanistan.” No confir-
mation of this surprising habitat has been given; and it is extremely unlikely that the
butterfly should occur so far from the known range of its genus.
SATYRIN Vi
This species stands nearer to P. Hyperbius, Linn., than to any other
South-African Pseudonympha ; but it differs from the latter in its much
paler colouring throughout, its total want of any ocelli or fulvous
colouring on the upper side of the hind-wings (in which respect it is
like P. Narycia, Wallengren), its hatching of greyish-yellow on the
upper side of the costa of the fore-wings, its much yellower and more
distinct under-side hatching and irroration, and its want of the two
transverse ferruginous striz on the under side of the hind-wings.
Colonel Bowker discovered this species in the Uitenhage District in August
1870; and in July 1872 he sent an example from the District of Albert. In
the latter year Mrs. Barber forwarded a specimen captured by her in the Storm-
bergen, forming the southern boundary of the Albert District.
It was not until January 1876 that the butterfly was recorded from the
Western Districts, owing to my taking two individuals at the village of Robert-
son; and a few years afterwards (September 1879) I met with a solitary speci-
men at Malmesbury, about thirty miles north of Cape Town. These examples
occurred only singly, flitting about stony spots, and looked on the wing like
rather faded P. Hyperbius.
Localities of Pseudonympha trrorata.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.—Malmesbury. Robertson.
b, Hastern Districts.\—Zwaarte Ruggens, Uitenhage District (J. H.
Bowker). Stormbergen (M. H. Barber). North of Albert Dis-
trict (J. H. Bowker). Burghersdorp, Albert District (D. RB.
Kannemeyer).
10. (3.) Pseudonympha Narycia (Wallengren).
Pseudonympha Narycia, Wallgrn., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1857, Lep.
Huhop. Calir.; p. 32; 1: 4.
Q Erebia Narycia, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1870, p. 350, pl. vi.
ae ©
Exp. al.. 1 in. 55—8 lin.
Pale-brown, welining to grey; wm fore-wing a well-defined discal
patch of fulvous ; hind-wing wholly without marking. Fore-wing: api-
cal ocellus rather large, very distinct, black, with two small silvery-
white pupils, and in a very pale-yellowish ring outwardly edged with
fuscous; fulvous patch beginning near extremity of discoidal cell, ex-
tending as far as inner and beyond lower edge of ring of ocellus, not
rising above first radial nervule, or descending quite as far as submedian
nervure; a rather indistinct submarginal dark streak from costa bound-
ing the even outer edge of fulvous patch. UNDER siDE— Very similar
to upper side, but hind-wing with a discal series of five very distinct ocelli.
Lore-wing: fulvous patch slightly smaller, being straighter along its
inner edge; submarginal dark streak more distinct than on upper side.
Hind-wing : series of ocelli sharply angulated on third median nervule,
—first ocellus (between subcostal nervules) almost always considerably
78 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
larger than the rest,—second ocellus usually smaller than the others
(except sometimes the last), and occasionally blind; all ocelli very
clearly defined, unipupillate with silvery-white, and in dark-edged
pale-yellowish rings; about middle an indistinct, irregular, dark, trans- |
verse streak, and beyond ocelli a similar but regular and darker streak,
more or less suffused with fulvous in its upper portion; at base, for a
little distance along costa, a pale-fulvous edging (in 2 this is wider and
deeper in colour, and there is a similar second basal marking extending
on inner margin). In both wings a dark line, followed by a pale one
immediately before hind-margin.
Except in the character just mentioned, the ? only differs from the
f in being slightly paler, and having the hind-wing ocelli larger, and
the fulvous suffusion of the outer dark streak more pronounced.
The fifth ocellus on the under side of hind-wing is rarely in both
sexes bipupillate.
A 2 taken by Mr. W. Morant near Pretoria, in the Transvaal, not
only presents the character last named, but has the second ocellus imme-
diately surmounted by a very minute blind ocellus, and also exhibits
the remarkable peculiarity of the ocellus of the fore-wing being tri-
pupillate on the upper side, and respectively quadri-pupillate (right)
and quinque-pupillate (left) on the under side. ’
bipupillate with bluish, and with an incomplete, indistinct, yellowish-
grey ring. Hind-wing: an indistinct dark-brown line near and parallel
to hind-margin; touching its inner edge, between first and third median
nervules, a small fulvous patch, enclosing two small, black, white uni-
pupillate ocelli, very variable in size, and all but obsolete in some
examples. UNDER SIDE—Costal and apical area of fore-wing indis-
tinctly, whole of hind-wing conspicuously, whitish-grey, hatched with
short dark-brown lines. ore-wing: fulvous paler, the two patches
more completely confluent, but the inner brown edging of the outer
patch often well-marked; ring of ocellus more distinct and complete.
Hind-wing: three trregular, transverse, brown streaks,—one crossing
cell between middle and base, occasionally rather indistinct,—one
median, much zigzagged, always strongly marked,—the third regularly
dentate, near hind-margin, sometimes a good deal obscured by the
brown hatching, which is densest along hind-margin; between median
and outer streak (but nearer the latter) three ocelli, usually with
suffused brownish clouding, two answering to those on upper side, the
third between two subcostal nervules; the latter ocellus often, and all
three occasionally, quite wanting.
This species differs from P. vigzlans, Trim., in its double fulvous patch,
much smaller, incompletely-ringed ocellus, and dark-brown line of fore-wing,
and much smaller fulvous marking of hind-wing; and beneath, in its triple-
streaked whiter hind-wing. The antenne have a more slender, gradually-
formed club, and are much more conspicuously white-ringed, especially beneath.
The 9s as arule are smaller than the gs, and the fine dark-brown striole are
much closer and more evenly distributed all over the hind-wing.
Var. A: (f aid 2).
Larger (exp. al., I in, 8-10 lin.) Sore-wing: ocellus propor-
tionately smaller. Hind-wing: ocelli larger, but their fulvous rings
narrow, not confluent. UNDER sIDE.—Hind-wing: whiter, shining ;
the first and second transverse brown streaks strongly marked, and so
clouded with brownish (the first exteriorly and the second interiorly)
as to form a median irregular fascia, more or less white mesially; the
third (submarginal) streak better marked, more dentate, usually inter-
rupted with white on the nervules; ocelli very much larger (their
pupil often obsolete) and the suffused brown clouding surrounding
them much darker and broader; in some examples, a minute additional
ocellus close to anal angle.
ffab.—Kastern South Africa.
SATYRINZ. 87
le Var. B. (4).
Same size as Var. A. Fore-wing: cellular fulvous very much
' reduced (in two examples barely visible). Zind-wing: subapical ocellus
of under side reproduced in three out of four examples; two lower
| ocelli large, well-defined, with a very distinct bluish pupil, and set
| in moderately wide fulvous rings; accompanying them an additional
smaller ocellus between radial and third median nervules. UNDER
| sE.—Fore-wing: fulvous field as usual; apical white reduced to a
short streak between brown transverse line and ring of ocellus; on
apex, some fulvous scaling. Hind-wing: the four ocelli and (in three
| examples) a fifth minute anal-angular one very distinct, and in evident
rings paler than the restricted pale-brown clouding surrounding them ;
fulvous scaling marks the clouding of all the three transverse dark-
brown streaks, of which the outer (submarginal) one is much less den-
tate than in Var. A.
Hab.—Natal. In the collection of R. Trimen.
With this last-described variety I am disposed to associate three 9 speci-
mens taken by Colonel Bowker at the heads of the Kraai River, in the Aliwal
North District of the Cape Colony. In the rather better development of the
cellular fulvous of the fore-wing, and in the fewer, less distinct ocelli of the
hind-wing on the upper side, they approach Variety A.; but the under side,
though duller, in its colouring and the hind-wing ocelli nearly resembles that
of the ¢ Variety B.
‘This is an exceedingly abundant species in open country all through the
coast districts of the Colony. The typical form swarms on the sandy flats near
Cape Town in October and November, and occurs as late as the middle of
May. I found it equally plentiful at Knysna during the summer months. It
extends to Uitenhage and to Grahamstown, occurring near the latter place
during my visit in January 1870. I do not know the exact eastern limit of
the typical form, or whether it occurs in some districts In company with
Variety A.; but the latter prevails in the Trans-Kei District of Kaffraria
Proper, and seems altogether to replace the typical Sabacus in the interior of
Natal, where I found it in great numbers in the summer of 1867. Variety B.
was only met with near Greytown and in the Great Noodsberg, but I captured
Variety A. also in those localities. Everywhere, both as regards the typical
form and the Variety A., females are very rarely taken among the very nume-
rous males,
Localities of Pseudonympha Sabacus,
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts—Cape Town. JBlaauwberg, Cape District.
Eerste River, Stellenbosch District. Paarl. Bain’s Kloof, Wor-
cester District. Mossel Bay. Knysna. Plettenberg Bay.
6. Eastern Districts.—Grahamstown. Uitenhage (S. D. Bairstow).
Coega River (J. H. Bowker). Windvogelberg (Dr. Batho).
Stormbergen (Mrs. Barber.—Var. A.) North of Albert District
(J. H. Bowker.—Var. A.) East London (P. Borcherds.—
Var. A.)
d. Basutoland.—Maluti Mountains (J. H. Bowhker.— Var. A.)
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Butterworth and Bashee River (J. H. Bowker.—
Var. A.)
88 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
EK. Natal.
b. Upper Districts.—Udland’s Mission Station.—(Var. A.) Tun- |
jumbili—(Var. A.) Hermansburg.—(Var. A.) Greytown.— —
(Vars. A.and B.) Great Noodsberg.—(Vars. A. and B.) Little —
Noodsberg.—(Var. A.) Karkloof (J. H. Bowker.— Var. A.)
K. Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres.—Var. A.)
17. (10.) Pseudonympha Trimenii, Butler.
Pseudonympha Trimenti, Butler, Cat. Sat. Brit. Mus., p. 94, n. 6 (1868).
. Erebia Sabacus, Var. A., Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 201, pl. 4, f£. 2
(1866).
Pseudonympha Sabacus and P. Trimenit, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,
1868, p. 284.
Exp. al, 1 in. 64-84 lin.
Rather dark-brown, with two small, well-separated, deep fulvous patches
in fore-wing ; entire neuration of under side of hind-wing white. Fore-
wing: in discoidal cell, a small fulvous patch, not extending beyond —
origin of second median nervule, bounded exteriorly by a rather indis- |
tinct slightly angulated fuscous line; beyond cell a larger, upper- —
discal fulvous patch, bounded everywhere but superiorly by a well-
defined fuscous line ; subapical ocellus of moderate size or rather small,
directly touching fulvous interiorly, but with a very indistinct yellowish-
grey half-ring exteriorly. Mind-wing: a slightly sinuate submarginal
fuscous line; before it, between radial and first submedian nervules,
three small ocelli, of which the middle one, and to a less extent the
lowest, are ringed with broadly suffused fulvous. UNDER sIDE.—Fore-
wing: edge of costa before middle, costal nervure at base, and terminal
portion of nervules at and near (below) apex white; two fulvous patches
united into one long field, paler than above, but the fuscous bounding
lines quite as well marked as on upper side; ring of ocellus faintly indi-
cated interiorly. Mind-wing: besides the entire neuration, a fine costal
edging line, a fine line at base of hind-marginal cilia, the hairs edging
inner margin, a bifurcate longitudinal streak in discoidal cell, and a
longitudinal streak from base to near anal angle above and parallel to
submedian nervure, are all white; ground-colour pale greyish-brown,
irregularly and sparsely freckled with dark-brown short lineole, espe-
cially near base and margins; three transverse fuscous streaks inter-
rupted by white neuration,—that before middle rather sharply angulated,
that about middle sinuated irregularly, and that beyond middle slightly
but regularly dentated ; space between middle and outer streak whitish,
and containing near its external edge a row of five or six more or less
distinct very small ocelli in faint yellowish-grey rings surrounded by
brownish. ,
The fulvous markings of the upper side, especially the disco-
cellular one in the fore-wing, are in some specimens much reduced and
suffused.
SATYRIN A. 89
Var. A. (f and 9).
f Fore-wing: dusky, suffused; cellular patch only indicated by a
fulvous gloss; outer patch paler, wider, without bounding fuscous line ;
ocellus larger, but its two pupils indistinct. Mind-wing: five ocelli,
all apparent, the fulvous surrounding the two lowest expanded into a
good-sized patch. UNDER sipE.—Duller. Hind-wing: neuration not
so white before middle; ocelli with barely perceptible pupils; whitish
clouding sparse and less extensive.
2 like ¢ in most respects, but cellular fulvous of fore-wing on upper
side well developed and united to that beyond middle as on under side.
Hab.—? British Kaffraria.
This is a close ally of P. Sabacus, mihi, and, while one example only was
known to me, I was disposed to regard it as a variety, or perhaps a mere indi-
vidual aberration, of that species. But having since taken specimens of both
sexes in three different localities, and found the differences constant, I think
that Mr. Butler rightly separated it from its near congener. The conspicuous
white neuration of the under side at once distinguishes Trimenit from its near
congeners, and the constancy of the unbroken row of five (rarely six) ocelli on
the under side of the hind-wing is also a very characteristic feature,
The variety noted was taken by Mr. (now Colonel) Bowker in the year
1868, and sent by him to the South-African Museum while I was absent from
the Colony. Both specimens were unfortunately much broken; and Mr.
Layard, at that time curator of the Museum, could not tell me their precise
locality, but believed it was some part of British Kaffraria.
_ PP. Trimenii has quite the habits and appearance on the wing of the widely-
distributed and abundant P. Sabacus, but seems to be extremely local. On
Table Mountain I have met with it haunting a small tract at a considerable
elevation, where I did not find any Sadacus, and it was not uncommon, under
the same conditions, near Simon’s Town ; but on another occasion, near Eerste
River, in the Stellenbosch District, I found Trimenii in quite a lowland station,
—a few specimens flying among swarms of Sabacus which enlivened the spot.
It is on the wing in September and October.
Localities of Pseudonympha Trimenii,
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts—Cape Town. Simon’s Town. Eerste River,
Stellenbosch District.
6. Eastern Districts.—? British Kaffraria (J. H. Bowker).
18. (11.) Pseudonympha Cassius, (Godart).
Papilio Hyperbius, g, Cram., Pap. Exot., ii. p. elxviii. ff. c, p (1779).
Satyrus Cassius, Godt. [part], Enc. Meth., ix. p. 526, n. 134 (1819).
Pseudonympha hyperbioides, Wallengr., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl, 1857,
Lep. Rhop. Caffr., p. 32, n. 2.
Erebia Cassius, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii, p. 202, n. 115 (1866).
mupedl. Tain. 3—7 lin.
Grey-brown. Fore-wing: a brick-red, ill-defined central patch, vari-
able in size, on median nervure and nervules, and occupying outer lower
portion of discordal cell; beyond it, two transverse streaks darker than
go SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
eround-colour,—the first not extending below red patch, the other,
which is near hind-margin, extending from near costa to near inner
margin; between the two streaks, near costa, a large, nearly circular,
black ocellus, yellow-ringed and bipupillate with blue. Hind-wing:
outer transverse streak as in fore-wing; two small ocelli near hind-
margin towards anal angle, coloured as in fore-wing, but unipupillate,
—the ocellus nearer anal angle smaller than the other. UNDER SIDE.—.
Paler; hind-margin near apex of fore-wing and whole of hind-wing,
more or less closely hatched with numerous short, thin, red-brown lines,
Fore-wing: brick-red patch larger, almost filling discoidal cell; ocellus
and transverse streaks more distinctly marked. Hind-wing: two angu-
lated, transverse, reddish-brown streaks, one before, the other about
middle; hind-margin densely hatched with red-brown lines; only the
smaller ocellus visible near anal angle, and that very minute; another
small ocellus between subcostal nervules, close to apex; sometimes one
or two white dots, representing additional ocelli, between the two
ocelli mentioned ; in some specimens the whole hind-wing is so densely
hatched that the two transverse streaks are inconspicuous.
A @ specimen from Knysna in my collection has in both fore-
wings a minute ocellus adjoining the lower extremity of the ordinary
large ocellus; and there is an additional ocellus in the hind-wings,
smaller and more towards costa than the two ordinary ones.
In a 2 example from the same locality, the small ocellus on under-
side of hind-wing, near apex, is also distinct on the upper surface of
the wing; while in another 2, taken at Forest Hall, near Plettenburg
Bay, by Mr. W. H. Newdigate, the fore-wings bear, in addition to the
small ocellus adjoining the ordinary large one, a further small ocellus
between first and second median nervules.
The remarkable distinctness of the yellow rings of all the ocelli is charac-
teristic of this Pseudonympha, and the ocelli of the hind-wing are on the
upper side unusually large, and without any vestige of fulvous round them.
The under side of the hind-wing is quite devoid of the white clouding so
characteristic of P. Sabacus, Trim., and P. Trimenzt, Butler; and the minuteness
of its ocelli and vague definition of its transverse striz recall the same surface
in P. vigtlans, ‘Trim.
P. Cassius is very common and of general distribution in Southern Africa,
and probably occurs throughout the year, as June and July are the only
months during which I have not observed it. As usual with the species of
this group, the ?s are comparatively seldom met with. Cassius is a butter-
fly of very slender structure, and flies more feebly than any other member of
this genus I have seen on the wing.
The paired sexes, taken at D'Urban, Natal, were forwarded to me by ~
Colonel Bowker in the year 1879.
Localities of Pseudonympha Cassius.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.\—Cape Town. Hout Bay. Swellendam (4. C.
Harrison). Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. Oudtshoorn (— Adamis).
ae ? _. F a ——— -
SATYRIN &. gt
6, Eastern Districts.—Port Elizabeth (W. S. Jf. D’Urban). Uiten-
hage (S. D, Bairstow). Grahamstown. Frankfort (W. S. J.
D Urban).
D. Kaffraria Proper.— Butterworth and Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts —D’Urban. Verulam. Mapumulo. Itongati.
b. Upper Districts.—Pietermaritzburg. Greytown. Intzutze. Tun-
jumbili. Udland’s Mission Station. Karkloof (J. H. Lowker).
K. Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
Genus LEPTONEURA.
Leptoneura, Wallengren, Kongl. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1857 ; Lep. Ithop.
Caffr., p. 31; Trimen, Rhop. Afr. Aust., il. 192 (1866).
Imaco.—Closely allied to Pseudonympha. Hyes hairy; palpi scaly
laterally, and with much shorter, less bristly hairs (especially beneath) ;
the terminal joint shorter, less acute than in Pseudonympha ; antennw
| rather short, with the club distinct and rather gradually thickened
(except in L. Cassus and Cassina, where it is rounded, abruptly formed,
and somewhat flattened). Zhorax rather more robust. Wangs with
neuration similar to that of Psewdonympha, but with the costal nervure
of fore-wings unswollen, and the discoidal cell of hind-wings much
shorter; in the g, on the under side of fore-wings, a narrow, elon-
gate, shining greyish space, on inner margin at base, ordinarily hidden
by the costa of hind-wings. Jore-legs of § extremely small, clothed
with elongate scales and a few bristly hairs; tibia rather shorter than
femur, short tarsal portion abruptly reduced terminally into a straight
acute spine. Middle and hind legs short; femora smooth, scaly ; tibiee
set with very fine bristles, and with terminal spurs short; tarsi also
finely bristly, with a longer, more spiny pair of bristles at end of each
articulation beneath.
Larva.—Rather thick and short; head large; tail very shortly
bifid. Skin set generally with very short bristles.
Pupa.—Cylindrical, very thick (especially about middle); head and
back of thorax very blunted, scarcely prominent.
Besides the difference noted in the antenne, Z. Cassus, Linn., and
Cassina, Bul., are distinguished from their congeners by the more
slender terminal joint of the palpi, and by a generally more robust
structure of the body, the abdomen being longer and thicker, and tufted
at the extremity.
The Leptoneure are larger insects than the species of Pseudo-
nympha, the two smallest of them (LZ. Bowkert and Cassina) being
equal in size to the P. vigilans, the largest of its genus. Their
habits are quite like those of the latter group; they frequent open
ground, several species preferring hilly tracts. Their flight is rather
Stronger and (in the males) longer sustained than that of Pseudo-
92 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
nympha, and in the case of ZL. Clytus (the most numerous of the
known species), inclining to take a circular direction. With the excep-
tion of Clytus, the members of this genus appear to be very local, and
none of them seems to present the abundance in individuals of the
species named,—Cassus, Linn., being, however, tolerably plentiful near
Cape Town.
‘The undoubted occurrence of the latter species in Madagascar is
very remarkable, as it certainly seems to be scarcer in the eastern
districts of the Colony, and is not recorded from Natal or from the
African coast nearer to Madagascar. But for this singular extension
of the range of one of its species, Zeptonewra would stand as one of the
few endemic South-African genera.
19. (1.) Leptoneura Clytus, (Linn.)
Papilio Clytus, Linn., Mus. Lud. Ulr. Reg., p. 268, n. 87 (1764); and Syst.
Nat; 1..2, p: 763, nm. 124°(1 707),
Papilio Tistphone, Rott., in Naturforschen, vi. p. 16, t. 1, ff. 1, 2 (1775);
apud Kirby, Syn. Cat. D. Lep., p. 56.
Papilio Clytus, Cram., Pap. Exot., i. pl. Ixxxvi. ff co, p. (1779).
‘5 Wulfen, Descr. Capens. Ins., p. 31, n. 30 (1786).
Satyrus Clytus, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. sos. M. 1¢2 (15uo):
Erebia Clytus, Westw., Gen. D. Lep., Il, pa, 380,043 (aga).
Leptoneura Clytus, Wallenor., KX. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl, 1857, Lep. Rhop.
Carte: = p43 x.
* >, cLrim., Khop. Adr, Aust., ii. p. 192, n. 109 (1866).
Hipp. Ol 2 in, 24 lim
Brown, with a glistening greenish and reddish surface-light ; fore-
wing with creamy-yellow, macular, transverse stripes. Fore-wing: on
costa beyond middle commences an outwardly-convex, interiorly much-
dentated creamy-yellow band, very variable in depth of hue, width, and
continuity, properly reaching to submedian nervure, but often shorter
and much interrupted by ground-colour; this band is usually joined
about first median nervule by a much narrower stripe of the same
colour from fourth subcostal nervule near apex, outwardly bordering a
large ocellus, which is narrowly edged with darker yellow inwardly ;
ocellus compound, elongate, black, with two (rarely three) large blue
pupils. Mind-wing: near and parallel to hind-margin a row of five
black, fulvous-ringed ocelli, unipupillate with blue, of which the fifth
is much the smallest and occasionally nearly obsolete; rarely a sixth
small ocellus near costa. UNDER SIDE—VPaler ; hind-wing much paler,
with dark zigzag strie. Fore-wing: apex greyish-white; yellow stripes
much narrowed, the larger seldom reaching below third median nervule,
its inner edge thence being indicated by a dentate dark-brown streak,
—the outer forming with the inner edging only a ring about ocellus ;
in discoidal cell, about its centre, two dark transverse streaks, the
inner of which is macular and nearly always continued to submedian
nervure. Hind-wing: transverse strie three,—the macular one near
SATYRIN 2. 93
base, and the zigzag one crossing cell, both edged outwardly with
whitish scales,—the zigzag one about middle similarly edged inwardly ;
a dark line closing cell; ocelli in row seven, brown, with white-pupilled
black centres, and narrowly ringed with yellow and brown, two first on
costa out of line with the rest, the last larger than on upper side, often
bipupillate,—all of them bounded by confluent rings of whitish scales.
Both above and below, a paler border on hind-margin of both wings,
divided longitudinally by a dark line, straight or slightly waved on
upper side, waved near apices on under side.
The sexes do not differ appreciably, except that in the %, on the
under side, the creamy-yellow band almost always extends brokenly
below third median nervule, and as far as first median nervule, and
the white scaling in the hind-wing is more pronounced.
Pupa.—Dull brownish-grey, speckled with fuscous. On back of
abdomen, a transverse row of thin small indistinct fuscous spots occupy-
ing middle line of each segment; on under side of abdomen fuscous
irroration close and thick, leaving two convergent clear streaks of
ground-colour from ends of wing-covers to anal point. Central line of
breast covering haustellum defined by two fuscous longitudinal streaks.
Neuration of wings distinctly defined with brown on wing-covers.
The pupa here described was found by Mr. T. D. Butler, the taxi-
dermist of the South-African Museum, on the 26th March 1873, under
a large stone on the ascent of the Devil’s Peak, Cape Town. It was
lying perfectly free, without attachment of any kind. The imago, a
fine 2, emerged on 8th April.
Var. A. (Grahamstown, Cape Colony).
wep. al; 2 in. 6—7 lin.
df Considerably larger; rings of ocelli in hind-wing paler, yellower.
Aberr. $ (Cape Town).
Fore-wing: a reddish-ochreous transverse meso-cellular fascia, in-
wardly ill-defined, outwardly bounded by dark-brown streak ; a little
scaling of the same colour between extremity of cell and pale creamy-
yellow stripe. Hind-wing: some similar, but more conspicuous scaling
between extremity of cell and first two ocelli of submarginal row.
(Taken by R. Trimen, roth April 1874.)
The large Grahamstown variety occurs freely at Highlands, whence
Mrs. Barber sent me several specimens; but I have not seen the 2 of
it. It manifestly inclines towards the more eastern and still larger
form LZ. Oxylus, mihi.
The g aberration shows in its ill-defined imperfect upper-side
fascize some indication of an approach to the colouring of the curious
form L. Mintha, Geyer, but exhibits no trace of the latter’s peculiar
pale neuration, &c., of the under side.
In a g captured near Seymour, in the Stockenstrom District, by Mr. Scully,
the upper part of the fore-wing ocellus is reduced to a very small separate
ocellus, which on the under side becomes quite obsolete.
94 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
This well-known species appears in open ground generally during the
autumn, from the middle of February to the end of May, being most numerous
in March. Among the great number of ¢s which keep in active flight over |
the fields, very few Qs are to be seen—I think not more than one in fifty.
Clytus is of wide distribution in the Cape Colony, but does not seem to occur
further eastward, the nearly allied LZ. Oxylus, mihi, replacing it in Kaffraria
Proper.
Localities of Leptoneuwra Clytus.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts—Cape Town. Caledon (J. X. Merriman).
Genadendal (G. Hettarsch). Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. Oudts-
hoorn (— Adams).
6. Eastern Districts.—Grahamstown (MM. H. Barber). Uitenhage
(S. D. Bairstow). Seymour, Stockenstrom (W. C. Scully).
20. (2.) Leptoneura Oxylus, Trimen.
Prare Wl fig esas.
3d Leptoneura Oxylus, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1881, p. 437.
Leptoneura Clytus (Linn.), Var. A., Trim., Rhop. Afr, Aust., ii. p. 194
(1866).
Exp. al., 2 in. 74-94 lin.
& Brown, strongly glossed with a bronay lustre of mingled reddish
and greenish ; fore-wing with pale-creamy macular transverse submarginal
stripes. Fore-wing : a transverse, exteriorly convex, interiorly strongly-
dentate, pale-creamy macular stripe, from costa just beyond middle to
anal angle; of this stripe the upper portion is rather narrow and un-
interrupted, but the lower portion is broader and consists of three spots
more or less completely separated from the upper portion and from each
other; close to apex, a short, mu¢h curved, unbroken, wider stripe of
the same colour, from near costa to third median nervule, along which,
by a very thin ray, it is united to the preceding stripe ; touching inner
edge of this short stripe are three rather small, more or less confluent,
black ocelli with widely blue-clouded white pupils, bounded interiorly
by a thin creamy-yellow line; along hind-margin a rather narrow, ill-
defined whitish border, separated by a brown streak from apical pale-
creamy stripe, and traversed longitudinally by another brown streak
close to hind-marginal edge. Hind-wing: beyond middle, between
second subcostal nervule and submedian nervure, a curved transverse
row of five conspicuous black ocelli, with bluish white pupils, in pale
fulvous rings; of these ocelli the fifth is much smaller than the rest,
and often bipupillate; a narrow hind-marginal border of a paler brown
than the ground-colour, traversed by a dark brown streak close to hind-
marginal edge. UNDER SIDE: rather paler, less glossy. Fore-wing: the
creamy bands whiter, the inner one considerably narrowed, its upper
portion more irregular, and sometimes even interrupted, its lower
macular portion with the two lower spots very much reduced or obsolete ;
the inner edge of this stripe is defined by a dentate stria darker than
}
SATYRINA. 95
the ground-colour; in discoidal cell, a little beyond its middle, a
slightly-angulated dark-brown transverse stria, preceded by a shorter
striate marking, sometimes broken into two small spots. Mind-wing:
a very short dark stria (or two small spots) in discoidal cell near base ;
two irregular dark transverse strive from costal to submedian nervure—
one before, the other about, middle—of which the first is exteriorly
edged with some indistinct whitish scales ; outer stria much more irre-
gular than the inner; ocelli as above, but their pupils smaller, their
rings yellow, narrower, and enclosed in thin outer rings of dark-brown,
and the black containing traces of a very thin bluish crescent; two
additional, rather duller, but similar ocelli near costa, before the others ;
both interiorly and exteriorly the ocelli are bounded by some whitish
or whitish-violaceous clouding.
This fine form of Leptoneura seems to be sufficiently distinct from
L. Clytus (Linn.), to be ranked as a separate species. The female still
remains unknown to me, but, considering how rarely that sex of Clytus
proper is taken in comparison with the very numerous males, this is
perhaps not to be wondered at in the case of a form that appears to be
very local. The male Z. Oxylus differs from LZ. Clytus in the following
respects, viz.:—(1) Its much larger size, Clytus not expanding above
2% inches, and being generally not more than 2 in. 4 lin. across the
wings; (2) its paler colouring throughout; (3) the proportionally
smaller and invariably triple ocellus of fore-wing, which in Clytus is
rarely more than double, and, in the instances where it is triple, the
lowest (or third) factor of the compound ocellus is small or minute ;
(4) the greater width of the creamy stripe beyond this ocellus; (5) the
whitish hind-marginal border of fore-wing; (6) the more irregular and
broken character of the macular creamy stripe across disc of fore-wing ;
(7) the more distinct ocelli of hind-wing, and their conspicuous pale
fulvous (instead of dull fulvous) rings; (8) on the under side of the
hind-wing the ocelli are much blacker and their yellow rings much.
brighter ; while (9) the two dark striz are very much less irregular,
the outer one projecting farthest from base on the radial nervule, so
that the space between the strie is widest at that point, instead of on
the third median nervule; and (10) the whitish edging of the striz is
either wanting or very faintly present, and the basal broken stria of
Clytus is all but obsolete. A structural difference is noticeable in the
antenne, which are proportionally shorter in Oxylus; they are also of
a paler and more yellowish rufous.
Colonel Bowker sent this butterfly from Butterworth, Kaffraria Proper, as
long ago as 1861, and afterwards from the Bashee River in the same territory.
Mr. W. 8. M. D’Urban informed me that he had noticed this large ‘ Variety
A.” of L. Clytus in the then colony of British Kaffraria ; but it was not until
March 1875 that Colonel Bowker succeeded in taking specimens on the west
bank of the Kei River, in the division of East London. I have not heard of
the butterfly occurring in Natal, or elsewhere in South Africa than within the
limited range indicated.
96 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Localities of Leptonewra Oxylus.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.—East London District: bank of Kei River (J. H.
Bowker).
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Butterworth and Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
21. (3.) Leptoneura Mintha, (Geyer).
Dira Mintha, Geyer, Zutr. Samml. Exot. Schmett., 5th Cent., p. 15,
n. 426, ff. 851-852 (1837).
Erebia Mintha {an E, Clytus, Linn. Var. ?], Westw., Gen. D. Lep., p. 380,
Nn. 45 (0351).
Leptoneura Clytus (Linn.),? Var. ©, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii
p. 194 (1866).
Leptoneura Mintha, Butl., Cat. Sat. Brit. Mus., p. 71, n. 2 (1868).
Exp. al., 2 mm. 1-5 lin. |
t Dull brown, with a bronzy surface-gloss ; fore-wing with a pale-
creamy macular transverse stripe beyond middle. Fore-wing: stripe
occupying same position as in LZ. Clytus, but more distinctly interrupted
- on third median nervule, and more curved inward inferiorly ; the three
lower spots of the stripe quite disconnected, and, though blunter inte-
riorly, exteriorly quite sharply acuminate—the reverse of what occurs
in Clytus ; compound ocellus near apex bipupillate (rarely tripupillate)
with white (not blue, as in Clytus), and bordered externally by a narrow
quadri-macular dull-creamy stripe; a little before middle, a transverse
fuscous streak, crossing cell, and interrupted on median nervure. AHind-
wing: beyond middle, an interrupted, often very indistinct, fuscous
streak, externally edged narrowly with dull ochreous-yellow; a sub-
marginal row of four moderate-sized white-pupilled ocelli (often a
minute indistinct fifth ocellus near anal angle) in pale dull ochreous-
yellow rings. UNDER SIDE.—Paler and duller; neuration of hind-
wing clouded with white. Fore-wing: base suffused with deep-fulvous
as far as fuscous transverse streak ; apical margin narrowly clouded
with white, fading into pale-brown along hind-margin. Hind-wing:
near base, two fuscous whitish-edged spots in discoidal cell, and a
short longitudinal fuscous whitish-edged streak between median and _
submedian nervures; a fuscous streak marking extremity of cell;
before middle, across wing, a highly irregular dentated fuscous streak,
exteriorly clouded with white; beyond middle, a similar but stronger,
less dentated streak, exteriorly much more widely white-clouded, and
sharply interrupted on first and on third median nervules; six ocelli, much
smaller than those on upper side, and with scarcely any trace of yellowish
rings ; a rather narrow submarginal shining-white stripe, thinly edged
on both sides with fuscous, running from costa just before apex to
anal angle; costa itself with a linear white edging.
2 Pale-creamy stripe beyond middle of fore-wing of a yellower tint
SATYRINA, 97
than in f; rings of ocellt in hind-wing more distinct and faintly tinged
with fulvous. Fore-wing: transverse fuscous streak bounded interiorly
by well-marked fulvous clouding. Hind-wing: transverse fuscous
streak exteriorly edged with somewhat suffused fulvous. UNDER SIDE.
—Fore-wing: fulvous extending more or less fully over disc as far as
lower part of creamy macular stripe (sometimes covering the lowest
spot). Hind-wing: white clouding of neuration and of transverse
streaks much more restricted, but at the same time much more clearly
defined ; rings of ocelli much more distinct—in one case quite clear
creamy-yellow.
This butterfly looks so very like a mere aberration of L. Clytus (Linn.),
that I should not have been disposed to treat it as distinct had not specimens
(the first that reached me) of both sexes been lately—1883-84—sent from
Burghersdorp, in the north-east of the Cape Colony, by Dr. D. R. Kannemeyer,
with the information from that careful observer that it was the prevalent form
of Leptonewra in that vicinity. The differences noted in the above description
seem to be constant, but more material is necessary to make this clear. The
exact locality of the well-coloured ¢ figured by Geyer in the “ Zutrage ”
quoted is not recorded, but it is not unlikely that the specimen was taken near
Cape Town. Mintha is, however, in contrast to Clytus, extremely rare in this
locality, as I have never yet met with it, and the only example known to me
as certainly found in the neighbourhood is a 2 captured at Tokai, in the Cape
District, by the late Mr. H. W. Oakley, Assistant-Curator of the South-African
Museum, on the 4th April 1884. Mr. Oakley revisited the spot, but did not
obtain any other specimens, though he informed me that he believed one
Leptoneura which escaped capture belonged to the form in question.
Localities of Leptoneuwra Mintha.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.—-Tokai, Cape District (HW. W. Oakley).
b. Eastern Districts.—Burghersdorp (D. &. Kannemeyer).
22. (4.) Leptoneura Dingana, Trimen.
& Leptoneura Dingana, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., £873, p. 102,
0) Ae in ia
Exp. al., 2 in. 2--4 lin.
f Dark-brown. Fore-wing: beyond middle a curved macular
fulvous-ochreous band between subcostal nervure and second median
nervule, the three upper spots united and forming a subapical bar ;
contiguous to outer edge of bar a compound black ocellus, bipupillate
or (rarely) tripupillate with bluish-white. Hind-wing: a submarginal
row of five unipupillate black ocelli in strongly-marked fulvous-ochreous
rings, of which the first is between the subcostal nervules, and the
fifth between second and first median nervules; an indistinct and
minute sixth ocellus close to anal angle. UNDER SIDE.—Dull fuscous-
brown, with very indistinct markings. Fore-wing: only a faint (often
G
98 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
no) trace of fulvous band; compound ocellus smaller than above, ill-
defined, but the pupils conspicuous. Hind-wing: the six ocelli present,
but without fulvous rings; usually an additional small ocellus next |
costa; before them indistinct traces of an irregular transverse streak,
darker than ground-colour, but inwardly edged by a paler line; beyond
them two indistinct, parallel, hind-marginal dark streaks; before
middle a similar irregular streak, with a paler external edging.
2 Paler. Fore-wing: fulvous-ochreous band broader, especially
in its lower portion. Hind-wing: rings of ocelli paler, broader.
UNDER SIDE.—Sore-wing: band present, but much narrower through-
out. Hind-wing: median transverse stria rather more distinct.
This Zeptoneura is nearly allied to L. Bowkert, mihi, but is of the
larger size of Clytus, Linn., and presents a very different appearance
from the former species, owing to its fulvous band and very much
larger compound ocellus in the fore-wing.
I founded this species on a single specimen taken in Natal (October 1868)
by Mr. Walter Morant. Examples of both sexes received from the Transvaal
in 1878 and 1879 show that the original specimen in question is a g. Mr.
Morant wrote that he observed it flying low, and settling on the ground and on
rocks, with the wings open.
A fine ¢ specimen was sent to me from Estcourt, Natal, by Mr. J. M.
Hutchinson, in November 1884.
Localities of Leptoneura Dingana.
I, South Africa.
EK. Natal.
6. Upper Districts—Malang Spruit, between Mooi and Bushman’s
Rivers (W. Morant). Estcourt (J. M. Hutchinson).
K. Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
23. (5.) Leptoneura BowkKeri, Trimen.
3 Leptoneura Bowkeri, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1870, p. 348,
Dias 32)
3 Leptoneura Clytus (Linn.), Var. B., Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 194
(1866).
Exp. al., 1 in. 10 lin.—2 in. 3 lin.
g Dark-brown, with a rufous gloss. Fore-wing: a strongly-curved
row of six whitish irregularly-shaped spots (of which the upper three
are in contact with each other, but the lower three separate, sub-
rhomboidal, and diminishing in size downward) running from the costa
a little beyond the middle to just above the first median nervule, near
hind-margin; rarely a seventh indistinct spot below the first median
nervule; externally contiguous to the second spot of this row, near the
apex, an indistinct small black ocellus, unipupillate with bluish-white.
Hind-wing : a submarginal row of four or five moderately-sized white-
unipupillate black ocelli, in narrow dull-rufous rings. UNDER SsIDE.—
et ER 51 ee =
SATYRIN 99
Hind-wing and apex of fore-wing very slightly paler than the rest of the
surface. - Fore-wing: a row of spots as above, but the fifth and sixth
spots more or less tinged with fulvous, and a faint trace of a seventh
spot (also fulvous) below the first median nervule ; a spot, and a curved
stria beyond the spot, rather darker than the ground-colour, about the
middle of the discoidal cell; two parallel dark lines along hind-margin,
the inner one becoming obsolete about the second discoidal nervule.
— Hind-wing: a short dark transverse streak in discoidal cell, near base ;
a dark line closing the cell; two somewhat suffused dark stripes across
the wing, one (edged with greyish scaling outwardly) before the middle,
dentate, but continuous and tolerably regular, the other (edged with
greyish scaling inwardly) irregular, more strongly dentate, and abruptly
interrupted on the third median nervule; ocelli seven (but that nearest
the costa small and indistinct, or sometimes wanting), usually ill-
defined, in brownish-ochreous rings; two parallel marginal lines dis-
tinct throughout.
2 Duller, more reddish. Fore-wing: the first (costal) spot of
curved transverse row wanting, and the second, third, and fourth spots
much reduced in size; all spots except the second dull-rufous instead
of whitish ; ordinary apical ocellus much better defined than in ¢,—
below it two similar ocelli, of which the lower is smaller and externally
edged with rufous. Hind-wing: ocelli larger, more distinct, their
rufous rings much wider and paler. UNDER SIDE—Fore-wing: row of
spots as on upper side, but the three upper ones all more or less
whitish ; lowest of three ocelli obsolete. Sind-wing: greyish scaling
of transverse striz much better developed; ocelli more distinct.
In two examples (f) the small and imperfect ocellus of the fore-
wing is accompanied, on the upper side only, by a minute black spot,
below and separate from it, on the outer edge of the third spot in the
whitish band. In one of the Bashee River specimens, all the spots
(seven) of the band are unusually small, and completely separated, the
three lower ones being minute and fulvous-tinged, both on upper and
under sides of the wings; while in a Katberg example, taken by Mrs.
Barber, they are all very small indeed,—the three lower ones being all
but obsolete.
The ¢ may readily be distinguished from ZL. Clytus by its smaller
size; darker ground-colour ; total want of narrow ochreous band beyond
ocellus of fore-wings; much narrower, paler, and more strongly-curved
macular band, and almost obsolete ocellus of the fore-wings,—both which
markings are much farther from the end of the discoidal cell, and
nearer to the apex, than in Clytus, and the much wider distance apart
(on the under side of the hind-wing) of the two transverse dark stripes at
their costal origin. The antenne are rather paler than those of Clytus.
These differences also characterise the 9 Bowkeri, except that the latter
presents three small ocelli in the fore-wing, and is not so dark in
eround-colour,
100 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
L. Bowkert is a lover of high-lying localities, all the recorded
specimens having occurred at a tolerable elevation. Colonel Bowker
notes it as not rare in Basutoland, and in Kaffraria observed that it
was confined to lofty hill ridges.’
The only ¢? that I have seen was acquired by the South-African Museum
in 1879 from Mr. T. Ayres, who noted it as having been captured in the
Lydenburg District of the Transvaal.
Localities of Leptoneura Bowkeri.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
b. Eastern Districts.—Katberg (M. L. Bar ber), Aliwal North Dis-
trict : heads of Kraai River (J. H. Bowker). Bedford District :
Kagaberg and Winterberg (J. P. Mansel Weale).
d. Basutoland.—Koro-Koro (J. H. Bowker).
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker). North Pondoland |
(Sir H. Barkly).
EK. Natal.
b. Upper Districts.—Karkloof (W. Morant). Weenen County (J.
M. Hutchinson).
K. Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
24. (6.) Leptoneura Cassus, (Linn.)
Papilio Cassus, Linn., Mus. Lud. Ulr. Reg., p. 269, n. 88 (1764) ; and
Syst. Nat., 1. 2, p. 768, mn. 125 (1767).
ome se Cram., Pap. Exot., iv, pl, CCexiv,, dl. C.D (a7oey:
Satyrus Cassus, Godt., Ene. Meth; 1x5 pr 520s. 133 (1819).
Erebia Cassus (Linn.), [? Clytus o] Westw., Gen. D. Lep., p. 380, n. 44 |
TOOT).
ne ee Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., il. p. 195, n. 110 (1866).
Exc. al., 2 in. 1-6 lin.
Very dark brown, with a purplish gloss ; fore-wing widely colowred
with deep-fulvous. Fore-wing: fulvous in ¢ much obscured, ferruginous,
or almost merged in ground-colour, nearly filling discoidal cell, covering
basal halves of median nervules, and extending to the inner edge of a
large white-bipupillate, ill-defined black ocellus, near apex—in
broader, paler, and crossed by a faint disco-cellular streak of brown,
and a long, more conspicuous streak from costa beyond middle,—in
neither sex extending above subcostal or below submedian nervure.
Hind-wing : a row, beyond middle, of 3-5 white-pupilled black ocelli
in deep-fulvous rings, between second subcostal nervule and median —
nervure. UNDER SIDE.—Paler,; costa and apex of fore-wing, and hind-
wing wholly, more or less suffused with greyish-ochreous ; fulvous of fore-
1 Three specimens presented to the South-African Museum in 1874 were taken by
Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., “‘on a steep grassy ridge” on the border of Jojo’s Country, |
North Pondoland. Mr. J. P. Mansel Weale also informed me that he never met with the |
butterfly away from mountains in the Bedford District ; it appeared there from October to |
December.
SATYRIN A, Iot
wing not reaching ocellus, but scarcely reaching beyond outer transverse
streak, which, with that in cell, is usually clearly marked in both sexes.
Hind-wing : two crenelated dark-brown transverse lines, one before, the
other about middle; ocelli very faintly represented by pale dots and in-
_ complete pale rings, seven in number; beyond them a lunulate dark
line. In both wings a dark line along, and close to, hind-margin.
In some ¢ specimens the ocellus of fore-wing is tripupillate, the
lowest pupil indicating the existence of a second ocellus; and two 2s in
my collection have, in addition to the large three-pupilled ocellus, two
well-marked smaller ocelli between first and third median nervules, the
lower being the larger. In one @ the fulvous indistinctly extends
round outer edge of large ocellus, as in Cramer’s figure, and indications
of this appear in others.
Aberr. 2.—Fore-wing: fulvous paler than usual, well-defined, dis-
tinctly and broadly divided into two portions, basal and subapical
(very much as in Pseudonympha Trimenii, Butl.), the dark dividing
space being limited by the two dark transverse streaks usually obser-
vable in the 2, and dusted with fulvous; ocellus bipupillate, larger
than usual, more obliquely placed. Mind-wing: three of the four
ocelli rather larger than usual and very distinct. UNDER sip—E—More
ochreous; markings less distinct. ore-wing: fulvous paler; outer
dark transverse streak straighter and more strongly marked.
Hab.—Zwaarte Ruggens, Uitenhage District; August 1870 (J.
H, Bowker’).
Godart (loc. cit.) notes two males in which the fore-wings wholly
wanted the ocellus on the upper side, but on the under side were quite
as usual.
Larva.—Pale sandy-brown; along middle of back a fine double
black line, between two sinuated dusky streaks ; on each side a sub-
dorsal, broad, dusky streak, crossed superiorly on each segment by a
short, oblique, narrow mark of the ground-colour; spiracles black,
surrounded by dusky irroration. Head large, dark-brown, set with
short black bristles and sandy hairs. Body generally rather closely
set with short black bristles; tail very slightly bifid, the two short pro-
minences sandy, set with black bristles like the rest of the surface.
Pupa.—Pale-sandy, inclining to reddish abdominally, everywhere
minutely reticulated with fuscous. A fuscous line down middle of back ;
the edges of all the limbs, and the neuration of the wings defined by
fuscous lines. Back of abdomen with a pale-sandy streak on each side
and two very indistinct central ones; a series of indistinct paler spots
just above spiracles. Length 71 lines. Form like that of Clytus, but
abdomen shorter inferiorly, being more abruptly curved.
Not suspended; lying perfectly free and unattached.
Mr. T. D. Butler and Mr. R. Lightfoot both brought me examples of this
larva, but I did not succeed in rearing any of them. The latter, however,
was more successful, obtaining two pup from larvee collected in August 1885.
102 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
From one of these pup I hatched a ¢ Cassus on 18th September, the pupal
state having lasted thirty days. The larve fed on a grass.
This Leptoneura is not uncommon in the Western Districts of the Cape
Colony, but local in its habits, preferring hilly or elevated stations. It flies
from the end of September to the middle of December, and is conspicuous on
the wing from its dark colouring. In flight it resembles its allies, keeping
near the ground and often settling, but it is rather swifter than Z. Clytus. I
captured the paired sexes near Worcester on the 22d October 1863.
The occurrence of this species in Madagascar, for which in 1867 the only
evidence known to me was a specimen labelled with that locality in the British
Museum, has of late years been established ; and the butterfly has been figured
as Ypthima Cassus in the plates of M. Grandidier’s great work on the Mala-
gasy fauna, which were shown to me by Mr. H. Grose Smith in 1881.
Localities of Leptonewra Cassus.
I, South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts—Cape Town. Simon’s Town. Vogel Vley,
Tulbagh District. Worcester. Hex River, Worcester District |
(L. Péringuey). Springbokfontein, Namaqualand District (G.
A. Reynolds).
b. Eastern Districts—Zwaarte Ruggens, Uitenhage District (J. .
Bowker). Murraysburg (J. J. Muskett).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
bb. Madagascar.—Coll. Brit. Mus.
25. (7.) Leptoneura Cassina, Butler.
@ Leptoneura Cassina, Butl., Cat. Sat. Brit. Mus., p. 72, pl. ii. f. 12 (1868).
Leptoneura Cassus (Linn.), [part], Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 196 (1866).
Leptoneura Cassina, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1868, p. 283.
Exp. al., (¢) 1 in. 9Q—I0 lin.; (Q) 2 in.
a Very dark-brown, with a purplish gloss; fore-wing suffused with
deep ferruginous-fulvous (sometimes almost obsolete). Fore-wing: apical
ocellus as in Z. Cassus (Linn.), but not so well defined, and sometimes
tripupillate ; dark-fulvous usually more restricted than in Cassus, and
rarely extending as far as ocellus. Mind-wing: ocelli beyond middle
very indistinct (especially their fulvous rings), seldom exceeding three
in number. UNDER SIDE.—Hind-wing and costal and apical border of |
fore-wing rather paler than on upper side, trrorated wnequally with
whitish or hoary-grey scales. Fore-wing: as in Cassus, except for rather
—
dense hoary scaling just at apex. Hind-wing: whitish irroration thickest |
immediately beyond inner transverse dark streak, and between discal
row of ocelli and hind-margin (especially at and near apex); ocelli
very obscure, except as regards the inner portions of their rings, which
form conspicuous, thin, whitish lunules or lunulate spots.
2 Fulvous better defined, especially in rings of ocelli in hind-wing ;
ground-colour quite as dark as in g. UNDER siIDE.—Fulvous of fore-
|
(
|
}
| SATYRIN ZZ. Tos
wing much paler; hind-wing and borders of fore-wing very much paler
than in f, with an ochreous tinge, and with the hoary irroration much
better developed (especially at and near apex of hind-wing).
This form is doubtfully separable from Z. Cassus (Linn.), the only differ-
ences of importance being its considerably smaller size, darker colour (especially
in the ¢), and the hoary scaling on the under side (particularly apparent at
the apices and on the fragmentary rings of the hind-wing ocelli). It is certainly
scarcer than Cassus, and haunts a different station, being confined, as far as I
know, to the sandy flats in the Cape District and Piketberg. The only example
of several seen which I took at the latter locality was a very dark ¢, which
' in size and the yellower less hoary under-side scaling showed some approach
towards Cassus. The only females (two) that I have met with present no trace
of the small additional ocelli in the fore-wing often found in the ? Cassus.
October is its chief month of appearance, but I have taken it in September,
and (worn) as late as December.
i
!
|
Localities of Leptoneura Cassina.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.—Cape Town. Piketberg.
Genus MYCALESIS.
Mycalesis, Hiibner, Verz. Bek, Schmett., p. 54 (1816).
Imaco.—Head small, tufted in front; eyes usually smooth; palpr
rather long, laterally compressed, acute, the basal and middle joints set
densely and compactly beneath with bristly hairs, the terminal joint
rather short, acuminate, clothed with very short hairs; antennw rather
short, gradually but generally very distinctly clubbed. Thorax small
and short, prominent and hairy dorsally. ore-wings rather broad and
truncate ; costa much arched ; hind-margin slightly convex, very slightly
sinuated ; costal nervure always, and median and submedian nervures
usually, swollen at the base; a the @, the last-named nervure often
has on its lower edge, a little before middle, a small sac enclosing a
tuft of hair, and the inner margin between base and middle is usually
convex, while on the under side there is a glossy, sub-iridescent, inner-
marginal space; first subcostal nervule originating some way before,
the second at, extremity of discoidal cell; where median nervure is
swollen, its first nervule is given off at extremity of swelling; cell broad,
rather short; middle and lower disco-cellular nervules forming at their
junction an obtuse angle towards the base,—the lower nervule much
longer than the middle one. Hind-wings broad, rounded; hind-margin
more or less sinuated; anal angle often rather pronounced; costa at
base slightly excavated, but at a little distance from base strongly pro-
minent, more or less fringed with short hairs; in the @, costal border
conspicuously glossy and sub-iridescent, with usually a tuft of long hairs
104 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
springing from edge of subcostal nervure; discoidal cell very short,
rather broad, obliquely truncate terminally by the almost continuous
disco-cellular nervules. fore-legs of $ small, but quite noticeable, with
the femur short, slender, and finely hairy, but with the tibia and tarsus
densely hairy ; those of 2 much larger and longer, and very finely hairy
throughout. Jdiddle and hind legs moderately stout, clothed with scales ;
tibial spurs short. Abdomen in f rather elongated, and tufted with
hair at the end.
This genus of numerous closely-related species is characteristic of
the Old-World Tropics, extending from the West-African coast to
Australia, only a few species occurring in extra-tropical countries, one
of them inhabiting Japan. About half of the ninety species recorded
are natives of South-Eastern Asia and the Indo-Malayan Islands, while |
Australia Gncluding the Austro-Malayan Islands) and Africa nearly
equally divide the remaining half. Westwood (Gen. Diurn. Lep., i.
p- 393) has pointed out that the genus is divisible into two groups,—
one with only the costal nervure of the fore-wings swollen basally, and |
with the $ badge borne on the.submedian nervure of the same wings,—
the other with the median and submedian nervures also swollen, and
with the badge borne on the subcostal nervure of the hind-wings.* All
the African species appear to belong to the latter division.
Se PASI LE IE A —
ee
These butterflies are of medium size and obscure-brown colouring |
(varied in some Hastern species with fulvous-ochreous), with submarginal
ocellated spots more numerous and distinct on the under than on the |
upper side of the wings. The fore-wings usually bear only two of these
ocelli, the lower of which is almost always considerably the larger of
the two. The two South-African species that I have seen in life fre-
quent wooded spots, J/ Safitza—which is by far the commoner and
more widely distributed—preferring shady spots in woods, and J. per-
spicua more open localities on the outskirts. JI am not aware of the
erp
haunts of JZ. Simons, a singular pale yellow-ochreous form, which |
appears just to penetrate extra-tropical South Africa, but in all pro-
bability it is also a sylvan butterfly. The flight of Safitza and Per-
spicua is extremely weak and low, and interrupted by frequent settling -
on the ground or on herbage.
It must have been in error that the little WM. Narcissus, Fab., so
abundant in Mauritius, was recorded as a native of Natal, no specimen
having occurred in any of the numerous collections from various parts
of that colony which I have examined during the past twenty-two
years.
1 Mr. Moore’s genera Orsotricena and Calysisme (Lep. Ceylon, i. pp. 20, 22) seem respec:
tively to correspond with these two groups. The Japanese M. Perdiccas, Hewits., links the
two divisions, presenting the three swollen nervules and g badge in the fore-wings, and also
the 6 badge in the hind-wings.
|
SATYRIN 4. 105
96. (1.) Mycalesis Safitza, Hewitson.
& Mycalesis Safitza, Hewits., Gen. Diurn. Lep., p. 394, n. 10, pl. 66, f. 3
(1851); Exot. Butt., iii. p. 80, pl. 4o, f. 4 (1862).
& Mycalesis Hustrus, Hopff., “ Monatsber. d. KK. Akad. Wissensch., Berl.,
1855, p. 641, n. 13;” and Peters’ Reise n. Mossamb., Ins., p. 393,
Mineo, t.. >,.4.(1862),
$ Mycalesis injusta, Wallgrn., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1857, Lep. Rhop.
@aiits,. ps 32.
Var. A. ¢ and @.
| § Mycalesis Evenus, Hopff., op. cit., “1855, p. 641, n. 143”
Pls 25, di.5,.6 (1862).
© Mycalesis caffra, Wallgrn., op. cit., 1857, p. 34.
3 9 Mycalesis Lvenus, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., il. p. 207, n. 120 (1866).
)
and p. 394;
Exp. al., (f) 1 in. 8-11 lin. ; (2) 1 in. 10 lin—2 in. 1 lin.
f Dark-brown, tinged with yellow-ochreous; a common submarginal
darker line; fore-wing with a small, black, white-pupilled, subapical
— ocellus, ringed with pale dull ochrey-yellowish, and (usually) a larger,
similar, less distinct ocellus between first and second median nervules. Fore-
wing: beyond extremity of discoidal cell, an indistinct, rather suffused,
short, transverse, dull ochrey-yellowish streak ; subapical ocellus between
radial nervules; between the two ocelli a more or less indistinct dull
pale-ochrey-yellowish suffusion ; lower ocellus sometimes very indistinct,
and almost as small as the upper one,—rarely quite obsolete; a small
elongate sac touching lower edge of submedian nervure, about middle.
Hind-wing : without markings; along costa a smooth glistening grey-
ish-white space, wider nearer base, and on its lower edge, springing
from subcostal nervure close to base, a tuft of long whitish hairs, suc-
ceeded by a similar tuft of rather shorter fuscous hairs on second sub-
costal nervule. UNDER SIDE.—Sasal halves of wings dark-brown (darker
than wpper side), sharply defined externally by a thin, creamy-yellowish,
slightly-sinuate streak, from costa of fore-wing to imner margin (near
anal angle) of hind-wing ; outer halves very pale yellowish-brown, marked
with distinct white-pupilled black ocelli, with yellow iris encircled with
dark-brown ; an inner sharply-dentated and an outer slightly-sinuated
submarginal dark-brown streak common to both wings; surface gener-
ally, but especially outer portion, with a more or less distinct violaceous
gloss. ore-wing: across middle of discoidal cell a narrow pale-brown
streak with darker edges (often indistinct and sometimes obsolete); a
little before this streak an all but obsolete similar shorter one; lower
ocellus large and conspicuous; occasionally one or two minute (usually
imperfect) ocelli adjoining each of the two constant ocelli; beyond the
pale streak bounding dark basal half, some more or less developed
brown clouding, which, uniting with the enlarged lower portion of the
inner submarginal streak, forms an almost complete ring about (but at
some little space from) the larger ocellus ; a rather wide inner-marginal
Space, from base to beyond middle, shining-silvery, marked with the
same little sac that is seen on the upper side. Hind-wing: seven
106 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
ocelli on disc, in a series from near apex to close to anal angle, of which
the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth are of moderate size and the others
much smaller; before and beyond these ocelli there is some more or
less developed brown clouding of the same character as that in fore-wing.
2 Considerably larger, paler. Fore-wing: lower ocellus always
present, better defined; in some examples, a minute third ocellus
immediately above the larger one. UNDER SIDE.—Lasal halves not
nearly so dark, and with the paler outer halves tinged with ochreous-
yellow. Hore-wing: from one to three of the minute additional ocelli
always present ; streak across cell usually better marked. Hind-wing: |
fifth ocellus rather markedly larger than the rest; before middle, a |
rather indistinct dark transverse stria, pale-edged interiorly.
Var. A. (¢ and 9.—I. Hvenus, Hopft.)
Upper side as above described. Under side in both sexes with the
lower ocellus of fore-wing smaller, and all the other ocellr very much
smaller,—in some specimens extremely minute; with the common pale |
streak less defined in the hind-wing, and with the brown clouding |
beyond the streak almost obsolete except near large ocellus of fore- —
wing; the paler outer areas (and sometimes also the basal half of |
hind-wing) more or less suffused with violaceous-grey.
The larger size, darker colour, more distinct and defined space of
yellowish near subapical ocellus of fore-wing, and total want of the |
———
—
a
lower ocellus in the same wing, in Hewitson’s figure of the upper side |
of his Sajfitza, led me to dissociate from it the Husirus of Hopfter; but
the figure of the under side of Safitza in Hewitson’s Hxotic Butter-
jlues shows that the two forms cannot be kept apart, although the
latter gives a more defined apical pale space in fore-wing and con- |
siderably larger ocelli (especially in hind-wing) than I have ever met |
‘with in Hopffer’s form. Dewitz (Wov. Act. Leop.-Carol.-Deutsch Akad.
Naturf., xli. p. 176, 1879) states that in the collection of the Berlin
Museum Lusirus is by Hopffer himself marked as synonymous with
Safitza. My identification of MZ. injusta, Wallengr., with the Luswrus
of Hopffer is confirmed by the examination of a typical specimen of |
the former lent to me by the Royal Stockholm Museum, through the |
kindness of Mr. P. O. C. Aurivillius.
The Variety (AL Evenus, Hopff) is linked to Fusirws proper by
several specimens of both sexes from the Cape Colony and Natal, in
which all the ocelli of the hind-wing, though very small (or even
minute), are perfect and distinct. Jf. Saga, Butl. (Cat. Sat. Brit.
Mus., p. 130, pl. 11. f. 1, 1868), from Sierra Leone, is apparently very
close to the Hvenus form, but the suppression of the ocelli extends even
to the lower ocellus of the fore-wing, which is quite minute.
At Knysna, which I believe is the southern and western limit ot
Mycalesis in the Cape Colony, I found the Hvenus form predominant,
specimens with well-developed under-side ocelli rarely occurring; but
from Grahamstown eastward, and in Natal, the contrary appears to be
SATYRINZ. 107
the case, the examples that I met with being either of the Husirus form
or near it. Colonel Bowker has, however, sent a set of twelve of the
former from D’Urban, Natal, including the paired sexes (the ¢ with
ocelli a little better shown than in the ?) taken in 1879.
| Hewitson’s type of Sajitza had no other locality than ‘“ Africa”
attached to it, but Mr. Butler (loc. cit.) recognises the species as
occurring in Congo and at Natal. It seems to be most nearly allied
| to the West-African JZ Hvadne, Cramer (Pap. Exot., t. ccxxii. ff. E, F),
as regards the under-side markings, but has the streak before middle
) almost obsolete, and quite wants the purple gloss on the upper side of
| the wings, while the fore-wing has on the upper side an ocellus lacking
altogether in Hvadne.
|
| This butterfly is only found in woods and patches of ‘“ bush,” preferring
_ the thickest shades, and delighting to settle on dead leaves and twigs in the
_ narrow footpaths. In such situations it is difficult to distinguish when at
rest, its sombre colouring agreeing so well with surrounding objects. The
flight is weak and close to the ground, and two or three specimens may often
_ be observed flying round together in small circles, and then abruptly settling.
I have noticed a female quietly seated with four or five males excitedly circling
about her; and the instant one of the males settled, all the others would do so, .
when, after a little jostling, off they would all start again. It has been
_ recorded as occurring in every month of the year except June and July.
Localities of Mycalesis Safitza.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts—Knysna. Plettenberg Bay.
b, Eastern Districts.—Grahamstown. Peelton, near King William’s
Town (W. 8S. M. D’ Urban). Cove Rock, near East London
(W. S. M. D’ Urban).
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts—D’Urban. Verulam. Avoca and Lower Um-
komazi (J. H. Bowker).
b. Upper Districts.—Pietermaritzburg (Miss Colenso and — Wind-
ham).
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower).
II. Other African Regions,
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.— “ Angola (Pogge).”—Dewitz. “Angola: Lo-
anda (£. Meldola).”—Butler. ‘Congo: Kinsembo (Z.
Ansell).”—Butler.
b. Hastern Coast.—‘“‘ Querimba.”—Hopffer.
27. (2.) Mycalesis perspicua, Trimen.
Mycalesis perspicua, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 104, pl. i.
£3[3].
Hapedls, (f) I-inm, 7-10 lin.; (¢) I in. ro lin.
Pale-brown, with very clearly marked, white-pupillate, black ocelli
m yellow-ochreous rings ; common to both wings, a slightly paler shade
108 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
of ground-colour beyond an indistinct line about middle, and three
parallel, hind-marginal, dark lines, of which the outermost is on the
edge next to cilia. Sore-wing: a small ocellus between radials; a
large one on second and first median nervules, its ring extending |
above and below those nervules respectively. ind-wing: two good-
sized ocelli between third and first median nervules; a small one above
third median nervule; occasionally a minute indistinct ocellus near
anal angle. UNDER sIDE.—Pale greyish-ochreous, closely hatched and |
trrorated with brown ; two reddish-brown transverse lines, one before,
the other beyond middle; the outer line immediately succeeded by a |
conspicuous pale-yellow stripe, externally ill-defined ; hind-marginal
streaks well-marked ; all the ocelli in well-marked rufus-brown rings —
encircling the yellow-ochreous rings. Jore-wing: the two ocelli
answer to those on upper side. ind-wing: seven ocelli in sub- |
marginal row, of which the fourth and fifth (between third and first
median nervules) are considerably larger than the rest, the three above
them small (about equal in size), and the seventh (at anal angle) much
the smallest, but clearly defined.
Both sexes, but especially the f, present a variation which has all
the ocelli on the under side of the wings indistinctly marked, and much
smaller than usual, or all but obsolete,—only the white pupil of the
large fore-wing ocellus being conspicuous; the yellow stripe beyond |
middle deeper in tint; and the transverse line before middle immedi-
ately preceded by some yellow clouding.
The close brown lines or hatchings and conspicuous pale-yellow |
stripe of the under side readily distinguish this butterfly from IZ. Sajitza, —
Hewits., apart from its much paler colouring and three or four distinct —
hind-wing ocelli on the upper side. Its other allies are JL. Mineus, |
Linn., and JZ. Ostrea, Westw. (= Otrea, Hiibn. nec Cram.); but it |
differs from the former by the much broader stripe of the under side, |
and from both by the number (three) and distinctness of the ocelli on the
upper side of the hind-wings. The two species just named are natives
of China and North India respectively.
I think it very probable that JZ Victorina, Westw. (App. to Oates’
Matabeleland, p. 350, n. 58, 1881), from the Zambesi (near Victoria Falls), |
is identical with M. perspicua ; but the diagnosis given is not sufficiently |
detailed to admit of certainty on this point. If not identical, it must be a
very close ally."
I discovered this Mycalests at Port Natal, taking a single example (?),
on 3d August 1865, flitting about long grass in some rough ground at the
base of the slope near D’Urban, where the Botanic Garden is situated. On
1 T have received from Mr. F. C. Selous two és of a Mycalesis taken on the Shashani
River, Makalaka Country, which only differ from Perspicua in being (1) greyer on upper
side, with (2) ocelli in duller rings and only two in jhind-wing ; and on under side (3) a |
Oo?
greyer ground-colour without any hatching or irroration, (4) a much narrower common pale-
yellow streak,—in one of the examples lznear, and (5) the ocelli all encircled with neatly
defined pale-yellowish linear wings,—especially perfect in fore-wing. This may possibly be
the Victorina of Westwood.
= 1 oie - 9 = =,
—— ——
SATYRINZ. 109
the 4th March 1867 I again met with the species at Mapumulo, between the
Umvoti and Tugela Rivers, capturing one of each sex among grass at the bottom
of a deep ravine. Captain H. C. Harford, who sent me a ¢ from Pinetown,
' taken in January 1869, also noted the butterfly as occurring among long grass.
' In Natal it is rather a scarce species, Colonel Bowker having forwarded single
specimens only from Avoca in August 1878 and from the Lower Umkomazi
in February 1883 respectively. Its range northward must, however, be great,
as, besides examples found between the Limpopo and Zambesi by Mr. T.
Ayres, the South-African Museum possesses a pair taken by Colonel Bowker
at Zanzibar in September 1878. These specimens, as well as four others taken
by M. Selous in North-West Transvaal, all have the ocelli well developed, and
quite agree with the Natalian type.
Localities of Mycalesis perspicua.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.— D’Urban. Avoca and Lower Umkomazi (J.
H. Bowker). Pinetown (1. C. Harford). Mapumulo.
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay ( Colonel H. Tower).
H. “ Delagoa Bay.”—Kirby, Cat. Hewitson Coll.
K. Transvaal.—Marico River (/. C. Selous).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
b. Eastern Coast.—‘ Shire River.” — Kirby, Cat. Hewitson Coll.
Zanzibar (J. H. Bowker).
b1. Eastern Interior.—Between Limpopo and Zambesi Rivers (7.
Ayres).
28. (3.) Mycalesis Simonsii, Butler.
3 2 Mycalesis Simonsit, Butl., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 4th Ser., xix.
p. 458 (1877).
Hop dl..(¢) tim. 78 lin. ; (2) 2 in.
a Very pale ochre-yellow; fore-wing slightly deeper in tint, and
with a costal-apical bordering of reddish-brown ; common to both wings,
a fine transverse discal darker line, relieved externally by a lighter
line or streak, and two shghtly-sinuated submarginal darker lines
(very faintly marked in hind-wing). ore-wing: brown border com-
mencing faintly at base, continued narrowly along costa as far as ex-
tremity of discoidal cell, and thence darkening and widening into a
good-sized apical patch, ill-defined interiorly, which extends along
hind-margin as far as end of second median nervule; inner of two sub-
marginal lines developed into a strongly-marked streak of brown, darker
than that of apical patch; a small black, white-pupilled, yellow-ringed
ocellus near apex between the radial nervules, and a similar, much
larger, conspicuous ocellus on disc, between first and second median
nervules. Hind-wing: a discal series of three minute, similar, but
very imperfect non-pupillate ocelli between third median nervule and
IIO SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
submedian nervure. UNDER SIDE.—Dudller, less yellow (especially in basal —
half), very finely speckled and hatched with brownish; common discal |
streak much better marked than on upper side, reddish-brown, extertorly |
relieved by a pale-yellow line ; submarginal lines almost obsolete; a
common indistinct transverse brown line before middle. ore-wing: |
ocelli much less distinct than on upper side, the subapical one minute, | —
14
|
the large one consisting of a grey spot, enclosing an enlarged shining- |
white pupil, and obscurely ringed with yellow. Hind-wing: a discal —
row of seven very small grey ocelli from costa to anal angle,—the second, |
third, and seventh being minute or almost obsolete, and the pupils of
all indistinct.
@ Similar, but brown border less apparent along costa, and more
rufous apically. UNDER SIDE..—Somewhat darker, with a rufous tinge; _
the fine hatching closer and more distinct; yellow external edging of l
common discal streak wider, more conspicuous.
The dull-yellow ground-colour of this Mycalesis gives it a very ,
peculiar aspect, but its alliance to the similarly-tinted IZ EHliasis, —
Hewits., noted by Mr. Butler (loc. cit.), is more apparent than real, —
Simonsit being in fact much closer to I. perspicua, mihi, This will
be seen on comparing the under sides, that of Simonsw being very |
close to that of those examples of Perspicwa in. which the ocelli are
almost suppressed. In J. Hlwasis (a Congo species) the ocelli are
well developed on the upper side of both wings, but are strikingly dis-
tinct and numerous on the under side; and they present the more
important character of being situated in quite a different positron; viz.,
quite close to the hind-margin.
M. Simonsit was described from specimens brought from Lake Nyassa,
which appear from Mr. Butler’s description to have been a httle darker than
those which I have received from Mashunaland and the Zambesi, and to have |
as many as six spots in the discal series on the upper side of the hind-wing.
I include the butterfly in my lst on the strength of an example received in
1875 from Mr. F. H. Barber, who took it on the Crocodile (or Upper Limpopo)
River on the north-west boundary of the Transvaal, at a locality very near
the Tropic, but believed to be a little to the southward. Though I could not
identify this individual with any described Mycalesis, it was too much injured
to enable me to diagnose it as a new species.
ae
Localities of Mycalesis Simonsit.
I. South Africa.
K. Transvaal.—Upper Limpopo River (/ H. Barber).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
br. Eastern Interior.—Inyoutete River, Mashunaland, and Zumbo,
north bank of Zambesi River (#. C. Selous). “ Lake Nyassa
(7, A, A. Simons).”—Butler. |
}
|
SATY RIN AE. 1a
Genus MELANITIS.
Melanitis, Fabricius, “ Illiger’s Mag., vi. p. 282 (1807) ;” Butler, Cat. Sat.
Brit. Mus., p. 1 (1868).
Hipio, Hiibner, Verz. Bek. Schmett., p. 56 (1816).
Cyllo, Boisduval, ‘‘ Voy. Astrolabe, Lep., p. 140 (1832),” and Faune Ent,
de Madag., &c., p. 57 (1833); Westwood, Gen. Diurn. Lep., ii. p.
360 (1851); Trimen, Rhop. Afr. Aust., il. p. 186 (1866).
Gnophodes, Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep., ii. p. 363 (1851) ; Trimen, Rhop.
Air, Aust. 11. p: 189 (1366).
IMaGo.—Head small, clothed with short dense hair; eyes very pro-
| minent, smooth ; palpr short, compressed, ascendant, densely clothed
| with long scales, the terminal joint short, moderately acute; antenne
| rather short, slender, only very slightly and gradually thickened termi-
| nally. Z'horax moderately robust, elevated dorsally ; covered with short
down on breast, but hairy on back, especially posteriorly. Wings
large and broad, more or less angulated. ore-wings produced api-
cally, usually angulated at extremity of second discoidal nervule,
beneath which hind-margin is excavated (being moderately dentate
generally); costa strongly arched ; inner margin nearly straight (convex
in f of some species) ; first and second subcostal nervules originating
before extremity of discoidal cell,—the subcostal nervure and all its
branches situated very close to costa; discoidal cell long and broad ;
upper and middle disco-cellular nervules both very short (so that the
two radial nervules arise very near each other), but lower one very long,
with an inward curve in its upper part; in ¢ of some species a large
oval tuft of long hairs, directed outwardly, lying between first median
nervule and submedian nervure, near base. Hind-wings produced
inferiorly, more or less prominently angulated at extremity of third
median nervule, and with a smaller projection at extremity of first
median nervule; hind-margin moderately dentate generally ; anal angle
prominent; costa prominent at base, but thence only slightly arched
or nearly straight; costal nervure extending almost to apex ; discoidal
cell narrow, rather short,—the lower disco-cellular nervule considerably
longer than the upper, slightly bent just below origin of radial nervule,
and meeting third median nervule at acute angle ; inner margin pro-
duced to form a wide channel in its basal half, so as to cover almost all
the under surface of the abdomen, but excavated inferiorly. ore-legs
of ~ very small, rather thinly clothed with short rough hair on tibia
and short tarsus; those of 2 considerably larger, not hairy but scaly,
with the tarsus as long as the tibia, and indistinctly articulated.
Middle and hind legs moderately thick, smooth and scaly; tibiae with
a few thin spines inferiorly, the terminal spurs very short; tarsi with
a few very short spines beneath.
Larva.—Elongate, thickened about middle. Head large, surmounted
by a pair of straight spinulose horns. Last segment bearing a pair
of long, slightly divergent, bristly spikes, directed posteriorly.
Lie SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Popa.—Smooth, thick, rounded (especially about middle); cephalic |
prominence obtuse, dorso-thoracic prominence rather acute.
I have felt obliged to unite Gnophodes to Melanitis, not being able
to discover any characters warranting its being held generically dis-
tinct. Westwood himself (loc. cit.) doubted the propriety of treating
it as a separate genus, noting that the tuft of hair and dilated inner
margin of the fore-wings of the f were the chief distinguishing features,
and that the former character was wanting in the West-African G.
Morpena (= Pythia, Fab.) The only other differences from Melanitis
that I have detected are the longer upper and middle disco-cellular —
nervules in the fore-wings, and the less curved lower disco-cellular
nervule in both fore and hind wings."
The rather large and striking insect, MW. Leda of Linneus, which
is the type of this genus, is one of the most variable of known butter-
flies, and has an immense geographical sange over the Ethiopian,
Oriental, and Australian Regions. Although several Indian and
Malayan variations are still marked in collections as distinct species,
I am most strongly disposed—looking to the large number of so-called
species which have, with common consent, been sunk as varieties of
Leda, and knowing the remarkable extent to which this butterfly
varies, alike in outline of wings, pattern, and colouring in one and
the same locality even (¢.g., Port Natal)—to think that there exists in
reality (besides the species hitherto referred to Gnophodes) but one
Melanitis, spread over all the warmer parts of the Old World.
The nocturnal habits of Melanitis lend it an additional interest.
During the day it frequents the darkest and shadiest spots in woods
or plantations, sitting on the ground or among dead leaves, where its
under-side colouring well conceals it from notice. When roused from
these retired spots, it takes a short but wild, uneven, flapping flight,
and drops again into some shaded nook. At sunset it becomes active,
and ventures into open spots, where it may be observed sporting
about until dark.
29, (1.) Melanitis Leda (Linnzus).
Papilio Leda, Linn., Syst. Nat., i. 2, p. 773, mn. 151 (1767).
. je ra TU) Nat Gost. tp xe tes Onno)
e ,, Cram., Pap. Exot., iii. t. cxevi. ff. co, p, and iv’ t. cexem
f(T 7 52).
. >» Hab., Ent. Syst., mi. © p- 108,m. 239 (1702),
Oreas marmorea Leda, Hiibn., Samml. Exot. Schmett., i. t. gt (1806).
Satyrus Leda, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. 478, n. 4 (1819).
1 Mr. A. G. Butler (Cat. Sat. Brit. Mus., p. 5, pl. ii. f. 1) describes and figures an
Indian butterfly which he names Melanitis Gnophodes, with the following note, viz. :—‘‘ The
3 of this species resembles Gnophodes Parmeno on the upper side; the ? has a brighter
orange band, and resembles the Natal form” [afterwards named by Mr. Butler G. diversa]
‘of the same insect. It may possibly be a link between the two genera, though a true
Melanitis.”
| | SATYRINA. 113
_ Cyllo Leda, Boisd., Faune Ent. de Madag., &c., p. 58, n. 2 (1833).
Melanitis Leda, Horsf. and Moore, Cat. Lep. H.E.I.C. Mus., p. 222, n. 461
ROE 7.):
ae ae and P. Solandra, Fab., Syst. Ent., pp. 499, 500, nn. 243,
244 (1775).
Papilio Ismene, P. Mycena, P. Phedima, and P. Arcensia, Cram., Pap.
HixOb.s 1. b, <
the f; in the fore-wing the apical and hind-marginal blackish is much
widened and suffused, with only indistinct traces of the ochreous spots, |
and the space beyond costal black bar is narrowed and yellowish-white ; _
while in the hind-wing the hind-marginal border is even, complete, ©
a . - —————————eeeee—ee ne
Se eee -
and well-defined from the ground-colour, the row of small pale spots |
traversing its middle line.
Larva.—Ochreous-yellow. Hach segment broadly banded trans- |
versely with purplish-red, the band occupying the middle portion.
Spines long and distinctly branched, blackish, springing from tubercles |
situated in the purplish-red bands; the two dorsal spines on segment _
next head longer than the rest, erect. Head ochreous-yellow. Legs |
and pro-legs purplish-red.
‘“‘ Weeds on Passiflora” (Dr. J. E. Seaman, in litt.)
LED UUD a afar
Pura.—Pinkish-white. Margins of head, limbs, and wing-nervures |
defined with black. Abdominal rows of spots arranged as in pupz of
ACRAKIN AE. 161
A. Horta and A. serena, but more continuous; the spots rose-pink in
wide black contiguous rings. Median line of under side of abdomen
tinged with rose-pink ; two spots of the same colour on median line of
back of thorax, and one at base of wings. Head ochreous-yellow.
Pear I. fie. ya.
This pupa appears to be rounder and blunter anteriorly than that
of A. Horta, and is so much more curved that the dorsal outline is
strongly convex in a lateral view.
The above descriptions are made from a coloured drawing executed
by the late Dr. Seaman in 1869, exhibiting a lateral view beth of
larva and pupa.
This very handsome and conspicuous Acrwa is the Southern and
Hastern representative of the abundant and widely-spread A. Zetes
({Linn.) of Western Africa, and is readily distinguished by the warm
red and ochreous colouring of the fore-wings, which are suffused
fuscous-grey in Zetes.
I only once took this species on the coast of Natal, in the summer of 1867;
but it is usually pretty common there, numereus specimens having been taken
near D’Urban by the late Mr. M. J. M‘Ken, Colonel Bowker, and others, At
Pietermaritzburg, however, at the end of March and beginning of April, I
found the butterfly abundant, frequenting flowers in mest gardens, and as easy
of capture as A. Horta.
The Jate Dr. Seaman and Colonel Bowker alike reported the larves as doing
much damage to passion-flowers in Natal; but I have not heard what is their
native food-plant.
As I have recorded in the Transactions of the Linnean Society (vol. xxvi.
pp. 517 and 518), A. Acara is the subject of close mimicry by a member of
the Nymphaline, deseribed by Mr. A. G. Butler as Pseudacrea Trimenti. In
this very interesting case each sex of the Acrea is distinctly copied by the
corresponding sex of the Pseudacrea. The latter haunts the same localities as
A. Acara, but is a rare insect.
Localities of Acrwa Acara.
I, South Africa.
Hi. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban.
b. Upper Districts. —Pietermaritzburg.
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lorencgo Marques (J. J. Menteive).
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom and Lydenburg Districts (7. Ayres).
Il. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
b1. Interior.—“ Victoria Nyanza (Rev. J. Hanningten).”—A. G.
Butler.
B. North Tropical.
6. Eastern Coast.— Tongu (A. Raffray).”—Oberthiir.
bi. Interior.—~ White Nile.”—Hewitson,
VOL. I. L
162 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
48. (15.) Acreea Barberi, Trimen.
Puare WAS ies gy)) etna (o):
Acrea Barberi, Trimen, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1881, p. 433.
Hop. al,,.2 in. 5s —O line (4) 6 ms 2 dina 2)
fg Warm brick-red, tinged with carnuine ; spotted and edged with
black. Fore-wing: base suffused with black, narrowly near costa, but
more widely on inner margin; costa edged with fuscous very narrowly ;
from apex to posterior angle a broad hind-marginal fuscous border,
containing seven large yellow-ochreous spots, of which the first is
smallest, and the second not enclosed by fuscous on its inner edge; a
large elongate spot closing discoidal cell; a similar marking in the
cell not far from the extremity, and another (of variable size and
rounded) in the cell near base; slightly beyond the last-named spot,
and below median nervure, a curved elongate spot, and another (also
below median nervure) between first and second median nervules; a
spot below first median nervule, not far from posterior angle; beyond
discoidal cell a subapical transverse black bar of five confluent spots,
extending from costa to second median nervule, and slightly curving
inwardly at its lower extremity; beyond this the ground-colour is
slightly tinged with yellow-ochreous. Hind-wing: Base rather widely
suffused with black, a disco-cellular spot being partly confluent with
the suffusion; a small spot surmounted by a thin short streak at
extremity of discoidal cell; an irregular transverse discal row of seven
rather small spots, of which the first and sixth are nearest base; on
inner margin an eighth spot is indistinctly perceptible; a moderately
broad interiorly-crenelated hind-marginal black border, completely
enclosing seven rather small yellow-ochreous spots. Cilia white, inter-
rupted with fuscous at extremities of nervules. UNDER sIDE.—Markings
similar; but hind-wing and small subapical space of fore-wing pinkish-
white, and ground-colour of fore-wing pale salmon-pink. Fore-wing:
Base slightly suffused with black below median nervure only; two
very small black spots on costa at base, and a third (very small also)
close to base in discoidal cell. Hind-wing: the basal black is a
sharply-defined patch enclosing six white spots; an eighth and a ninth
black spot continue the discal row to inner-marginal edge before middle ;
a regular row of seven or eight broad red lunulate marks interiorly
bounding hind-marginal black border; also some red suffusion exteriorly
bounding basal black; spots in hind-marginal border larger than on
upper side, and conspicuously creamy white.
2 Semi-transparent in fore-wing ; ground-colour very much duller
and paler; basal black almost obsolete; all the blackish markings
smaller and much tainter, especially the hind-marginal border of hind-
wing, which is all but obsolete. UNDER sIDE.—Except in the trans-
parency of the tore-wing with its fainter spots, and duller white of the
hind-wing, like that of male.
ACRAIN Z. 163
This ont —_——
Se
tes aaa
NYMPHALIN i. 211
in its central portion; near apex, on costa, a narrow, pale-yellow,
transverse streak joins the large ochre-yellow marking, the point of
junction being marked by a more or less apparent black spot, which is
sometimes indistinctly ocellate ; bordering apical portion of hind-margin
three or four sublunular, dusky-whitish marks; cilia brownish, indis-
tinctly varied with whitish. Hind-wing: a large, rounded, metallic-
blue spot shot with violet-pink near costa about middle, its lower
portion in discoidal cell, its upper edge touching costal nervure ; beyond
it, occupying anal-angular portion of wing, extending along hind-margin
to before its middle, and almost to middle of inner margin, a large,
ovate, ochre-yellow patch, paler in its central portion; at anal angle, a
curved, short, blackish streak, and traces of a lunulate hind-marginal
line; cilia as in fore-wing. UNDER SsIDE.—Strikingly dissimilar to
upper side. ore-wing: black replaced by dull ashy-grey ; ochre-
yellow patch paler, ill-defined, commencing from base in discoidal cell ;
costa whitish-grey from base; two pairs of slightly zigzag, transverse,
thin, black streaks in discoidal cell, each pair including a whitish-grey
space; a sinuate blackish streak, from costa about middle to insertion
of second median nervule, marks extremity of cell; apex hoary-grey ;
the streak joining ochreous patch from costa whitish,—the spot mark-
ing point of junction distinct; a blue-pupillate, round, black spot
marks the lower indentation of the ochreous patch. Hind-wing : hoary-
grey; three transverse, brownish, waved, subdentate streaks—one
before, the second about, the third beyond, middie—the second of
which is the most distinct and regular; between the latter and the
third a series of small blackish spots between nervules, parallel to
hind-margin; ochreous patch very faintly indicated by a slightly
yellowish tinge; centre and hind-margin varied with narrow shadings
of pale-brown; in some specimens, a narrow, lunulate, brown streak
bordering hind-margin ; no trace of the blue spot so conspicuous on
upper side.
2 Ground-colour not so intense a black as in gf; the blue spot
m hind-wing smaller and much duller (the edges of it not so clearly
defined). Fore-wing: basal half of discoidal cell dusted with ochreous
scales, and with a short, indistinct, transverse, ochreous streak, situate
a little within the large ochre-yellow patch; which latter commences
farther from base than in ¢, does not extend so low, is more deeply
indented with black both on its upper and lower edge, and contains a
transverse black streak which, as on under side of f, indicates extremity
of discoidal cell; the ocellate spot marking the junction of pale apical
streak with ochreous patch more distinct than in g¢, and blue-pupilled ;
the lower black indentation of the ochreous patch is also marked with
a larger ocellate spot, likewise blue-centred. Hind-wing: two small
black spots, sometimes blue-centred, in ochreous patch, one on its upper
edge above discoidal nervule, the other between second and first median
nervules; the lunulate streak bordering hind-margin distinctly marked,
2i2 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
blackish. /vringe of both wings as in f, perhaps more distinctly marked
with whitish. UNDER SIDE.—-Quite similar to that of f, but more dis-
tinctly marked; the hind-wing a litile more brownish in tint.
Larva.—Dull violaceous-grey on back, margined laterally by a
broad fuscous stripe, interrupted on segmental incisions; below the
fuscous stripe a series of elongate yellowish markings on a ground-
colour slightly darker than that of the back; below this the sides are
brownish-ochreous. Spines black. Head black, rather bristly, white-
spotted in front, with a pair of short divergent horns on summit,
Legs and pro-legs dull violaceous-grey.
Described from a drawing by Mrs. Barber, reproduced in Puate I.
jig 4. Mrs. Barber informed me that the food-plant of this larva is a
purple-flowered species of Barleria (Ord. Acanthacee).
This butterfly is very nearly allied to the well-known Asiatic species J,
Cinone, Fab., of which it is indeed the African representative. The much
more limited area of ochre-yellow in both wings, and the larger, more viola-
ceous, rounder blue spot in the hind-wings, on the upper side, readily distinguish
Cebrene ; its under side is universally greyer and less ochreous in tint. In
the ¢ the fore-wing has the ochre-yellow marking paler centrally, not occu-
pying basal area, but commencing at about the middle of the cell, deeply
indented by black in costa beyond middle, but not by any disco-cellular ter-
minal streak, The hind-wing has the ochre-yellow patch narrower on the
inner margin, not extending so far in the direction of the costa; the dark
hind-marginal lunular striz, excepting that at the anal angle, are scarcely
traceable, and the basal blue spot is not flattened superiorly. On the under
side, the fore-wing has the terminal disco-cellular streak thinner and fainter;
while the hind-wing has the transverse strize fainter, subdentate instead of
sharply crenelate (especially the subbasal and submarginal ones). In the 9
the fore-wing has the ochre-yellow patch still smaller; but the hind-wing has it
larger than in the ¢, while there is a single well-marked hind-marginal lunulate
streak instead of the two (or sometimes three) parallel streaks found in Ginone,
The late Mr. F. Walker gives (Newman’s Entomologist, 1870, p. 51) Mada-
gascar as one of the localities of Génone, hut judging from six male specimens
from Murundava, on the west coast of that island, in the collection of the South-
African Museum, the Malagasy form, though very near Cebrene, is quite distinct
both from the latter and Ginone. As compared with Cebrene, it presents the
following points of difference, viz.,in the fore-wing: (1) The ochre-yellow patch
is differently shaped and situated, being vertically deeper, with its inner edge
considerably farther from base and much less oblique; (2) in the discoidal
cell, thus left almost wholly black, there are two metallic-blue strie, of which
the inner one is usually indistinct; (3) the subapical pale-yellow mark is very
small, remote from ochre-yellow patch, and divided transversely. In the hind-
wing (4) the blue spot is larger, more metallic, not violaceous, less rounded,
being prolonged outwardly on radial nervule; and (5) the ochre-yellow patch
is much less rounded, its inner edge being farther from base, and it is also
marked externally by two slightly darker streaks running parallel to hind-
margin. On the under side, in the fore-wing, (6) the black-edged cellular
strie are strongly defined, that at end of cell being double like the others,
which are distinctly bluish; and in the hind-wing (7) the colouring beyond
middle is tinged with ferruginous; while (8) the median transverse line 1s
much more irregular and dentated, and bounded externally by a dark ashy-grey
stripe, broadest on costa.
Should this form be undescribed, I propose that it should be named Junoma
Paris. eeld
NYMPHALIN~. 1?
This beautiful insect inhabits the greater part of South Africa, and is
usually numerous in its favourite haunts, which are waste open ground, marshy
spots, stubble-fields, &c. It is very active, but frequently settles on the ground
and on low flowers. When the wings are closed, the grey under side renders
the butterfly very inconspicuous, especially when settled on certain sandy
soils, Colonel Bowker observed in Kaffraria that a persistent enemy of Cebrene
was a small striped. lizard, which cautiously stalked and seized the prey, not-
withstanding its activity and alertness. ‘The lizards often hunt in pairs,
driving the game from one to the other.” I have found this /unonia on the
wing from the beginning of December to the end of June. During April I
have twice seen a worn straggler in Cape Town; but I do not think that the
species inhabits the country westward of Swellendam.
Localities of Junonia Cebrene.
la I. South Africa,
| B. Cape Colony.
: a. Western Districts—Cape Town [occasionally]. Swellendam (LZ.
| Tuats). Knysna. Plettenberg Bay.
| b. Eastern Districts.—Port Elizabeth. Uitenhage (S. D. Bazrstow).
Bathurst; Kowie River (J. Z. Fry). Grahamstown. King
William’s Town (W. S. 1 D'Urban and J. H. Bowker).
Queenstown; Windvogelberg (Dr. Batho).
| D. Kaffraria Proper.—Butterworth and Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
| B. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban. Verulam. Itongati River. Umhlah
River. Umvoti River. Mapumulo.
b. Upper Districts.—Udland’s Mission Station. Little Noodsberg.
Greytown. Pietermaritzburg. Estcourt (J. M. Hutchinson).
Biggarsberg (J. H. Bowker).
F. Zululand.—Isandlhwana (J. H. Bowker). St. Lucia Bay (Colonel
H. Tower).
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom (7. Ayres).
L. Bechuanaland.—Motito (Rev. J. Frédoux).
I], Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Damaraland (C. J. Andersson and J. A. Bell).
“ Angola: Loanda.”—A. G. Butler. ‘Congo: Ambriz (J. J.
Montetro).” —H. Druce; and “ Kinsembo (H. Ansell).”—A. G.
Butler.
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi River (Rev. H. Rowley). ‘ Mozam-
bique.”—Hopffer. “Lake Jipe” [between 3° and 4° S. lat.]—
Gerstiicker, “ Kilima-njaro (HZ. H. Johnston).”—F. D, Godman
[ Genone].
B, North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.— Sierra Leone (Rev. D. £. Morgan).”—E.
Doubleday. “ Senegambia.”—Gerstiicker.
b. Eastern Coast.—‘Somaliland.”—-Felder. ‘Tajora (Straits of
Bab-el-Mandeb); Harkeko; Hor Tamanib! (J. K. Zord).”—
F, Walker. “ Upper Egypt.”—Gerstiacker.
IV. Asia.
A. Southern Region.—‘ Arabia (Ehrenberg in Mus. Berol.).”—Ger-
stacker.
1 A $ example, ticketed “ Hor Tamanib,” from Mr. Lord’s collection, and presented to
me by Mr. R. Meldola, does not differ from the ordinary South-African Cebrene.
214 SOUTH-.AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
64. (2.) Junonia Clelia, (Cramer).
Papilio Génone, Linn., Mus. Lud. Ulr. Reg., p. 274, n. 93 (nec Var. Gin,
p. 275) (1764); and Syst. Nat, 1. 2, p. 770,-m. 135 (azo
d Papilio Clelia, Cram., Pap. Exot., 1. t. xxi. ff. B, F (1779).
3. Habs, Ent, Dysts, UL 1, Pp. Ol, Ds 285 (uo)
Vanessa Clelia, Godt., Ene. Meth:, 1@ p. 317, 0.50 (1619).
do 2 Junonia Clelia, isan , Rhop. Afr, Aust. 1. p. 226, 0., 7/0 (1862); and
Me Pl soy tee Fae) (1866) ; also in Trans. Ent. Soc, Lond., 1870,
P- 354-
Junonia Ginone, Gerst., Glederth.-Fauna Sansibar-Gebiet., p. 369, n. 16
(1873). |
Exp. al., 1 in. 11 lin.—2 in. 3 hn.
& Black, with creamy-white markings ; a large metallic-blue, violet-
glossed spot in hind-wing. Fore-wing: two dull ferruginous-red trans-
verse streaks in discoidal cell, the outer streak closing cell; a little
beyond extremity of cell is a short, slightly-curved outwardly, transverse,
creamy-white band, extending obliquely to second median nervule, and
divided into five portions by crossing nervules; an irregular creamy-
white mark close to hind-margin, between first and third median
nervules, almost touches the oblique band, and seems to form a con-
tinuation of it; an irregularly-shaped whitish spot close to costa, near
apex; beyond it, two lunules of the same colour, slightly below it,
which appear to form part of an otherwise almost obliterate row of
lunules bordering hind-margin; an ocellate spot, black, with a blue
centre, and ringed with ferruginous-red, between first and second
discoidal nervules, immediately below subapical white spot, and another
similar, rather larger and distincter, ocellus between second and first
median nervules, immediately before white mark; fringe brownish
black, varied with white. Hind-wing: metallic-blue spot occupying
the same position as in Cebrene, but larger ; two ocelli lke those in
fore-wing, one immediately above discoidal nervule, close to blue spot,
the other between second and first median nervules, and rather
nearer hind-margin; two rows of conspicuous inter-nervular creamy-
white lunules, almost contiguous, border hind-margin; fringe white,
spotted with black at extremities of nervules. UNDER SIDE.—Very
different, much paler; the apical portion of fore-wing and whole of
hind-wing being greyish varied with clay-brown. Fore-wing: ground-
colour blackish ; discoidal cell pale orange-reddish, crossed by two pale-
bluish striz, edged on both sides with black; a black streak marks
extremity of cell, and is outwardly bounded by a bluish one; the three
outermost striz, viz., two bluish and one red, prolonged a little
below cell; large creamy-white marks as on upper side, but smaller
apical marks obsolete or very indistinct; a thin brownish line from
costa close to apex to hind-marginal creamy-white marking; two
ocellated spots very indistinct, the upper one sometimes obsolete.
Hind-wing: an irregular, wavy, brown or ferruginous-brown streak
crosses wing, from costa to submedian nervure, before middle; beyond
NYMPHALIN. 25
middle, two dentate, brown, transverse streaks, from costal to inner-
marginal edge, enclose a pale clay-brown, rather broad band, usually
irregularly-varied with dark- or ferruginous-brown, and containing
more or less distinct traces of a row of five ocelli, consisting of blackish
dots in brown rings, situate between second subcostal and first median
nervules; hind-margin bordered with a lunulate line, slightly darker
than the ground-colour.
2 Differs but shghtly from g; not so black in ground-colour. Fore-
wing: red strie in cell paler, duller, but larger and more distinct ;
two ocelli larger, more conspicuous. Sind-wing: blue spot not so
brilliant, often much smaller ; ocellate spots large, very conspicuous.
UNDER SIDE.—Jore-wing: blue and red transverse streaks crossing
discoidal cell prolonged almost to submedian nervure; apical markings
more distinct. //ind-wing: usually more strongly marked; ocelli in
band more conspicuous. |
The under-side colouring is subject to much variation, being some-
times pale-creamy or tinged with grey, with the markings very dis-
tinct, while other individuals have a faint dull-reddish hue with the
markings rather obscure. Specimens, usually females, occur in which
a smooth uniform greyish-argillaceous tint prevails, leaving only very
‘faint indications of the characteristic markings.
Larva.—Dark purplish-grey, with strong, short, steely-blue spines.
Head larger than second segment, hairy, deeply notched at vertex,
bearing two short horns or processes; a small yellow triangular spot
in middle of forehead. Second segment constricted, slightly tufted
anteriorly, its lower half bright-yellow, with a yellow spine on each
side just above the leg. ‘Third and fourth segments with similar
yellow-spines, as well as four steely-blue ones. Fifth to tenth segments
each with seven spines, eleventh with eight, four on anal segment. ).
Junonia Orithyia (Linn.), Wallengr., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1857,
pee. 0) trim, Rhop: Air. Aust., 1. p. 327 (1866).
Junonia Boopis, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1879, p. 331.
Eup. al., (f) 1 in. 94 lin.—2 in. 1 lin.; (2) 2 in. 1-34 lin.
gf Black; hind-wing mostly shining violaceous-blue ; fore-wing with
subapical creamy-whitish oblique bar. Fore-wing: costa edged with
creamy-white, which is widest and suffused about middle; in discoidal
cell two transverse fulvous striz, of which the outer (marking extremity
of cell) is the better marked ; between them a blue stria; immediately
beyond cell occasionally traces of another blue stria; subapical whitish
bar narrow near costa, strongly indented by ground-colour just below
second radial, divided into four by crossing nervures,—its two lower
and much broader divisions vertically intersected by a more or less
suffused black streak; near apex a short creamy-whitish narrow costal
bar; between this and the lower part of the subapical oblique bar, a
small blue-centred black ocellus in a fulvous ring; a similar, usually
rather larger, ocellus (commonly suffused with fuscous) adjoins lower
extremity of the oblique bar; between the latter ocellus and inner
margin, close to posterior angle, a subquadrate violaceous-blue patch ;
just before hind-margin two parallel creamy-whitish streaks (of which
the outer is very thin and sometimes nearly obsolete), broken into spots
by the clouded-blackish nervures, and shot with blue at and a little
above posterior angle. Hind-wing : blue occupies entire discal portion,
infringing a little the outer part of discoidal cell, whose extremity
is usually marked by a strong black streak; inner-marginal border
fuscous ; two ocelli like those of fore-wing on disc, one between second
subcostal and radial nervules, the other between first and second median
nervules; of these, the upper ocellus is often minute and without the
fulvous ring; the two hind-marginal whitish strie less broken than in
fore-wing and preceded by a fuscous one, but much suffused by the
discal blue. UNDER SIDE.— Dull cream-colour. Sore-wing: basal por-
tion ochre-yellow, which does not reach, however, either costa or inner
margin; blue cellular striz, represented by whitish ones, black-edged
on both sides; oblique bar rather paler than ground-colour, strongly
black-bordered anteriorly ; ocelli ill-defined, their wings much paler, the
lower one larger than on upper side; a fuscous space below the latter.
Hind-wing : two thin, inconspicuous, crenulated, fuscous, transverse
streaks from costa to inner margin, one before, the other a little beyond
middle; of these, the outer is externally bordered by an ill-defined
argillaceous fascia; in discoidal cell two slightly-paler transverse striae,
thinly fuscous-edged ; ocelli usually very faintly indicated with fuscous,
but between them traces of two other faint ones, and above the second
subcostal the indication of a fifth; a fuscous mark at anal angle. In
218 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
both wings, two parallel submarginal fuscous lines, the outer continuous
and lunulated, the inner broken into small cuneiform marks.
2 Fuscous; all the ocellt much larger, but especially those of hind-
wings; blue of hind-wings much smaller in extent, and both duller and
paler. Fore-wing: a minute ocellus usually confluent with the lower
edge of upper ocellus, and an imperfect one touching its upper edge,
Hind-wing: the much-enlarged ocelli have great violaceous centres
(often with a white dot in the middle), inwardly bordered with pink
and outwardly with black; the upper ocellus commonly includes a
minute inferior pupil; above and below the lower ocellus occasionally
some black irroration ; blue space not violaceous, not infringing on dis-
coidal cell, and much narrower in its superior portion; black pretty
evenly occupying almost the basal half of the wing. UNDER sIDE.—
As in g, but with the markings (especially ocelli of hind-wing) more
distinct.
Cilia whitish, varied in fore-wing with fuscous at the extremities
of the nervures.
A very close ally of the South-Asiatic J. Orithyia (Linn.), but
appearing to differ from it constantly in the particulars now to be
mentioned. As regards the gf, J. Boopis has (1) the narrower sub-
apical bar of the fore wings and the adjacent pale markings much yellower
in tint; and (2) the black streak intersecting the lower part of the
bar between the two ocelli is never wanting, and usually very strongly
marked; while (3) the fulvous strie and rings of the ocelli are well
pronounced; (4) the blue of the hind-wings, besides being decidedly
violaceous in tint, occupies a considerably smaller space, being replaced by
black in the basi-costal region to a little beyond the branching of the
subcostal nervure; and (5) the under side colouring is duller and
more inclining to argillaceous, The 2 Sodpis presents similar differ-
ences from the 2? Orithyia, except that the blue of the hind-wings,
though deeper in tint, is not violaceous, and, though occupying a
smaller space (the basal black being considerably broader), the difference
in area is not so marked as in the gs.
Compared with Orithyia from Ceylon and Southern India (Banga-
lore), the $ of which expands only 1 in. 83-11 lin., and the 2 1 in.
94 lin.—2 in. 1 lin., Bodpis is considerably the larger; but farther
eastward, especially in China, the Asiatic species is fully as large as,
and even larger than, the African. The wings of the ¢ Bodpis are
proportionally longer; but I have not seen any specimen in which the
fore-wings are subfalcate, as is the case with some of the Chinese
examples of Orithyia. Hopffer’s J. Orithya from Querimba (Peters’
‘Reise nach Mossambique,” Ins. and Myriop., p. 380) is probably
referable to J. Bodpis.
Though recorded by Wallengren in 1857 as among Wahlberg’s “ Kaffrarian ”
captures, and though known to me in 1862 as a native of Damaraland and the
Lower Zambesi Valley, it was not until 1867 that I knew of the occurrence of
NYMPHALINA. 219
this beautiful Junonia as far south as Potchefstroom in the Transvaal. In 1872
fine examples from that locality were sent to me by Mr. Walter Morant and
Mr. Thomas Ayres, the former of whom wrote that at the end of February the
butterfly was plentiful but local on the banks of the Mooi River, and also
occurred in January, stragglers continuing to appear in April and May. Near
Pretoria Mr. Morant also took an example, in swampy ground, on 28th March.
Colonel Bowker has sent me a single male example, with the information
that it was captured on the 27th November 1882 in a footpath at Isipingo,
Natal, in company with a number of J. Clelia.
Localities of Junonia Boopis.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—Isipingo (J. H. Bowker).
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lorengo Marques (Mrs. Montetro).
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom (W. Morant and T. Ayres). Pretoria
(W. Morant).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Damaraland (J. A. Bell).
b, Eastern Coast—Zambesi River (Coll. S.-Afr. Mus.)
b1. Interior.—Mashunaland (/. C. Selous). ‘ Victoria Falls of Zam-
besi (£. Oates).” —Westwood.
Genus PRECIS.
Precis, Hiibn., Verz. Bek. Schmett., p. 33 (1816); Doubl. (“ Junonia, Sect.
II.”), Gen. Diurn. Lep., i. p. 209 (1849).
Junonia (part), Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 124 (1862).
ImaGco.—-Most closely allied to Junoma. Palpi with second and
terminal joints longer; antennw usually longer, with club more gra-
dually formed. Wings with hind-margin more dentate ; fore-wings
always more or less angulated at extremity of upper radial nervule,
sometimes falcate; prominence at extremity of first median nervule
often very pronounced ; hind-winys sometimes rounded, but more
often produced or tailed at anal angle, and in many cases angulated
at extremity of third median nervule. Jore-legs of ¢ with the tarsi
considerably shorter.
Larva.—Set with rather long, rigid, acute, verticillate spines ;
head with two long, thick, erect, blunt, shortly-branched horns.
Pupa.—Rather robust; head bluntly bifid, the pointed pre-
ocular tubercle on each side unequally cleft at tip; thorax with a
central dorsal tubercle, a row on each side of three smaller tubercles,
and two acute points on each shoulder-ridge ; tubercles of three dorsal
rows of abdomen large, rounded basally, and pointed; on sides of
abdomen two rows of very small tubercles, one above, the other below,
spiracles.
220 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
(These characters of larva and pupa are given from the skins
of those of P. Octavia, Cram.; and Captain Harford’s description of
the larva of P. Sesamus, Trim., agrees with what is noted of that
state.)
It is very doubtful whether Precis is really separable from Junonia,
some of the few distinctive characters of the imago above given being
rather inconstant. The species referred to it have, however, a common
and very characteristic facies, the usual pattern of the upper side con-
sisting of a rufous or fulvous common discal band, marked with a continu-
ous series of more or less incomplete ocellated spots, on a dark-brown
field, while on the under side the basal half is varied with transverse
irregular streaks, and the line of the inner edge of the common discal
band prominently defined by a strong dark streak, bounded internally
or externally by one lighter than the ground-colour. . In P. Octavia
(Cram.) and P. Cloantha (Cram.) the red and fulvous-ochreous respec-
tively occupy nearly all the field of the upper side; while in P. Sesamus
(Trim.) pale-blue occupies as large an area, leaving only a narrow
irregular brick-red discal band. In the Indian P. Hedonia (Linn.)
and allies the discal band is very inconspicuous, but the ocellated spots
are very well developed. ‘The latter character is also prominent in
the African P. Cloantha, a species whose robust body and thick hairy
wings remind one of Vanessa, and, with its thick, short, and very
gradually clavate antenne, make it rather an aberrant member of
the genus.
Precis is a specially African group, twenty-five of the thirty-four
recorded species being peculiar to the Ethiopian region. ‘The remainder
consist of six Oriental and three Austro-Malayan and Australian species.
Of the twelve species known to inhabit South Africa, only two appear
to be peculiar to the country, viz., P. Simia, Wallengr., and P. Tugela,
Trim.; four are not known to occur north of the Equator, and the re-
maining six range through the greater part of the region.
All the South-African species occur in Natal, where the only rarities
are P. Sophia (Fab.), P. Simia, Wallengr., and P. Tugela, Trim. Six
of them inhabit Kaffraria Proper, and of these four-—Cloantha, Sesanvus,
Archesia, and Pelasgis—extend into the eastern districts of the Cape
Colony. The George and Knysna districts seem to be the south-
western limit of the genus, only Cloantha and Archesia being known to
me to range so far.
I have seen all the South-African forms on the wing except Sophia
and Simia. They are bold and active butterflies, with the habits of
Vanessa and Pyrameis, and, with the exception of Elgiva and Tugela,
seem to prefer open ground, especially the summits and ridges of rocky
hills, about which they hover, chasing each other, and frequently settling
on stones or on the ground.
NYMPHALIN 4. oon
66. (1.) Precis Sophia, (Fabricius).
Papilio Sophia, Fab., Ent. Syst., iii. 1, p. 248, n. 771 (1793).
2 Donov., Ins, Ind., t. 36, f. 3 (1800) [este W. F. Kirby].
Vanessa Sophia, Godt., Ene. Meth., ix. Suppl. p. 823 (1819).
Junonia (Precis) Sophia, Doubl., Gen. Diurn, Lep., p. 210, n. 23 (1846-50).
Eup. al., 1 in. 10-11 lin.
a Brown, with pale rufous-ochreous bands; on hind-margins two
parallel, ill-defined, sub-lunulated, brownish-grey streaks, the inner one
immediately preceded by a row of indistinct blackish spots. Fore-
wing: base widely suffused with deep brownish fulvous ; immediately
beyond discoidal cell a strongly-curved transverse band, convex out-
wardly, of five or six divisions; two double black striz across discoidal
cell; at extremity of cell a long, oblique, black stria, extending through
transverse band to submedian nervure beyond middle; a moderately
wide subapical bar of three divisions, irregular, slightly convex out-
wardly ; between lower end of subapical bar and submedian ner-
vure, a row of three indistinct, large, blackish spots. Mind-wing: base
fuscous, crossed by two waved, short, disco-cellular rufous striae; a
median band quite across wing, rather broad except for a sudden nar-
rowing on costa; between first and second median nervules, the band
is externally pierced by a well-marked straight brown streak, and
between first median nervule and submedian nervure by a shorter and
blunted projection ; just beyond band, a row of five to six large blackish
spots. Cilia brown, with white inter-nervular interruptions. UNDER
SIDE.—Rufous-ochreous of base and bands replaced by pale whitish-
creamy; all strice and spots very distinct, conspicuous ; along hind-
margins, a yellow streak, black-edged on both sides. ore-wing: in
discoidal cell, clear-rufous fills the space on each side of the two pale-
creamy black-edged striae; subapical bar suffused externally ; between
it and apex a minute oblique whitish streak. Mind-wing: three highly
irregular, basal, transverse blackish streaks, forming a network of
markings; two streaks outwardly piercing central band united in an
irregular W-like marking, of which the innermost arm is extended as
far as the basal marking.
2 Similar, paler, the bands broader. Fore-wing : basal rufous much
reduced, and with a fuscous tinge. UNDER sIpDE.—Subapical bar of
Jore-wing and central band of hind-wing widely suffused externally, so
as to occupy the greater part of hind-margin.
WiAE: ( ).
Fuscous, with the ordinary transverse band common to both wings,
and the subapical bar of fore-wing white and somewhat narrowed.
Under side normal.
Fore-wing elongated in apical, hind-wing in anal-angular portion.
This curious variety is represented in the British Museum by an example
from Fernando Po, and in the South-African Museum by one taken on the
Gold Coast by Mr. J. Morton Pask, of I.M.S. Drucd. One is reminded by
222 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
it of the singular seasonal form Prorsa of the European Araschnia Levana (L,)
The elongation of the wings, combined with the fuscous and white colouring,
give it much the appearance of a small Neptis.}
The only South-African specimen of this butterfly that I have seen is a 9
sent to me by the late Mr. E. C. Buxton in 1874, with the note that it had
been captured at D’Urban, Natal, in the previous year, and was the only indi-
vidual met with. This example agrees in all respects with specimens from
Tropical Western Africa,
Localities of Precis Sophia.
I. South Africa.
KE. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban (£. C. Buaxton).
II. Other African Regions.
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Fernando Po (Coll. Brit. Mus.) Gold Coast
(J. M. Pask). Sierra Leone (Coll. Brit Mus.)
b. Eastern Coast.—‘ Abyssinia: Lake Tsana (Raffray).”—Oberthiir.
67. (2.) Precis Cloantha, (Cramer).
@ Papilio Cloantha, Cram., Pap. Exot., iii. t. ccexxxviii., ff. a, B (1782).
2 Vanessa Cloantha, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. 322, n. 61 (1819).
3 5s Chenu., Ene. @Hist, Nat. -Pap., pl. 26, f. 3 (1852).
3d F Junonia Cloantha, Trim. , Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 137, n. 83 (1862)
Exp. al., 2 in. 3-94 lin.
Brighter or duller warm orange-ochreous; with transverse black
streaks, and blue-centred black ocellt.
& A splendid purple lustre, strongest over basal half of wings, is
visible in certain lights. ore-wing: base clouded with black, nar-
rowly so on costa, more widely on median nervure, and extending
nearly to middle on inner margin; two moderately-broad, transverse,
black streaks in discoidal cell, the outer one closing cell; a similar
streak beyond middle, between subcostal nervure and third median
nervule, which, interrupted on the latter nervule, is continued thence
by an irregular streak, inclining inwardly, to submedian nervure, where
it joins the black clouding from base; in some distinctly-marked speci-
mens, the streak closing cell is also, though interrupted at insertion of
second median nervule, produced to join basal black; beyond the strize
a black mark on costa commences a row of six black, blue-centred ocelli,
of which the first three are contiguous, the largest and lowest ocellus
being between second and first median nervules,—the line of spots
being parallel to hind-margin; beyond ocelli a transverse, thin, inter-
rupted, macular, black streak, broader and more continuous on costa and
1M. Oberthiir mentions (Etudes d’Ent., iii. (Oct. 1878), p. 27) that this variety occurs,
and that some examples exhibit the passage between the different colorations, He does
not say, however, whether the variety in question obtains in the female as well as in the
male,
NYMPHALIN/. 228
close to anal angle; costa and hind-margin closely hatched with very
thin, minute, short, transverse lines; occasionally this hatching is want-
ing on hind-margin, when there is an irregular black streak closely
bordering hind-marginal edge. ind-wing: more or less broadly
clouded with black at base, the black occupying most of discoidal cell,
at extremity of which is a subovate black spot; this spot is occasion-
ally united to basal black by a thin black line along discoidal nervule ;
near and parallel to hind-margin a row of six ocelli similar to those of
fore-wing, but much larger (except the ocellus next anal angle, which
is always small, and sometimes very minute), situate between nervules
from first subcostal to submedian nervure; macular streak of fore-wing
continued across this wing in a more lunulate form, dusted with bluish
scales, and ending in a thickly blue-dusted mark at anal angle; speci-
mens possessing the exterior hind-marginal streak in fore-wing have it
likewise bordering hind-marginal edge of hind-wing. Cilia of both
wings hoary-greyish, with tufts of longer hairs on dentations of hind-
wing. UNDER SIDE.—Paler or darker dull ochreous-brown (rarely pale
greyish-ochreous), the markings of upper side narrowly and_ faintly
reproduced in slatey-black. ore-wing: no basal black; some short,
strong, pale-yellowish hairs on costa near base; stria in discoidal cell
outlined only with slatey-black, but darker than ground-colour, ocelli
mostly indistinctly marked, not blue-centred, but with a few, minute,
pale-yellowish hairs springing from their centres; at anal angle, and
more rarely at apex, is a whitish-violaceous tinge. Hind-wing: a
small slatey-black spot in discoidal cell; an irregularly-waved slatey
streak, crossing wing before middle, closes cell; a similar, but more
recular stria beyond this, and continuous of the third stria in fore-wing,
extends nearly to anal angle; ocelli very indistinctly defined, much
smaller than on upper side, rather conspicuously tufted in their centres
with pale-yellowish hairs; similar, but longer, hairs are scattered over
base and margins of wing, but are most abundant and longest on inner
marginal portion covering abdomen ; a bluish tinge at anal angle.
A specimen with very pale under side, in my collection, has the
ocellt much distincter and bluer than above described, without any hairs
in their centres; these hairs are indeed almost universally wanting,
except a few near bases of wings.
2 Without the rich purple lustre of f; but markings quite similar
to those of the other sex. Ocellate spots in both wings larger, and, as
a rule, comparatively with more blue. UNDER SIDE.—Quite like that
or f.
This species is very variable as regards both depth of colouring andjinten-
sity of marking. The ocelli of hind-wing are particularly so, being in some
specimens so enlarged as to form a broad continuous submarginal band.
In its robust structure and thick, partly hairy wings, no less than in its
colouring, this Precis is not at all unlike that section of the allied genus
Vanessa which is represented by the well-known V. Polychloros (Linn.)
I am iniormed by Mrs, Barber that the larva feeds on ‘‘a large brown-
224 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
coloured species of Gomphocarpus, which grows in wet or swampy spots among
long grasses or sedges ;” but I have not received any drawing or description
either of it or of the pupa. |
P. Cloantha is a widely-spread species in the eastern parts of South Africa,
but I am not aware of its occurrence westward of George in the Cape Colony,
It is on the wing from the end of September to the beginning of April, but is
most numerous in January and February. It frequents open ground, preferring
damp marshy places with much grass, either in valleys or hollows on hillsides,
I have seldom noticed it on flowers ; it usually settles on the ground or on the
lowest plants, and when basking with expanded wings in the sunshine, is a
most conspicuous and beautiful object. It has all the activity of the Junonie
and Vanesse, and is, I think, even bolder than they in returning to the same
spot after an unsuccessful attempt at its capture.
Localities of Precis Cloantha.
I. South Africa.
A. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.—George (W. Atmore). Knysna. Plettenberg
Bay.
b, Eastern Districts.—Uitenhage (S. D. Bairstow). Kowie River,
Bathurst (J. LZ. Fry). Grahamstown. King William’s Town
(W. S. M. D Urban). East London (P. Borcherds).
d, Basutoland.—‘* Maluti Mountains” (J. H. Bowker).
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Butterworth and Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
K. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’ Urban. Verulam. Itongati River. Mapumulo. |
b. Upper Districts.—Udland’s Mission Station. Fort Bucking-
ham, Tugela River. Greytown. Little Noodsberg. Intzutze,
Great Noodsberg. Maritzburg (Miss Colenso). Estcourt (J.
M. Hutchinson).
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom (7. Ayres).
II. Other African Regions,
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Angola: ‘“‘Loanda (R. Meldola).”—A. G.
Butler.
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi River (Rev. H. Rowley).
bi. Interior.—“ Victoria Nyanza (Rev. J. Hannington).”—A, G.
Butler.
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Cape Palmas (Coll. Hope Mus.)
b, Eastern Coast.—Abyssinia: “ Shoa (Anétinorz).”—Oberthiir.
68. (3.) Precis Ceryne, (Boisd.)
Salamis Ceryne, Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg., p. 592, n. 68 (1847).
Junonia Ceryne, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 131, n. 78 (1862), ; and il
Digan (asco) |.
Exp. al., 1 in. 11 lin.—2 in. 2 lin.
a Brown; a broad, pale-ochreous, reddish-tinged band crossing both
wings, and in hind-wing whitish on vs inner side. Fore-wing: two
short, pale-ochreous striz cross discoidal cell, the outer of the two
extending a little below median nervure and its first nervule; the
NYMPHALIN&. 226
broad pale-ochreous band, tinged with reddish externally, occupies
wing from about middle, is bifid on costa, being divided by a brown,
curved mark, containing a row of four white spots; this row of spots
continued towards inner margin by three small black spots in ochreous
band; a row of eight small blue crescents along brown hind-margin ;
fringe brown, spotted with white; a thin indistinct transverse bluish
streak just beyond extremity of cell, and a minute bluish spot in cell
close to base. Mind-wing: ochreous band of fore-wing continued across
this wing to inner margin before anal angle, and containing a row of
five black spots; blue crescents and fringe as in fore-wing; usually
a pale-yellowish spot near base, close to costa, and another in dis-
coidal cell towards extremity. UNDER sIDE.—Deep, rich ochre-yellow.
Fore-wing : transverse strize in discoidal cell white margined with black ;
broad band white on its inner edge, which is also bordered with black ;
spots in band all or mostly white-centred ; hind-marginal crescents
white, instead of blue, finely edged with black on both sides, and im-
mediately succeeded by a parallel row of white lunules without black
edges; a black line along hind-marginal edge. Hind-wing: two
white black-ringed spots near base; band as in fore-wing, but its
black spots not white-centred; hind-marginal crescents, row of lunules,
and black edging line as in fore-wing.
° Band common to both wings much broader, more rufous, not so
much inclined to whitish on its inner side; all the markings clearer
and brighter than in the f. UNDER SIDE.—As in ff, but redder near
hind-margins.
A female taken at D’Urban, Natal, in 1878, by Colonel Bowker, has the
under side much obscured, the ground-colour inclining to ferruginous, and the
white of the band and basal markings replaced by ochre-yellow. This specimen
in these respects much resembles the very closely allied P. Z’uhwoa, Wallengr.
In March and April 1867 I met with this gaily-coloured species pretty
frequently in different parts of Natal. It is fond of open country, especially
of grassy valleys in uplands, seeming to prefer the vicinity of streams. It is
active, but not swift on the wing, and settles very frequently.
Localities of Precis Ceryne.
I. South Africa.
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
EK. Natal.
a. Coast Districts —D’Urban. Itongaati River. Mapumulo.
b. Upper Districts.—Udland’s Mission Station. Hermansburg. Grey-
town. Great Noodsberg. Maritzburg. Karkloof (J. H. Bow-
ker). Estcourt (J. M. Hutchinson).
F. Zululand.—Napoleon Valley (J. 1. Bowker).
K. Transvaal.—Pretoria (JV. Morant). Lydenburg District (7. Ayres),
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.— Angola (J. J. Montetro).”—Druce.
b. Eastern Coast.—Zambesi River (Rev. H. Rowley).
VOL. I. P
226 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
69. (4.) Precis Tukuoa, (Wallengren).
Salamis Tukuoa, Wallgrn., K. Sv. Vet.-Ak. Handl, 1857; Lep. Rhop.
Cait, 40-25...
Junonia Pelarga, Fab., Syn. g, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 337 (1866),
Exp. al., 1 in. 11 lin—z in. 34 lin.
Brown, with a common fulvous-ochreous discal band, bifid in fore-
wing, and in hind-wing more or less tinged with dull creamy on rts inner
portion. Fore-wing: costa rufous-ochreous from base to extremity of
discoidal cell; across cell two short broad fulvous-ochreous stripes, the
outer of which extends below cell, where it is crossed by base of first
median nervule; in cell, the spaces before, between, and beyond the
fulvous-ochreous stripes are rather indistinctly bluish with blackish
edges ; just beyond extremity of cell a short, angulated, transverse
black streak, immediately succeeded by a rather suffused blue one;
discal band bifid from third median nervule, and partly traversed by
three spots of a row of seven parallel to hind-marginal border ; of these
spots, the dark rings of the upper four are merged in the ground-
colour between the arms of the discal band, the first having a blue
suffused centre, while the other three have well-defined pure-white
centres (that of the third spot the largest),—the fifth and sixth are
without centres, and the last (which is double) has a minute white
centre in its larger upper portion; inner half of moderately wide brown
_hind-marginal border traversed by a row of rather faint and suffused
black-edged bluish lunules,—outer half externally edged with a blackish
line. Hind-wing: near base two small fulvous-ochreous spots, one
between costal and subcostal nervures, the other in discoidal cell; five
small black spots in the row traversing discal band, between first sub-
costal and first median nervules,—the second spot occasionally (and
very rarely the third also) with a minute white centre; hind-marginal
border as in fore-wing, except that at anal angle the last blue lunule
of inner portion is larger and brighter than the rest, and joins on the
anal-angular process a similar outer lunule. Cilia brown, with whitish
inter-nervular interruptions. UNDER sIDE— Dull reddish-ochreous, much
shot with violaceous; a common narrow median yellow stripe, externally
dentated ; the markings of the upper side faintly indicated by corre-
sponding outlines of slatey-grey. ore-wing : transverse cellular stripes
indicated by a paler, yellower colour; the three white-centred spots of
upper side represented by impure-white spots in rufous-grey rings; a
slight hoary irroration at apex. Hind-wing: a similar irroration about
anal-angular process. |
The sexes do not differ in appearance, except that in the 2 the
wings are broader and less angulated, and the common discal band 1s
markedly wider, and of a duller, deeper fulvous.
Notwithstanding the much more angulated wings—the fore-wings are
indeed faleate—and the dull-coloured, little-varied under side, Tukuoa 1s
undoubtedly a very close ally of Ceryne, Boisd., every marking actually cor-
NYMPHALIN/. 227
responding in outline and position in the two forms. On the upper side
Tukuoa wants, or only slightly presents, the pale suffusion of the inner part
of the common discal band; in the fore-wing, the centre of the first spot in
the discal row is blue (not white), and the bluish scaling in the discoidal cell
is more pronounced. The cilia are much narrower, and faintly (instead of
very conspicuously) varied with white. On the under side the conspicuous
ochre-yellow ground-colour and white black-edged markings of Ceryne are
obliterated, only their outlines being indicated in grey; while the narrow
median yellow stripe (corresponding to the inner part of the discal band of
Ceryne) is externally sharply dentated.
In station and habits there seems to be nothing to distinguish this species
from P, Ceryne, but it is apparently scarcer. In March and April 1867 I took
several specimens at Natal in three different localities, all of which were fre-
quented by Ceryne; and in one (Tongaati River) the two forms were flying
together about the same spot. As I at that time did not regard Tuhwoa as a
distinct species from Ceryne (and indeed had not identified the butterfly with
Wallengren’s insect), it is not unlikely that I may have passed it over at
several of the other localities I visited.
Localities of Precis Tukuoa.
I. South Africa,
i. Natal.
a. Coast Districts\—D’Urban, Pinetown (/V. Morant), Itongaati
River.
6. Upper Districts.—Great Noodsbere.
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (HZ. Tower).
K. Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
II, Other African Regions,
A. South Tropical.
b. Eastern Coast.—Zambesi River (Rev. H. Rowley).
bi. Interior.—Mashunaland (f. C. Selous).
70. (5.) Precis Simia, Wallengren.
Precis Simia, Wallgrn., K. Sv. Vet.-Ak. HandL, 1857; Lep. Rhop. Caffr.,
DO Te.
ip Octavia, Cram.,? Var., Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 11. p. 335 (1866).
Hapa, TI. .10 lin,
Fulvous-ochreous, with fuscous borders, spots, and basal clouding.
Fore-wing : costal border narrowly fuscous, traversed by a fulvous
streak near base and a little beyond middle; basal part of inner-
marginal area irrorated with fuscous almost to middle; base of cell
and middle part of a black-edged cellular transverse stria irrorated
with fuscous; immediately beyond cell a broad irregular fuscous fascia,
angulated externally between second and third median nervules, en-
closing an irrorated ill-defined traversing stripe of the ground-colour ;
and becoming indistinct near inner margin; a little before apex a
short oblique fuscous bar, uniting with the upper part of hind-marginal
border to isolate two small spots of the ground-colour; a curved discal
row of four round fuscous spots between end of oblique bar and sub-
median nervure; hind-marginal border traversed by two very indis-
228 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
tinct parallel rows of paler lunules, of which the inner are slightly
bluish-tinged. Mind-wing: basal fuscous very broad (especially along
costa, where it almost reaches hind-marginal fuscous border), marked
with a whitish-fulvous spot between costal and subcostal nervures,
and with a large fulvous space (outwardly connected with ground-
colour) in outer half of discoidal cell; discal waved row of five spots,
smaller than in fore-wing; hind-marginal border considerably wider
than in fore-wing, its inner edge irregularly and bluntly dentated,
its two rows of lunules almost as indistinct as in fore-wing. Cilia
fuscous, with inter-nervular white spots. UNDER sIDE.—FPaler, the
ground-colour tinged with whitish; basal fuscous and rts ineluded
markings of the ground-colour very distinctly defined ; the lunules of
hind-marginal border much whiter and distincter than on upper side.
Fore-wing : basal fuscous not irrorated with fulvous, its external edge
only bluntly angulated, containing a basal and a terminal disco-cellular
bar (the latter narrowly continued to submedian nervure), and an
irregular thin streak beyond cell; fuscous costal bar near apex obsolete,
so that first and second spots of discal row are distinct. Hind-wing:
basal fuscous much narrower on costa, extending only slightly beyond
middle ; disco-cellular markings corresponding with those of fore-wing,
but smaller and whiter; spot between costal and subcostal nervures
near base large and conspicuous; immediately above it a small indis-
tinct fulvous spot; curve of costa at base bordered with fulvous; a
sixth spot near costa in discal row.
As above stated, I formerly referred Sima, Wallengr., with doubt to
Octavia, Cram., judging from the author’s description only. But in November
1881 I received a very carefully coloured drawing of Wallengren’s type (most
kindly procured for me by M. Aurivillius, of the Royal Stockholm Museum),
and on my return to the Cape found a worn specimen of Simda, which had
been sent to the South-African Museum by Colonel Bowker. A comparison
of this specimen with the drawing and with Wallengren’s description has
convinced me that the latter author was justified in separating this butterfly”
from Octavia. Its small size and duller, more fulvous colour distinguish it
widely in appearance from the southern examples of Octavia, but it is much
more like the West-African type-form. As regards the upper side, the wider
extension of the basal fuscous, and its fulvous irroration and singular external
angulation in the fore-wing, together with the narrower hind-marginal border,
are distinguishing marks of Simda,; and, on the under side, the entire basal
field of fuscous completely enclosing all the ground-colour markings, but
wanting the two conspicuous basi-costal pale spots of Octavia, as well as any
trace of the blue irroration, are characters by which the butterfly can well be
recognised,
Colonel Bowker’s specimen of this apparently very rare species is a ¢, and
was taken in the Park at D’Urban, Natal, in June 1881. I sent a drawing
and note of the insect to that excellent observer; but he has not again met
with an example.
Localities of Precis Sinia.
I, South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.--D’Urban (J. H. Bowker).
NYMPHALINZE. 229
71. (6.) Precis Octavia, (Cramer).
Papilio Octavia, Cram., Pap. Exot., ii. t. exxxv. ff. B, c (1779).
Vanessa Octavia, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. 322, n. 60 (1819).
Angas, Kafirs. Ilustr. pl XxXet, On LOAG).
Precis Octavia, Hiibn., Verz. Bek. Schmett., D: 34, M274 (1626).
Junonia Octavia, Trim. , Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. p. 130, n. 77 (1862).
Exp. al., 2 in. 2 lin.—2 in. 8 lin.
Salmon-red, inclining to brick-red, with black borders and spots.
Fore-wing: base rather broadly blackish, especially on inner margin,
where it extends as far as middle; costa bordered with black, nar-
rowest about middle, becoming broad and suffused before apex; a
broad, black, transverse stria in discoidal cell unites costal and inner-
marginal black, leaving a spot of ground-colour between it and base ;
a similar, more waved, rather narrower streak occupies extremity of
discoidal cell; a moderately-broad black border along hind-margin,
containing two rows of small bluish lunules, the outer row generally
ill defined, the inner almost always distinct; immediately beneath, and
united to, apical black is the first of a discal row of six round black
spots, between nervules, from fifth subcostal nervule to submedian ner-
vure; fringe black, conspicuously spotted with white. Mind-wing:
disc with a pink gloss; base broadly blackish, extending in a broad
band to middle of costa, where it ends abruptly, immediately below the
termination of the inner-marginal black in /ore-wing, occupying inner
half of discoidal cell, and extending, rather suffusedly, to about middle,
between first median nervule and submedian nervure; a black streak,
sometimes united to costal black, at extremity of cell; along hind-
margin, a black border similar to that in fore-wing, but broader,—its
two rows of bluish lunules usually more distinct than in fore-wing ;
an irregular transverse discal row of six round black spots, continuous
of that in fore-wing, extending from costa to first median nervule ;
towards inner margin is a clothing of silky ochreous hairs; fringe as
in fore-wing. UNDER SIDE—MMuch paler, more creamy in tint, shot
with glistening pink ; black markings very similar to those of upper
side. Fore-wing: a tinge of pale-yellow on costa, particularly near
apex, where there is xo broad blackish suffusion, but sometimes a faint
fuscous cloud; the row of spots parallel to hind-margin commencing
distinctly from costa, the first spot increasing the number to seven;
‘double row of bluish lunules more conspicuous than on wpper side,
whiter. Hind-wing: basal black containing four rather large, very con=
spicuous spots of the ground-colour, and dusted with blue scales, which
form a transverse streak between costal and subcostal nervures near
extremity of black; whitish-bluish lunules in hind-marginal border
large and very conspicuous; row of black spots as on upper side;
inner-marginal region stained with ochre-yellow.
The sexes do not differ except in the larger size and broader, more
rounded hind-wing of the 9.
230 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Larva.—(Cast skin of final moult.) Apparently wholly black,
except the head, which is shining yellowish-brown, with a central
arrow-head black mark in front and a conspicuous rounded black spot
on each side. Spines of the body very acuminate, set with whorls of
strong acicular bristles; the pair on the summit of the head also black,
very thick and long, blunt and rounded at the tips, quite erect, bearing
short, stout, thorn-like branches throughout.
Pupa.—(Cast skin.) Pale yellowish-brown, mottled irregularly
with darker-brown on abdomen generally and on back of thorax;
three darker-brown sub-quadrate spots on wing-covers near base.
Colonel Bowker reared a specimen of Octavia at Pinetown, in Natal,
in October 1883, and sent me the exwice above described, with the
note that the duration of the pupal state was twelve days. As far as
can be judged from the shrivelled skin, the larva must closely resemble
that of P. Sesamus, described by Captain Harford.
The much larger size and brighter, clearer red of the Southern examples
give them a very distinct look from the Tropical West-African type-form,
which also in fore-wing has the discal row of black spots less curved inwardly,
and in both wings on upper side the rows of bluish lunules almost obsolete.
But, on a close comparison, I have not judged it advisable to separate the
Southern form as a distinct species, though it certainly constitutes a marked
variety.
I found this beautiful Precis widely spread over Natal in the summer of
1867, but did not notice it near D’Urban. It frequents open, grassy hills,
especially their summit ridges or highest points, and is very conspicuous,
whether flying or settled. Its companions on these exposed spots are usually
its own congeners, P. Sesamus, Archesia, and Pelasgis, though the last-named
species often prefers a station on the edge of a wood. All are active, bold
butterflies, and their size and striking colouring give much animation to their
favourite haunts.
While in Natal, I captured, near Verulam, on 25th February 1867, a very
fine example of what I took to be a dark example of Octavia, but which, on
examination, exhibited manifest indications of an approach towards the char-
acters of P. Sesamus. I have had this example figured (see Pl. IV. fig. 4),
and it will be observed that the basal black is much more developed than
usual, and in the fore-wing is irrorated with blue; that a black-edged blue stria
crosses the discoidal cell of the fore-wing, while a triple blue and black striated
marking occupies the extremity of the cell; that the two upper spots of the
discal row in the fore-wing, which in Sesamus are white-centred, are centred ~
with whitish-blue; and that the under side presents, immediately beyond the
ordinary basal markings, an irregular fuscous bluish-varied stripe, corresponding
in position to the similar marking in P. Sesamus. I saw a second individual
of apparently quite the same pattern in the Umvoti District during the follow-
ing March, but did not succeed in capturing it.
These two butterflies recalled to my mind two singular specimens taken by
Colonel Bowker on the Tsomo River, Kaffraria, in December 1865, which pre-
sented in the main the characters of Sesamus, but with a very decided inclina-
tion in the direction of Octavia. To these latter specimens I shall revert
under the heading of P. Sesamus.
It was not until 1879 that I found, in the fine collection acquired from
Mr. T. Ayres for the South-African Museum, two examples from the Lyden-
burg District of the Transvaal which closely resembled my Natal example ;
but in the absence of any basal blue irroration, and in having only faint traces
NYMPHALIN/®. 231
of blue in the eellular striz, showed less divergence from Octavia. The larger
of the two, however, had the two upper spots of the discal row of fore-wing
as conspicuously white-centred as in Sesamus ; and also exhibited a very dark
under side, the basal half being very completely fuscous with a sharply-defined
and dentated outer hmit, while the hind-marginal area had a distinctly bronzy
suffusion.
These exceptional variations, together with those of Sesamus already referred
to, acquired a special interest in the same year (1879), as Mr. Frank N. Streat-
feild, C.M.G., an experienced collector and observer of Lepidoptera, wrote to
me to announce that he had just captured at Ibeka, in the Trans-Kei Territory,
Octavia and Amestris (Sesamus) tn copula. He wrote, “ There was no mistake
about it; I caught, killed, and pinned them in my box (with the intention of
sending them to you) still 7m copuld. . . . Amestris was flying and Octavia
passive while the two paired butterflies were on the wing.” The voracity of
the ants frequenting Mr. Streatfeild’s hut unfortunately did not spare these
most interesting specimens, which were devoured the very night after their
capture. This testimony from so good an authority is of special value, as I
had not communicated my suspicions on the subject to Mr. Streatfeild, nor was
he at the time aware of my having any specimens pointing to intercourse
between the two species. It is only to such occasional unions, and to their
fertility, that the origin of the intermediate examples under notice can be
attributed.
Localities of Precis Octavia.
I. South Africa.
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker). Mouth of St.
John’s River (Str H. Barkly). ‘Ibeka” (Ff. N. Streatfeild).
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts. —Verulam. Umvoti. Mapumulo.
b. Upper Districts—Intzutze River. Little Noodsberg. Great
Noodsberg. Udland’s Mission Station. Fort Buckingham.
Hermansburg. Greytown. Pietermaritzburg (W. Hayes). st-
court (J. M. Hutchinson). Karkloof (J. H. Bowker). Van
Reenen’s Pass, Drakensberg (C. Hart).
K. Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
II, Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—“ Angola (J. J. Montetro).”—Druce.
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi River (fev. H. Rowley).—Coll. Hope,
Oxon. [Austral form].
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Sierra Leone (A. WV. Innes).
b, Eastern Coast.—“ Abyssinia: Shoa (Antinorz).”—Oberthiir.
72. (7.) Precis Sesamus, Trimen.
Puate IV. fig. 3 (9).
Vanessa Amestris, Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg., p. 592 (1847).
° is Wallerm., K. Sv. Vet.-Ak. Handl, 1857; Lep. Rhop.
Caffr., p. 26 (1857).
Junonia Amestris, Dru. [part], Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 132, n. 79 (1862).
Hep. 2 in. & lin.—2 in. 11 lin.
Black, dusted with violaccous-bluc, and with blue transverse bands ;
a transverse band of red spots near hind-margin. Fore-wing: thickly
2312 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
irrorated with blue as far as middle; in discoidal cell the irrorations
form three transverse striz, separated from each other by streaks of
the black ground-colour; a waved, irregular, at third median nervule
sometimes interrupted, blue stripe crosses wing beyond middle, from
costa to inner margin; beyond it commences a transverse row of six
spots parallel to hind-margin, the first two spots being conspicuously
bluish-white and of small size, the remainder red (the first of which
is small, the other three large, and excavate internally, where each is
marked by a deep-black spot) ; beyond this row is another of blue sub-
lunulate spots; a line of thin blue lunules close to hind-marginal edge ;
fringe black, white-spotted in indentations. Mind-wing: basal area
dusted with blue; no strize in discoidal cell; beyond middle, the blue
and red stripes of fore-wing are continued across this wing to inner
margin before anal angle, the blue stripe becoming indistinct in its
lower portion, the ved consisting of seven conspicuous, internally
black-dotted spots; row of lunulate spots and of hind-marginal lunules
as in fore-wing, but larger; fringe white-marked in indentations.
UNDER SIDE.—Glossy dark greenish-bronze, with transverse blackish strive.
Fore-wing: five sinuate, black transverse strie in discoidal cell; a
dull-blackish, ill-defined fascia just beyond cell, quite across wing;
followed by another, sharply-defined outwardly, and marking the inner
edge of the blue transverse stripe on wpper side ; an irregular trans-
verse row of small black rings (the third from costa conspicuously filled
with white); toner margin glossed with purplish ; a dull-reddish stain
near anal angle; two rows of indistinct blackish lunules along hind-
margin. Hind-wing: much varied with indistinct blackish fascie in
basal half; a blackish streak, enclosing a greenish line, at extremity of
discoidal cell ; a much-dentated, irregular, black line continues the well-
defined one of /ore-wing to inner margin beyond middle; also a row
of five or six little black rings, continuous of that of fore-wing, as far as
first median nervule; two rows of blackish lunules along hind-margin,
less distinct than in fore-wing, but ending in a black mark at anal angle.
Larva.— Dark velvety-brown, with transverse rows of lght-
brown tubercles, which are centred with rather long, branched spines.
Head light reddish-brown, with a black spot on each cheek, and one
above the mouth, and crowned with two long branched spines.”’—
H. C. Harford, MSS. description of Natalian specimen.
This is the Southern representative of the West-African P. Ames-
tris (Drury), and is separable from that species by (1) its conspicuous
basal blue irroration, (2) the constancy and large development of the
blue discal band, (3) the less irregular black and red discal row of
spots, (4) the absence of red strize in discoidal cell of fore-wings, and
(5) the uniform dark bronzy-green tint of the under side, without any
representation of the red spots of the upper side except near anal
angle of fore-wing. P. Sesamus is also larger than P. Amestris. It
varies somewhat in the tint of its blue colouring, some individuals
NYMPHALINA 233
being more violaceous than usual, while in some rare instances the
blue is very pale and suffused.
There are few such striking contrasts of colour among the South-African
butterflies as that of the blue and red on the upper side of this beautiful
species. I did not know the butterfly in life until June 1865, when I was
delighted at beholding it basking in the sunshine on the Berea Road at
D’Urban, Natal. During my subsequent visit, in the summer of 1867, I met
with many specimens, chiefly in open hilly country. Though constantly to be
seen flitting about with its congeners, Octavia, Archesia, and Pelasgis, I have
noticed that Sesamus has a greater liking than any of them for shady places,
preferring to settle under a bank or in some deep road-cutting. Colonel
Bowker records an interesting note of the extent to which this habit is carried
at the end of autumn, when he has found Sesamus congregated in some
number under rocks and in holes of dry banks, as many as twenty-nine indi-
viduals having been captured at once by placing a net over the hole and
disturbing them. The very dark bronzy-green under side is well adapted
for concealment in such spots; but why the butterflies of this species should
assemble in this manner is not very apparent.
In connection with the remarks given above under Precis Octavia, respect-
ing certain curious individuals exhibiting characters allied to those of P.
Sesamus, I here call attention to some examples in which, though on the
whole the characters of the latter species predominate, there are features
unmistakably approximating them to Octavia. These two examples (¢ and
@) were taken by Colonel Bowker in December 1865, within a few days of
each other, near the Mounted Police Post on the River Tsomo, in Kaffraria
Proper. They want on the upper side the blue basal irroration ; the central
fascia is red, tinged with violaceous (instead of blue), and only separated from
the ordinary red band—which is scarcely macular—by a narrow suffused fus-
cous ray; the two rows of blue marks in the hind-marginal border are very
much reduced (especially in the 2 specimen, where they have quite lost the
form of lunules); and in the fore-wing the discoidal cell is marked as in Octavia
with two red striz, one near base very small and almost obsolete, the other
near extremity of cell and very conspicuous. On the under side, the discal
area beyond middle is clouded with pale-red, obscured with bronzy-green near
costa of both wings; the basal region is less bronzy, with the markings more
distinct, and in the discoidal cell of the fore-wing are two pale-reddish stria.
A third South-African specimen (which I noted in the British Museum
Collection in 1867 as “ presented by R. C. Townshend, Esq.”) much resembled
the two just described, but was smaller, and the red colouring of the upper
side was without violaceous lustre. On the under side of the hind-wing, the
basal markings and the inner marginal border to submedian nervure were
reddish—a feature presented by the Natal specimen near Octavia figured on
my Plate IV.
In several of the characters just mentioned these three examples resemble
the West-African P. Amestris, Dru., but differ remarkably in the possession of
the central red fascia on the upper side.
Taking these specimens in association with those noted under P. Octavia,
and bearing in mind Mr. Streatfeild’s capture of the united sexes, it seems only
reasonable to conclude that they are the hybrid progeny of two such different-
looking species as Octavia and Sesamus.
Localities of Precis Sesamus.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
b. Eastern Districts\—Perie Bush, King William’s Town (J. H.
Bowker).
234 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
D, Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee and Tsomo Rivers, and Butterworth (J,
H, Bowker). ‘“Tbeka” (F. N. Streatfeild).
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban. Mapumulo.
6, Upper Districts.—Intzutze River. Little Noodsberg. Great
Noodsberg. Hermansburg, Greytown, Pietermaritzburg. Est-
court (J. M. Hutchinson).
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom (7. Ayres).
II, Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
6, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi River (Rev. H. Rowley)—Coll. Hope,
Oxon.
br. Interior.—Mashunaland (/. C. Selous). ‘ Kilima-njaro (H. H.
Johnston).”—F. D, Godman.
73. (8.) Precis Archesia, (Cramer).
Papilio Archesia, Cram., Pap. Exot., ili, t. cexix., ff. D, E (1782).
Vanessa Archesia, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. 316, n. 47 (1819).
Junonia Archesia, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 133, n. 80 (1862).
Exp. al., 2 in. 4 lin.—2 in. 5 lin.
Warm-brown, with a tinge of ochreous; fore-wing with cellular blue
strie ; a dull-red band crossing both wings. ore-wing: three bluish,
slender, transverse striz edged with black in discoidal cell; a broader,
sometimes ill-defined, inwardly black-edged, bluish streak from costa
just beyond extremity of cell; a whitish-violaceous stripe from costa
beyond middle becomes merged, on third median nervule, with a dull
ochreous-red band parallel to hind-margin; this red band commences
on costa, close to apex, with a narrow macular streak of dark-red
(sometimes half-obliterated); a row of seven pale-bluish spots—all
conspicuously white-centred except the first (and rarely the fifth)—
parallel to hind-margin, four spots being before the dark-red streak
from costa, and three 7 the red band; bordering hind-margin are
two more or less distinct, lunulate, blue streaks; fringe dull-whitish,
spotted with brown at extremities of nervules. Hind-wing: dull-red
band, continuous of that in fore-wing, completely crosses wing from
costa to inner margin a little before anal angle, and contains five small,
bluish-white, black-ringed spots, between first subcostal and third
median nervules; a slightly darker shade externally bounds red band ;
and a dark-brown, dentated streak runs near and parallel to hind-
margin; anal angle irrorated with pale-blue scales ; fringe as in /ore-
wing, but the brown marks not so distinct. UNDER sIDE.—Dark-brown
(varied with lighter-brown, and crossed by transverse greyish fascice) to
beyond middle of both wings ; where, in place of the dull-red band of
the wpper side, is a whitish-ochreous one—the inner fork of the band,
on costa, being the whitest portion—tinged with reddish or ochreous,
particularly in hind-wing, and generally ill-defined outwardly ; the row
NYMPHALINZ:. 235
of spots common to both wings smaller than on upper side, without
bluish tinge, whitish, in brown rings; hind-margins varied irregularly
with whitish-grey, particularly at apices and anal angles; two dark-
brown, lunulate streaks, more or less distinct and continuous, border
hind-margins, the streaks in hind-wing occupying the same position as
on upper side; fringes duller than on upper side.
The 2 in colouring and pattern is like the g, but a little duller
and paler; while her hind-wing is considerably broader and more
rounded, being less acuminate at the anal angle.
Var. A. (¢ and $). |
Rather smaller. Common rufous band considerably paler, inclin-
ing to ochreous-yellow along its inner portion; the stripe from costa
of fore-wing which forms part of the band not, or but very slightly,
violaceous. ore-wing: the cellular bluish striz and the hind-mar-
ginal lunulate blue streaks less developed and sometimes indistinct.
UNDER SIDE.—Basal areas more uniform in colour, being less varied
with paler strize; common discal band much paler and more developed,
approaching in character towards the same feature in P. Pelasgis
Godt.)
It seems not improbable that this variety, which occurs near Grahamstown,
in Kaffraria, and in Natal, in company with the typical form, is the result of
unions between Archesia and Pelasqis,' all the points in which it differs leading
towards the distinctive characters of the latter.
The under side in true Archesta presents much variation, some examples
exhibiting slight bronzy reflections, and others inclining to a reddish tinge in
parts. A 3 taken by me at Greytown, in Natal, in March 1867, has all the
under side of a warm ochreous-brown varied with ferruginous ; and a similar
but rather darker ¢ has reached me from the Lydenburg District of the Trans-
vaal, where it was taken by Mr. T. Ayres.
I am inclined to include as a further variety of Archesta the Precis Stand-
— ingerti of Dewitz? from Angola, which differs chiefly in the larger development
of all the blue markings of the fore-wing and smooth unstreaked pale-
brownish colouring of the under side. I have not, however, seen any Angolan
examples; but I note that Mr. Druce (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1875, p. 408)
includes, without comment, Archesta amongst the late Mr. Monteiro’s collec-
tions in Angola.
There are few handsomer or more conspicuous South-African butterflies
than P. Archesia. It is fond of elevated situations, and, more than any of
its congeners that I have observed, delights to bask or repose on rocks or
large stones. Colonel Bowker has noted that it sometimes congregates under
rocks, and is often met with in small rocky caverns in deep forest kloofs. It
visits flowers pretty frequently nevertheless, and, though wary, is a bold insect,
and not difficult to capture. Commoner in the summer, it yet is to be found
in the winter months, and I recently met with good specimens at Grahams-
town as late as the end of June. As far as known, the species does not come
farther westward and southward than Knysna, where a single specimen was
taken by Miss Wentworth (now Mrs. Muskett) in the year 1861.
1 Mr. A. G. Spiller has noted in the Hntomologist for January 1882, that he had taken
_ these two species in copuld.
2 Nov, Act. Acad. Leop.-Carol.-Deutsch., xli. pars ii, n. 2, p. 193, tab. xxv. n. 15.
236 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Localities of Precis Archesia.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.—Knysna (Miss Wentworth).
b, Eastern Districts.—Uitenhage. Grahamstown. Peddie. Kowie
River Mouth (J. Z. Fry). King William’s Town (WV. S.
D Urban, Ven. H. Kitton, J. H. Bowker). Windvogelberg.
Queenstown (Dr. Batho).
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—Tongaati River.
6. Upper Districts—Pietermaritzburg. Greytown. Estcourt (J. M, |
Hutchinson).
II, Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—‘ Angola (Pogge).”—H. Dewitz. ‘“ Banana,
Angola (J. J. Montezro).” —H. Druce.
6. Kastern Coast.—Zambesi River (Rev. H. Rowley).—Coll. Hope,
Oxon.
74. (9.) Precis Pelasgis, Godart.
Vanessa Pelasgis, Godt., Ene. Meth., ix. Suppl, p. 820, n. 38-39 (18109).
Junonia Pelasgis, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i p. 135, n. 81 (1862).
Exp. al., 2 in. 1 lin.—2 in. 4 lin.
Dark-brown ; beyond middle a pale ochreous band tinged with dull-
red crossing both wings. Fore-wing: some dull-reddish scales on costa
near base; two irregular, sometimes half-obliterated, dull-red trans-
verse striae in discoidal cell, the inner striz externally, the outer
internally, edged with a blue-dotted black line; a thin black line
inwardly edged with blue at extremity of cell, and a more indistinct
similar stria a little beyond it; pale-ochreous band bifid on costa,
the outer ray being very much narrower than the inner, macular, and
more or less interrupted; immediately before the outer ray of the band
are the first three of a transverse row of six white-centred black spots,
parallel to hind-margin, of which the remaining three (as in the allied
species) are 7 the ochreous band, near its outer edge, the last spot
being above submedian nervure; close to hind-margin are two rows of
lunular markings, scarcely paler than ground-colour, but the inner
row more or less coloured with bluish scales; fringe brown, white-
spotted in indentations of margin. Hind-wing: ochreous band con-
tinued across this wing, beyond middle, to a little before anal angle
on inner margin, and containing five black dots, not white-centred,
between first subcostal and third median nervules; two indistinct,
slightly paler in tint, lunulate streaks, divided by a streak darker than
ground-colour, border hind-margin; at anal angle is a faint-bluish
mark; fringe as in fore-wing. UNDER SIDE.—Of a darker, duller
NYMPHALINAE. 237
brown than above; the transverse band very conspicuous, white, with
a creamy tint on its edges, and with a faint violaceous lustre. ore-
wing: some scarcely distinguishable, thin, dark, transverse lines in
cell; between which lines are occasionally a few scattered whitish
scales; row of spots conspicuous, the lowest one geminate; apex
more or less clouded with white scales; double row of lunules dis-
tincter than on upper side, some of them marked with white scales.
Hind-wing : spots in band as on upper side; an ochreous-yellow tinge
on inner margin at conclusion of band; lunular streaks as in /ore-
Wing.
‘his near ally of P. Archesia (Cram.) is easily known by its paler,
wider, differently-coloured transverse bands, which on the under side
are very conspicuously creamy-white, and most distinctly defined on
both edges. On the upper side also it almost totally wants every
trace of the pale-blue markings of Archesia ; while the ground of the
under side is uniform dark-brown, with little if any paler strie or
varied clouding.
P. Chapunga (Hewits.), from the Zambesi, is still more closely related to
Pelasgis. The two examples on which the late Mr. Hewitson founded the
species both exhibit the striking features of the discal common band being so
reduced as to consist (except as regards the costal bar at the upper extremity)
only of reddish rings round the small black spots. The lunulate marginal
rows on the upper side of the fore-wing are of the same reddish tint and well
marked. On the under side the band is of the same character as in Pelasgis,
but considerably narrower.
The range of P. Pelasgis agrees nearly with that of P. Archesta, and the
habits of the two butterflies are much the same. I have frequently found them
in company, haunting the same spots, and settling on the same rocks or flowers.
At Highlands, near Grahamstown, I noticed, however, a habit in the ¢ Pelasgis
which I have never witnessed in the case of Archesva, viz., that of perching
himself on the projecting twig of some high bush at the edge of a wood, and
thence giving chase to other passing butterflies. Mrs. Barber informed me
that in the same locality she had noticed the 9 Pelasgis laying her eggs on
a white-flowered Labiate of the genus Plectranthus. ‘This butterfly also keeps
on the wing during part at least of the winter season, as I saw several examples
at Grahamstown during June 1883.
Localities of Precis Pelasgis.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
6, Eastern Districts;—Grahamstown. Bedford (J. P. Mansel Weale).
Keiskama Hoek, and King William’s Town (W.S. J. D’ Urban).
Windvogelberg, Queenstown (Dr. Batho),
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Mouth of St. John’s River (Sir H. Barily).
HK. Natal.
a. Coast Districts—D’Urban. Verulam. Umhlali. Umvoti, Mapu-
mulo.
b. Upper Districts—Fort Buckingham. Hermansburg. Pieter-
maritzburg (Miss Colenso). Estcourt (J. M. Hutchinson),
Rorke’s Drift (J. H. Bowker).
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom (7. Ayres).
238 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
II. Other African Regions,
A. South Tropical.
61. Eastern Interior.—Shashani River (/ C. Selous). “ Victoria
Nyanza (Rev. J. Hannington).”—A. G. Butler.
75. (10.) Precis natalica, Felder.
Precis natalica, Feld., Wien. Ent. Monats., iv. p. 106 (1860).
Junonia Hecate, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. p. 140, n. 84 (1862); and ii,
pl. iii. £. 6 (1866).
Exp. al., 2 in. 2 lin—2 in. 5 lin.
Dull greyish-brown, with dull ochreous-red transverse striw and ocel-
lated spots; four conspicuous pure-white spots near apex of fore-wing.
Fore-wing: two ochreous-red, blackish-edged striae across discoidal
cell, the outer one closing cell; a broad space on costa, commencing a
little beyond extremity of cell, is much darker than rest of wing, and
contains three pure white spots, arranged transversely from first sub-
costal to third median nervule; a dark stripe, including an indistinct
dull-red one, extends from third median nervule, immediately before
the lowest white spot, to a little beyond middle of inner margin; a
small pure-white spot on costa close to apex commences a row of
blackish spots parallel to hind-margin, between nervules, as far as sub-
median nervure, the two lowest spots the largest, and always surrounded
by an ochreous-red ring, wider on the inner side,—the other spots
occasionally in indistinct smaller rings, some of them generally with
minute bluish pupils; beyond these ccellate spots are two dark-brown
or blackish lunulate striz bordering hind-margin; fringe varied with
white and brown. Mind-wing: a transverse, dull ochreous-red, black-
edged stria about middle of discoidal cell, composed of two small
spots, and a similar stria at extremity of cell; the dark stripe of fore-
wing, enclosing a dull-red one, is continued across this wing, gradually
narrowing towards inner margin, where, a little before anal angle, it
becomes obsolete; beyond it, a transverse row of more or less con-
spicuous ochreous-red ocelli, with blue-dotted black centres, five in
number, situated between first subcostal nervule and first median
nervule,—the last spot the largest and brightest, and in a distinct,
thin, yellow ring; in some specimens, a sixth similar but much smaller
(occasionally minute) ocellus, above submedian nervure; two dark-
brown, lunulate streaks beyond ocelli, parallel to hind-margin, but
more continuous than in /fore-wing,—darker at anal angle, where there
is a slight irroration of blue-grey scales; fringe brown, slightly marked
with white. UNDER sIDE— Very variable: ground-colour commonly
much paler than on upper side. Fore-wing: an additional dull-red
mark in discoidal cell, at base; three white spots beyond cell, in
darker portion, rather larger, commonly contiguous,—the row continued
to first median nervule by two pale markings, immediately beneath
which is a large, whitish spot; before this spot, and likewise imme-
NYMPHALIN A. 239
diately beneath first median nervule, is a similar, slightly smaller
whitish spot; ocellate spots distincter than above, particularly the two
immediately below small white costal spot,—the two lowest ones rounder,
in thin yellow rings; hind-margin varied with whitish-grey. Hind-
wing: sometimes, an additional, basal, dull-red mark in discoidal cell,
the other transverse marks frequently extending above and below cell ;
two indistinct, darker, waved striz cross wing before middle; just
beyond middle, a more or less distinct, dull-red, outwardly dark-mar-
gined streak crosses from costa to inner margin a little before anal
angle; occasionally, next costa, this streak 1s immediately succeeded
by a short thin white mark, interrupted in its middle; ocelli mostly
rather conspicuous; streaks beyond, parallel to margin, tinged with
blue, especially near anal angle; the hind-margin more or less varied
with violaceous or whitish-grey.
In some specimens the under side is much suffused and the mark-
ings indistinct and without the usual red tint; the transverse stripe on
hind-wing is, however, very conspicuous, and commences with two
white markings on costa. In others, the wader side is much tinged with
a bronzy lustre, and with the ocellated spots scarcely visible.
This species may be regarded as the Southern representative of P. Chort-
mene (Guér.), although it extends far to the northward along the Western
Coast. It is distinguished by its much darker ground-colour, deeper red striz
and ocelli, and (especially) by the possession of the subapical row of three con-
spicuous white spots in the fore-wing. Its hind-wing is not so sharply angu-
lated, nor so much produced at the anal angle.
Natalica differs similarly from the allied but smaller P. Goudotii (Boisd.)
of Madagascar; but the latter also presents the peculiar character of a row of
seven minute white spots in black rings running near and parallel to the hind-
margin in the fore-wing.
I do not know of the occurrence of this butterfly to the south of Natal,
but on the coast of that Colony it is numerous. It frequents the outskirts of
woods, and has a hurried irregular flight, often setthng on the ground. Colonel
Bowker has sent me two pairs taken 7m copuld, and I captured one pair on rath
February 1867; the sexes only differ in size and in the rather paler colouring
of the female. The species must be on the wing for the greater part if not
the whole of the year, as I met with specimens on one occasion at the end of
June, and afterwards abundantly throughout the summer.
Localities of Precis natalica.
I. South Africa.
ik. Natal.
a. Coast Districts—D’Urban. Verulam. ‘ Lower Umkomazi,”—J.
H. Bowker.
II. Other African Regions,
A. South Tropical. .
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi (ev. H. Rowley).
b1, Eastern Interior.—Zambesi ; opposite Zumbo, and near Umsen-
gaisi (I. C. Selous). Inyoutete River (2. C. Selous).
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Calabar.—Coll. Hewitson.
240 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
76, (11.) Precis Elgiva, (Hewitson).
Junonia EHigiva, Hewits., Exot. Butt., iii. pl. 13, f. 1 (1864).
Junonma Xipha, Butl., Cist. Ent., 1. p. 7 (1869).
Exp. al., 2 in—2 in. 44 lin.
Dark-brown; a common transverse discal band of ochre-yellow,
bounded externally on hind-wing by a row of ocellated spots. Fore-
wing: an indistinct dull-reddish transverse stria edged narrowly on
both sides with blackish, about middle of discoidal cell, and a similar,
more waved, stria at extremity of cell; discal band commencing
narrowly near costa about middle, but widening gradually downward
to inner margin,—its outer edge much curved posteriorly, its inner
edge bluntly angulated on third median nervule; just within the
outer edge of the band (and usually touching the brown ground-
colour) in its lower half, a row of three rather suffused inter-nervular
dark-brown spots, of which the lowest 1s geminate; close to costa
and near apex, two very small white spots, of which the lower is _
sometimes obsolete; a moderately wide hind-marginal border of paler
brown traversed longitudinally by a dark-brown streak. Hind-wing :
closing discoidal cell, a faint reddish stria like that in fore-wing, but
narrower and straighter; discal band commencing narrowly and palely
on costa beyond middle, its inner edge only slightly waved, its outer
edge directly bounded by a row of six ocellated spots; of these spots
all but the two lowest are externally imperfect and obscured with dark-
brown, but the two complete ones are dark-red, ringed with ochre-
yellow and blackish, and centred with black bearing a bluish pupil,
—the sixth or last being geminate and bipupillate; hind-marginal
border as in fore-wing; anal-angular process irrorated with bluish.
Cilia dark-brown, with small but distinct white inter-nervular spots.
UNDER SIDE—Pale dull-creamy, streaked and clouded with brown; a
common median dark-brown streak from costa of fore-wing to anal
angle of hind-wing, and a common discal row of ocelli; two sub-
marginal brown streaks, the inner much more dentated than the outer
one. Sore-wing: cellular striz distinct, ochre-brown, both prolonged
as far as submedian nervure; beyond them a third, darker, broader,
more denticulated stria immediately preceding the dark-brown trans-
verse streak; apical area clouded with brown, which extends along
nearly all the hind-margin; discal row of ocelli commencing with the
lower of the two very small white spots near apex, and having the
second, third, and fourth very small and indistinct, but the fifth and
sixth large and better marked, being pale-ochreous in a brown ring
and centred with a whitish-pupilled blackish spot. Mind-wing:
median dark-brown streak conspicuous, slightly suffused with reddish-
brown; before middle a similar but much more curved and irregular
transverse streak; three or four thin brown striolee in discoidal cell;
of the six discal ocelli the third and fourth are very small and imper-
NYMPHALIN ZG, 241
fect, but the others are distinct, the fifth having the colours almost as bright
as on the upper side; hind-margin clouded with brownish inferiorly.
The colouring of the under side varies much, some specimens being
suffused with a pale-olivaceous or dull-brownish tinge generally, while
a few examples present an almost uniform dull creamy-ferruginous
tint, except for the dark median streak inwardly bordered rather con-
spicuously with ochre-yellow. The sexes are quite alike, except that
in the $ the discal band of the upper side is rather broader.
P. Elgiva is the Southern representative of P, Zerea (Drury), which
inhabits Tropical Western Africa. It is readily separable on the upper
side by its much narrower ochre-yellow discal band (untraversed by the
longitudinal streak so conspicuous in Zerea), and by its having in the
fore-wing only two subapical small white spots, instead of a submar-
ginal row of six or seven subocellate ones, and in the hind-wing much
better defined ocelli. On the under side all the markings in Elgiva
(except in the rather rare examples coloured with creamy-ferruginous)
are darker and browner and more strongly developed, especially the
strize before middle and the discal ocelli.
I first met with this fine Precis near the Tongaati River, in Natal, on the
2oth March 1867, and a few days afterwards fell in with it again on the
Umhlanga, not far from D’Urban. The neighbourhood of the latter place has
since yielded many specimens to Mr. W. D. Gooch and Colonel Bowker, and
the latter has sent me the paired sexes taken in March 1879 and April 1881.
The butterfly is conspicuous on the wing, and has quite the same habits as P.
natalica, flitting about near the herbage in wooded spots.
Mr. Hewitson’s figure is from a Zambesian example, apparently faded, the
colouring being considerably paler than in good Natalian examples,
Localities of Precis Hlgiva,
I, South Africa.
i. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban (J. H. Bowker and W. D. Gooch).
Umhlanga. Tongaati.
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—‘ Angola (Pogge).”—Dewitz.
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi (J. Dichinson).—Hewitson. ‘ Tchou-
acka (Raffray).”—Oberthiir.
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—“ Old Calabar (Coll. Druce).”—Butler.
77. (12.) Precis Tugela, Trimen.
uaratY. tie. 5 (9 ).
Precis Tugela, 'Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1879, p. 334.
inp. al., 2 im. 54 lin. (¢); 2 in. 11 lin. (9).
§ Dark-brown, with broad ochre-yellow discal band. Fore-wing :
band commencing on costa, curved convexly outwardly, its edges irre-
gular (especially the inner one, which is deeply indented by grownd-
MOL. I, Q
242 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
colour just below third median nervule); from near apex to above
submedian a discal row of six small black spots, the lower three of
which are in the yellow band just beyond its middle line; the first and
second of the row are white-centred (the latter conspicuously), and the
sixth accompanied inferiorly by a black dot; costa near base scaled
with ferruginous-rufous; in discoidal cell three black-edged irregular
strize, of which the basal one is rufous-tinged and imperfect, the central
one distinctly rufous in its upper portion, and the outer one of the
eround-colour defining extremity of cell; along hind-margin two very
indistinct paler lunulated strie, the inner rather more apparent than
the outer, being slightly dusted with whitish. Hind-wing: band com-
mencing narrowly on costa, but suddenly broadening between subcostal
nervules, and continuing widely almost to inner margin beyond middle ;
it is rather paler than in fore-wing, but similarly contains exteriorly a row
of small black spots, all six of which are conspicuous on the ochre-yellow;
hind-marginal lunulated striae rather more distinct than in fore-wing,
especially near anal angle, where they are sprinkled with bluish-white
scales continuous of those which cover the long anal-angular projection ;
hind-margin distinctly edged with rufous-ochreous. Cilia very narrow,
dull-brown generally, but white just below projection of fore-wing.
UNDER SIDE.— Varied with ferruginous-brown and pale ochre-yellow; a
conspicuous patch of the latter in fore-wing on costal border beyond middle ;
the submarginal lunulated stria lilac-white, suffused; the small black spots
of discal row all white-centred except the fourth and fifth of the fore-
wing; a dark-brown streak curving inwardly commences suffusedly on
subapical projection of fore-wing and runs to anal-angular projection of
hind-wing.
2 Closely resembles g. Jore-wing: costa narrowly suffused with
ochreous throughout, the ferruginous-rufous towards base and in disco-
cellular striz more distinct than in ¢; third spot of discal row (as well
as first and second) white-centred. Hind-wing : third spot of discal row
minutely white-centred. UNDER sipE.—That of one example marked
asin #, and with the pale-ochreous patch of fore-wing very conspicuous,
but with broney greenish-grey replacing the ferruginous-brown, and the
common dark stripe very strongly marked; while that of a second
example is wholly pale-ferruginous with violaceous and bronzy reflec-
tions, with the common streak and the discal spots faintly marked
in dull eream-colour. In outline of fore-wing the subapical projection
is very long and dusted with bluish-white, while in the % it is quite
short and without irroration.
In colouring and marking this species bears a very strong resem-
blance to P. Hlgiva (Hewits.), but is at once distinguishable (1) by the
hind-wings presenting a row of simple black spots of small size on the
upper side instead of the multicoloured ocelli, and (2) by the deep
indentation of the ochre-yellow band of the fore-wing on its inner side.
In outline, P. Tugela has the projections of the wings in both sexes
NYMPHALINA. 243
(but particularly in the 2 as regards the fore-wings) very much longer.
The species to which Tugela seems actually most nearly allied (setting
aside the colour of the transverse band) are P. Pelarga (Fab.) and P.
Kowara (Ward) from West Africa, both of which present almost the
same outline of wings, description of spots in discal row, and inner
indentation of the band on the fore-wings.
IT met with a single specimen of this butterfly in Natal on the 8th March
1867; it was settled, with expanded wings, on a fern in a densely-wooded
ravine at Kranzkop, Tunjumbili, on the Tugela River. This was a ¢; and I
saw no other examples until 1879, when two ?s were received at the South-
African Museum in a fine collection formed by Mr. T. Ayres, with the note
that they had been taken in the Lydenburg District of the Transvaal. In
May 1882, in a collection shown to me by Colonel S. Scott, R.A., and stated
to have been made at Maritzburg in Natal, I noticed a single specimen of
what appeared to be a variety of P. Tugela, having the discal band tinged
with rufous.
Localities of Precis Tugela.
I. South Africa.
EK. Natal.
b. Upper Districts.—Tugela (Tunjumbili). ? Maritzburg (Colonel JS.
Scott).
K. Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
Genus SALAMIS.
Salamis, Boisd., Faune Ent. de Madag., &c., p. 46 (1833); Doubl. (Juno-
nia, “Section III.”), Gen. Diurn. Lep,, 1. p. 211 (1849).
Protogoniomorpha, Wallgrn., Lep. Rhop. Caffr. in K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Hand1.,
iNT is 23) LOS, ).
Junonia (part), Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. pp. 124, 125 (1862).
Imaco.—Characters of Precis generally. Antenne shorter, with a
narrow, elongated, very gradually formed club. Prothorax very dis-
tinctly defined, forming a distinct neck, Discoidal cell in both fore-
and hind-wings closed by a very slender nervule, meeting third median
nervule in fore-wings a little beyond, in hind-wings at, its origin.
Besides the few characters given, there is only the large size of the
nine or ten species included in Salamis to distinguish them from Precis.
The Malagasy S. Augustina, Boisd. (on which the genus was founded),
and S. Anteva, Ward, are in outline of wings like the group of Precis
represented by P. Tugela, Trim., and P. Kowara (Ward), and their
colouring—dull-red and fuscous above and ochreous or ferruginous-
brown beneath—is rather sombre; but the Cacta and Cytora sections
present a handsome bluish-purple upper side, and have rather well-
marked ocellated spots on the under side; while the splendid pearly
Anacardii, Linn., and its allies have a most peculiar facies, and are
among the loveliest of known butterflies.
Salamis is confined to the Ethiopian Region, appearing to be most
developed on the Tropical Western Coast, while two species seem to be
244 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
peculiar to Madagascar, and a third confined to it and the neighbouring
Mascarene Islands. It is the Anacardw section that has the widest
range through the region; and two of its members reach Natal, where
the finest perhaps of all—Anacardw itself—is numerous in the coast
country.
I can find no record of the larva, except a brief note by M.
Vinson respecting that of the Malagasy S. Duprai (Voyage a Madagas-
car, 1865, p. 574), which he mentions as “ white, in length 5% centi-
metres, covered with branched spines.”
78. (1.) Salamis Anacardii, (Linn.)
Papilio Anacardii, Linn., Mus. Lud. Ulr. Reg., p. 236, n. 55 (1764); and
Syst. Nat., 1-2, Pp 755; 0. 74 \partl) (769).
Papitio Parrhkasus, Dru., Wl Nat. Hust., ui. pliive © 1 21762)
Vanessa Aglatonice, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. 299, n. 8 (1819).
Protogoniomorpha Anacardti, Wallgrn., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad, Handl, Lep.
Rhop. Caffr., p. 24 (1857).
Junonia Anacardit, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1, p. 141, n. 85 (1862).
Exp. al., 3 in. 5 lin.— 4 in. 3 lin.
Very pale greensh or greemsh-white, shot with a brilliant rosy-violet
lustre, more vivid in g, ging a “mother-of-pearl”-like aspect to the
wings ; spotted and margined with blackish.
Fore-wing: costa thinly powdered with minute blackish atoms to
slightly beyond middle, where commences a narrow, blackish edging,
rapidly widening to apex, where it forms a rather broad bordering;
hind-margin also bordered with blackish, which, wide at apex, gradually
narrows to anal angle, where it is sometimes very indistinct; from sub-
costal nervure are two short, transverse, thin, slightly waved streaks,
one crossing discoidal cell about its middle, the other closing cell;
from first subcostal nervule, a little beyond extremity of cell, is a third
streak to first median nervule; these three streaks are all liable to be
very indistinct, or even obliterated in their lower portion, but the streak
beyond cell is always continued to inner margin about middle by a very
faint, thin, grey line; near apex, between the two discoidal nervules, a
rounded blackish spot, sometimes united to apical blackish ; two other
black spots beyond middle, one above, the other below, first median
nervule,—the upper spot the larger, and centred with violet-blue
(which centre is sometimes edged inwardly by a red crescent); two
blackish dots, between this ocellate spot and the blackish spot near
apex, complete the transverse row of spots; close and parallel to hind-
margin, a row of larger or smaller blackish spots, between nervules,
sometimes writed to hind-marginal blackish. Hind-wing: beyond
middle, parallel to hind-margin, between costal nervure and first
median nervule, a row of six black spots, of which the first and second
are of moderate size and not ocellate,—the third larger, with violet-
| NYMPHALIN A, 245
blue pupil and red lunule,—the fourth and fifth blackish only (rarely
red-centred), very small, or sometimes altogether obsolete,—the sixth
large, very distinct, containing a violet-blue pupilled red centre in a
conspicuous yellow ring ; beyond these, also between nervules, a row of
thin, blackish, lunulate marks, from costa to anal angle, strongest in
?, the thickest lunule being at anal angle, and in some specimens
broadly suffused with blackish internally ; the thin, grey line of /ore-
wing continued obliquely across this wing to inner margin, a little
before anal angle; a blackish streak bordering hind-margin, which is
also thinly irrorated with blackish atoms. UNDER sIDE.—Paler, glisten-
ing somewhat irridescent, but without the rich lustre of upper side ;
blackish markings reduced to very thin lines and dots; thin line crossing
both wings distinct and black. ore-wing : two pale, slightly pinkish,
thinly black-edged, rather broad, transverse stripes, from costa before
middle to just above submedian nervure, where the outer black edging
of the stripe nearest middle meets the thin black line from costa,
forming a spot, while its inner edging forms a similar spot with the
outer black edging of the stripe nearer base; on the imner side of the
thin transverse line, a minute irroration of black atoms, and bordering
it externally is a whitish, pink-tinged stripe; spot near apex in the
same position as on upper side, but pale-yellow, with a violet-pupilled
red centre, and 7m a thin black ring; spot above first median nervule
also of these colours, and conspicuous, but spot below that nervule
small and not clearly marked; hind-marginal row of spots represented
by a very thin, wavy, often interrupted hne; a slight, pale-brownish
tinge on hind-marginal edge. Hind-wing: marked very similarly to
fore-wing ; only one indistinct pale band before middle, not defined on its
imner side; a rather large elongate whitish spot in discoidal cell near
its extremity; blackish irrorations, bordering inner edge of black
transverse line, more thickly sprinkled than in /ore-wing ; only two
ocellated spots visible, more conspicuous than those in /ore-wing, but
of the same colours, situated respectively between second subcostal
and discoidal nervules, and between first and second median nervules.
|
i
|
Mr. H. Druce (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1875, p. 409) jobserves that Mr.
Monteiro’s specimens from Angola were ‘smaller than those from Natal, with
a much deeper pink gloss.”
This large and splendidly-coloured butterfly has a wide range across Tropical
Africa, and seems to find its southern limit in Natal. At D’Urban, in that
Colony, it is a common species in the summer months, and, during my stay from
January to April 1867, I observed and captured many examples. The flowers
of Lantana were its favourite resort in the Botanic Garden, and it was not
unusual to see six or eight on a single bush. I often noticed one perched on
the leaves of trees at some height from the ground, keeping its head outward
and its wings erect, and occasionally I found a female at rest on the under
surface of a leaf with her wings hanging downward. Among scattered bushes
or in roads about wooded spots Anacardii is fond of sporting at about eight
or ten feet from the ground, floating about with fully expanded wings ; and
it is then that the full beauty of its glittering wings is most apparent. On
246 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
such occasions it is generally a pair that appears, the male flying round the
female. Colonel Bowker informs me that he observed several, females ovi-
positing in the Berea Woods, near D’Urban, on 23d November 1879; the
greenish eges were deposited singly on the under side of the upper leaves of a
herbaceous plant in the underwood.
I have published in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of
London the same observer’s account of his capture of a male Anacardii paired
with the female of a Saturnide moth (Aphelia Apollinaris, Westw.) of some-
what similar appearance.
Localities of Salanuis Anacardii,
I, South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts —D’Urban. Verulam. Tugela River Mouth
(J. H. Bowker). ** Lower Umkomazi.”—J. H. Bowker.
b. Upper Districts.—Pietermaritzburg (— Windham).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—‘‘ Angola (Pogge) ; Chinchoxo (Falkenstein),”
—Dewitz. ‘Angola (J. J. Montetro).”—Druce.
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi (H. Waller). ‘Mombas [Endara
(Kersten).” —Gerstiicker. ‘ Abyssinia: Lake Tsana (Rafiray).”
— Oberthiiz.
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Fernando Po (E. Bourke). Calabar (Hewitson
Collection), Ashanti and Sierra Leone (Brit. Mus. Coll.)
79. (2.) Salamis nebulosa, Trimen.
Puate LV, fig. 6 (¢ ).
Salamis nebulosa, Trim., Trans, Ent. Soc. Lond., 1881, p. 441.
Lgp. al. 2 m.'6 lim. (f)3 2,1n. 6 lim.——3 ine 7 lin (2)
af Iridescent whitish, with fuscous markings. Fore-wing: a well-
defined pale bluish-grey basal cloud reaching as far as middle of
discoidal cell; upper disco-cellular nervule with a thin curved fuscous
mark ; apical area widely fuscous, from costa a little beyond end of cell
to end of second median nervule on hind-margin; inner edge of this
apical patch irregularly excavated; near apex three white spots, of
which the second (close to subapical projection) is divided by a trans-
verse fuscous streak, and the third is indistinct; lower portion of
hind-marginal fuscous narrowly continued to posterior angle by rather
suffused hind-marginal and submarginal fuscous streaks; near the
inner of these streaks, between second median nervule and submedian
nervure, two fuscous spots, rather large, obliquely placed, and slightly
suffused. MHind-wing: a basal grey suffusion, narrower and less dis-
tinct than in fore-wing; immediately before hind-margin a parallel
fuscous streak, preceding which is a lunulate, suffused, fuscous streak,
becoming irregular and less distinct in its lower portion, but with the
outer streak enclosing six more or less ill-defined whitish marks; a
NYMPHALIN, 247
little before apex, from costa to second subcostal nervule, a large elon-
gate fuscous marking, leaving two white spots between it and the
submarginal streak; immediately beneath and slightly beyond this
marking an obscure fuscous red-centred pale-yellow-ringed ocellus ;
below this some greyish irroration, extending to anal angle, but inter-
rupted between second and first median neivule by a conspicuous red,
blue-pupilled, black-clouded, yellow-and-black ringed ocellus; the trace
of a faint grey line from costa, about middle, straight to before anal
angle or inner margin, where it becomes darker but suffused. UNDER
sIDE.—Duller, widescence much fainter, very thinly irrorated with fus-
cous, except about a central band; the fuscous markings only indicated
by a greyer tint; near bases a common double transverse irregular
stria (indistinct in hind-wing) from costal nervure of fore-wing to sub-
median nervure of hind-wing; also a common fuscous streak from first
median nervule of fore-wing to inner margin near anal angle of hind-
wing. Jore-wing: avery short, thin transverse stria in cell close to
base; a double stria, closing cell, from costa to below first median
neryule, where its outer edge joins the common fuscous streak; fuscous
spots near hind-margin and posterior angle represented by two imper-
fect fuscous ocelli in white rings; another similar (or more imperfect)
ocellus near subapical projection. Mind-wing: the two ocelli equally
distinct and well coloured, but the lower one the larger; anal-angular
termination of submarginal streak enlarged and conspicuously fuscous.
2 Like the male, but with all the fuscous markings broader. Lore-
wing: basal grey ill defined or almost obsolete; common fuscous
streak of under side usually more or less distinctly marked, inter-
rupted, commencing on subcostal nervure a little beyond cell, and
sharply angulated on third median nervule; an additional small white
spot immediately beyond the first in apical fuscous; the two large
black discal spots usually so suffusedly increased as to be confluent
with the hind-marginal fuscous, and so enclosing three or four whitish
spots. Hind-wing: the common streak distinct; other markings
much as in male; the upper ocellus more obscured with fuscous.
UNDER SIDE —Duller, much more closely vrrorated than vm male, inelin-
ing to yellowish (ii one example, very pale sandy-brownish). Hind-wing :
the ocelli remarkably smaller, rather ovate than circular, much duller
in colouring.
The subapical projection of the fore-wing is considerably longer
in the female than in the male.
This butterfly is nearly related to S. Anacardu, L. It is dis-
tinguished by its smaller size (especially in the male, where this is
very remarkable); white, instead of greenish, ground-colour; much
duller iridescence, and great development of the dark markings, espe-
cially in the apical area of the fore-wings; while the under side is
conspicuously duller and less metallic, more irrorated, without white
variegation, and with uncoloured and almost obsolete ocelli in the fore-
248 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
wing. In outline the projections of both wings are much shorter and
blunter, especially in the male.
In several of the characters noted, S. nebulosa approaches the Mada-
gascarene S. Dupri, Vinson, but it altogether wants the long anal-
angular tail of the hind-wing so conspicuous in that species, and has
much larger dark markings in the hind-wing; while the blunt sub-
apical projection of the fore-wing is totally different from the long
process so conspicuous in S. Dupri."
Three specimens of this butterfly—a male and two females—were taken
near St. Lucia Bay, in Zululand, by the late Colonel H. Tower in the year
1867, and presented to me by him in the following year, It was not until
1878 that I saw another example, Colonel J. H. Bowker having, in November
of that year, forwarded to the South-African Museum a female found by him
in a collection of insects made at D’Urban, Natal, by a resident there.
Colonel Bowker has recently sent me a male captured by himself in the neigh-
bourhood of D’Urban.
Mrs. Monteiro’s collection contains a fine female taken at Delagoa Bay ;
and there are three specimens in Mr, Henley Grose Smith’s collection, which
were sent, I beheve, from some part of Tropical Eastern Africa.
Three examples which I have seen from the Gold Coast, one of which is
in the collection of the South-African Museum, differ slightly from those above-
mentioned in having the black markings of the upper side less developed,
although much more so than in Anacardit.
Localities of Salamis nebulosus.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts. —D’Urban (J. H. Bowker).
F, Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower).
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourengo Marques (d/7s. Montezyo).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
b. Eastern Coast.—Zanzibar (Watkins). 3
61. Interior.—Zambesi [mouth of Umsengaizi] (F. C. Selous).
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Cape Coast Castle (£. Bourke and J. M. Pask),
Genus CRENIS.
Crenis, Boisd., Faune Ent. de Madag., &c., p. 48 (1833); Doubl. (“Section
4” of Myscelia), Gen. Diuin, Lep., i. pp. 220-223 (1849); Wallengren,
Lep. Rhop. Catfr. 1857, p. 30.
Myscelia, Trimen, Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. p. 144 (1862).
Eunica (Hiibn.), Hoptt., Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb., Ins, p. 381 (1862) ;
TPiny 5 OP. -Ci... lle p36 (loo):
Imaco.—fHead rather small, very hairy on summit and in front ;
eyes smooth, very prominent; palpi rather short, convergent, ascendant,
1 §. definita, Butler (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Sept. 1879, p. 230), is nearly allied to
S. Dupri, and also inhabits Madagascar ; in the much less faleated fore-wings and smaller
size (especially of the g ), it makes some approach to S. nelulosa.
NYMPHALINAL 249
clothed with scales and very fine short hairs (most developed on second
joint above), the terminal joint not distinctly separated from the second,
rather wide, moderately acute; antenne of moderate length, with a
narrow, elongated, gradually-formed club, somewhat flattened and hol-
lowed externally.
Thorax rather slender, moderately clothed with longish hair above,
closely and shortly pubescent beneath. ore-wings: with costa slightly
arched ; apical portion slightly prominent, or produced and moderately
truncate ; hind-margin slightly or moderately concave about middle ;
inner margin almost straight; costal and median nervules swollen
for some distance from base; submedian nervure curved downward at
a little distance from base ; first subcostal nervule emitted considerably
before extremity of discoidal cell, second about midway between first
and extremity of cell; middle disco-cellular nervule rather long, much
curved towards base; lower disco-cellular longer, less curved, slender
but distinct, meeting third median nervule at or just beyond its origin ;
discoidal cell very short, truncate. J/ind-wings: with costa mode-
rately humped close to base, and thence almost straight ; hind-margin
rounded, moderately sinuate-dentate ; discoidal cell very short, the
nervule closing it very much attenuated or almost obsolete ; internal
nervure terminating in a line with tip of abdomen; groove formed by
inner margins moderately deep. Jore-legs of f clothed rather thickly
throughout with long hairs; of 2 not much larger, with the femur
hairy, and the tibia and tarsus scaly, with a few short hairs. JLiddle
and hind legs of moderate size, scaly ; tibise with only a few small spines
laterally and beneath, and with the terminal spurs short and weak ;
tarsi moderately spinulose beneath, the terminal claws strong and curved.
Abdomen rather short, very slender in ~.
Pupa.—Head rather acutely and deeply bifid ; thorax rather deep,
and very broad (owing to lateral expansion of wing-covers, forming
blunted angulations at bases and posterior angles); dorso-thoracic pro-
minence very high, acute; abdomen slender, slightly recwrved.
(Described from a pencil drawing by Mr. W. D. Gooch of a
Natalian example of either C. Natalensis or C. Boisduvalt.)
Crenis is doubtfully separable from unica, Hiibn.—a South-
American genus—the only differences that I can discover being that in
the former the head is smaller, the palpi longer, the thorax less robust,
and the costa of the hind-wings not nearly so prominently humped
near the base. .
The swollen costal and median nervures of the fore-wings afford a
ready mark of distinguishing Crenis from any other South-African
genera of Nymphaline except Hurytela and Hypanis, and both the
latter are at once recognised by their very much longer palpi. All the
nine species’ recorded are natives of the Ethiopian Region, and the
1 Harma Concordia, Hopffer (figured in Peters’ Reise nach Mossambique, Ins., t. xxii.
ff. 3, 4), is evidently a Crenis not distantly allied to C, Amulia (Cram.) Only the ? is
recorded ; its locality is given as Querimba,
250 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
genus comprises two sections very distinct in appearance. ‘The first of
these, represented by the type C. Madagascariensis, Boisd., consists of
middle-sized or rather small butterflies, with apically prcduced fore-
wings, and of dull yellow-ochreous and brown tints above, while
beneath their colouring is pale-grey with darker streaks and ocellated
spots. The second, of which C. Amulia (Cram.) is typical, are rather
larger insects, whose fore-wings are not or very little produced, with
blue or metallic-violet upper side and a rich yellow-ochreous or orange-
ochreous under side, with shining-violaceous or greenish-white streaks
and ocellated spots. C. Lbbei, Dewitz, from Angola, is to some
extent intermediate between the two sections, combining the outline
and dark colouring of the first group with a purple upper-side gloss.
The genus is quite tropical, but better developed to the south than
to the north of the Equator. ‘The three very nearly-allied species found
in Natal—Watalensis, Boisduvali, and Morantu—are closely related to
the Malagasy type-species; but the very rare C. Ltosa, Hewits., dis-
covered at Delagoa Bay, is a very handsome member of the second
section above described.
C. Natalensis and C. Loisduvali are confined to wooded spots; their
flight is weak and short, and they keep much about a particular tree
or group of trees in little companies, settling very frequently on the
trunks and branches. Colonel Bowker has found them come freely to
“sugar,” and I have noticed them drinking the moisture exuding from
wounds in trees.
80. (1.) Crenis Natalensis, Boisduval.
Puate V. fig. 1 (¢ ).
Crenis Natalensis, Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg., p. 592, n. 80 (1847).
Hunica natalensis, Hopf., in Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb., p. 381 (1862).
Exp. al., 2 im. 1-3 lin.
& Dull yellowish-ochreous, clouded with fuscous-brownish in apical
area of fore-wing ; a common discal row of small black spots and a
common row of thin black lunules close to hind-margins, which are
narrowly clouded with brownish. ore-wing: fuscous-brownish ill-
defined interiorly, commencing at about extremity of cell, and leaving
a subapical rather indistinct oblique macular ray of the ground-colour ;
in discal row of spots a wide interval, two being wanting between third
and first median nervules. ind-wing: seven spots in discal row,
more conspicuous than in fore-wing, ringed rather widely with yellow-
ish-ochreous slightly paler than the ground-colour. Cilia fuscous-
brownish, with whitish inter-nervular marks. UNDER SIDE.—Hind-wing
and apex of fore-wing hoary-grey ; a submarginal common fuscous
streak broken into inter-nervular spots in fore-wing, but more linear
and continuous in hind-wing. Jore-wing: yellowish-ochreous ground-
colour much paler and clearer, especially near inner margin; apical
NYMPHALINZ. 251
grey rather narrow, bounded inwardly by a large conspicuous but ill-
defined subquadrate fuscous patch; the subapical spots of discal row in
the middle of very indistinct brownish-ochreous rings. Hind-wing :
before middle an irregular, broken, transverse ochre-yellow streak ;
about middle a similar but more continuous streak; both these streaks
include an outer thin line of brown, and the space between them is
sometimes duller grey than the rest of the wing; a short streak of the
game colouring at extremity of discoidal cell; seven spots of discal row
well marked, in the middle of seven contiguous ochre-yellow rings; a
smaller, additional, similar, rather indistinct spot before the seventh
on inner-margin.
2 Ground-colour yellower, clearer ; apical fuscous of fore-wing much
broader and darker, and enclosing two conspicuous, parallel, oblique,
macular rays of a paler ochre-yellow than the grownd-colour. Hind-
wing: discal spots rather larger than in g. UNDER stpE.— Hind-wing
and apex of fore-wing paler than in f, all the markings better defined.
Fore-wing : ground-colour deeper; subapical fuscous patch enlarged to
imperfectly enclose an interrupted oblique ray corresponding to that on
upper side.
Compared with its very close ally, C. Madagascariensis, Boisd., this
butterfly is in both sexes characterised by a more rufous instead of
olivaceous upper-side tint of ochreous, and by the much less develop-
ment of the apical fuscous in the fore-wings, especially in the ¢, where
it is little more than a dusky suffusion without defined limits. The
under side hoary-grey is inclining to a lilacine tinge, and almost free
from the fine fuscous irroration noticeable in Madagascartensis, while
the rings of the ocellate spots and the basal and median streaks in the
hind-wing are ochre-yellow (the latter brown-edged) instead of fuscous.
All the three transverse streaks of the hind-wing are algo less irregular
and dentated.
This butterfly is not uncommon at D’Urban, in Natal, though apparently
much less numerous than its near congener, C, Boisduvali, Wallengren, with
which I associated it in my Lhopalocera Africe Australis, taking the few
true C. Natalensis I had seen as only larger and paler examples of the same
species. Both forms have quite the same habits, flitting about trees in wooded
spots, and frequently settling on the trunk or branches. The specimens I cap-
tured were on the wing in February, but Colonel Bowker took a good many in
August.
Localities of Crenis Natalensis.
IT, South Africa.
i. Natal.
a. Coast Districts. —D’ Urban.
K. Transvaal. Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
II. Other African Regions,
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.— Angola (Pogge).”—Dewitz.
b, Eastern Coast.—‘‘ Querimba” (Hopffer).
252 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Sl. (2.) Crenis Boisduvali, Wallengren.
Prats V. fig. 2 (iG); te 2a o):
Crenis Boisduvali, Wallgrn., K. 8. Vet.-Akad. Handl. ; Lep. Rhop. Caffz.,
D. 30; ume (Toh 7):
Myscelia Natalensis, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust. i. p. 144, n. 86 (1862).
Exp. al. 1 in. 94 lin.—2 in, 1 lin,
gf Dull-brown with a tinge of yellow-ochreous. Fore-wing : unicolor-
ous, with only the faint indications of a transverse row of darker spots
near hind-margin. ind-wing: an ochreous tint prevails towards
hind-margin which has an edging of thin lunules darker than ground-
colour; beyond middle, parallel to hind-margin, a row of five small,
rounded, blackish spots between nervules. UNDER SIDE.—Paler.
Fore-wing: dull-ochreous, somewhat glistening; on costa, a little be-
fore middle, an obliquely transverse dark streak, inclining owtwards as
far as third median nervule; immediately beyond streak a dusky, ill-
defined, darker space; apical portion pale yellowish-greyish, with four
elongate black spcts near the inner edge of the greyish colouring; a
row of seven dusky-blackish short streaks parallel to hind-margin,
not reaching to anal angle. Lind-wing: pale yellowish-grey ; before
middle a broad, irregularly-shaped, violet-grey fascia with brown
edges; beyond middle a row of seven contiguous ocellated spots,
violet-grey, black-centred, in golden-brown rings; on inner margin is
an indistinct, smaller, eighth ocellated spot, without a black centre, a
little before the row of spots; beyond these a thin dark streak, parallel
to hind-margin, composed of united lunules.
2 Paler, strongly suffused with yellow-ochreous. Fore-wing: shaded
with blackish in apical portion, from extremity of discoidal cell, with
an oblique, dull, yellow-ochreous stripe, interrupted on third median
nervule, from costa about middle to second median nervule, not far
from hind-margin; nearer apex is a much shorter, narrower, paler,
and less distinct stripe, parallel to the larger one. Hind-wing: yel-
low-ochreous tint pervades the whole surface, but is strongest near
hind-margin, where the row of black spots is conspicuous, and the
brown along hind-margin forms a distinct border to the wing. UNDER
SIDE.—JLore-wing: warn yellow-ochreous; the dusky oblique markings
from costa in this sex assume the form of two conspicuous blackish
stripes; colouring at apex much paler than in fg, yellowish-white,
varied with pale-brownish, the black spots very conspicuous. Hind-
wing: ground-colour yellowish-white ; fascia before middle much paler
than in 2, its brown edges conspicuous; row of contiguous ocellated
spots much paler, their black centres very conspicuous.
The constantly smaller size and much darker colouring distinguish
this form from C. Natalensis, Boisd. In the g these characters are
very marked, but some of the larger 2 examples exhibit a yellower
tint than the ordinary ones possess. ‘The under-side markings are
all more strongly defined and darker than in C. Natalensis.
NYMPHALIN &. 253
On the upper side of the fore-wing oisduvali in both sexes wants
altogether (or occasionally presents a slight trace of) the large isolated
black spot of the discal row which lies between the first median nervule
and the submedian nervure.
This species is abundant at Port Natal, where I met with it in June and
August 1865, and again from January to April 1867. A tree in the Botanic
Gardens near D’Urban was shown to me by the superintendent, a great number
of the leaves of which was white with the empty pupa-skins, and I found one
pupa from which the imago was on the point of emerging. ‘This pupa was
slender and subangulated, but, as the imago was completely developed, I could
not record the proper colour or marking.
C. Botisduvali appears to range farther southward than C. Natalensis, a female
specimen having been sent to the South-African Museum which was taken by Mr.
Alexander Bowker at Pembroke, near King William’s Town, in March 1873.
Colonel Bowker has twice sent me the paired sexes; they were taken in
August 1878 and March 1879. I had previously taken a pair at D’Urban,
Natal, in April 1867.
Localities of Crenis Boisdwvalt.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
b. Eastern Districts.—King William’s Town (A. Bowker).
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts. —D’Urban.
H., Delagoa Bay.—Lourenco Marques (Mrs. Monteiro).
82. (3.) Crenis Morantii, Trimen.
Puate V. fig. 3 (2).
Crenis Morantii, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1881, p. 439.
Wap. 0. 2 1m. 1 tinn(<).
2 Dull ochreous-brown ; the fore-wing with a darker space and some
pale dull yellow-ochreous marks, ore-wing: a fuscous-brown space
near costa, about and beyond middle, forming an ill-defined cloud,
commencing immediately beyond extremity of discoidal cell; this cloud
encloses a yellow-ochreous spot a little beyond cell, and is bounded
externally towards apex by an elongate paler spot close to costa, and
between third and second median nervules by a smaller similar spot
ill-defined outwardly ; towards hind-margin the ground colour is paler
and very faintly tinged with yellow-ochreous (except near apex); a
submarginal row of very indistinct inter-nervular small fuscous-brown
spots. Hind-wing: very faintly tinged with yellow-ochreous about
apex, near which are two faint fuscous-brown dots. UNDER SIDE.—
Hind-wing and apical area of fore-wing cream-colour, inclining to
argiulaceous. Fore-wing : yellow-ochreous, becoming much paler beyond
middle ; fuscous-brown cloud very conspicuous, and the ochreous spot
it encloses larger and better defined than on upper side; the two outer
spots, on the contrary, much less distinct, and quite merged in the
ground-colour ; costa from base narrowly bordered with dull cream-
Beal SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES:
colour; submarginal row of seven small fuscous spots; a little before
it, near costa, a curved row of three black dots. Hind-wing: three
transverse thin brownish-rufous striz, the first and second (respectively
before and about middle) very irregular and interrupted, the third
(near hind-margin) regular and lunulated; between the second and
third stri~ a row of seven contiguous ocelli, centred with a black and
yellow dot, and ringed with brownish rufous; of these, the middle
(fourth) one is smallest and more indistinct than the rest; a small
brownish-rufous striola at extremity of discoidal cell; between it and
the first ocellus some slight fuscous irroration.
This species is nearly allied to both C. natalensis, Boisd., and 0,
madagascariensis, Boisd. From the former it differs, on the upper
side, in its very much darker colouring and exceedingly ill-defined
marking, wanting alike the warm yellow-ochreous ground-colour in
both wings, and the black spots and lunules in the hind-wings; while
on the under side it is cream-colour, with rufous markings, instead of
hoary, clouded with fuscous-grey and with fuscous markings; and the
fore-wing altogether wants the suffused spot near posterior angle, so
conspicuous in C. natalensis.
From C. madagascariensis it diverges almost similarly, as regards
the upper side, in its want of warm ochreous colouring; and its vague
fuscous-brown space (enclosing an ochreous spot) is altogether different
from the broad dark apical area, which in C. madagascariensis is only
varied by the bar of three small indistinct ochreous spots from costa,
not far from apex. On the under side, C. Morantii has none of the
hoary colouring of the Malagasy species, and all its stria and ocelli
are much more distinct, besides being rufous instead of dull grey;
while in the hind-wing the central and submarginal strize are more
irregular and dentated.
The only example of this insect that I have met with is the female above
described, which was taken at Pinetown (Natal) in April or May 1869, by
Mr. Walter Morant, an able observer and collector, after whom I have named
the species. Mr. Morant wrote that the specimen in question settled on the
trunks of trees, with closed wings, in the same manner as C. natalensis, and
that he believed he had seen, if not taken, a male nearly resembling it.}
1 Colonel Bowker has since taken three examples near Pinetown, viz., a ¢ on 26th July
1884, and two ¢?s in July and December 1884 respectively. The 9s are on the upper side
of a rather warmer, more rufous tint, with the spots about the fuscous cloud of the fore-wing
of a deeper ochre-yellow ; and one of them expands 2 in. 4 lin. The ¢ is much smaller,
expanding only 1 in. 11 lin.; the fore-wings are more produced apically, and the upper
side generally appears to be unicolorous dull ochreous-brown of the same tint as prevails in
the ? discovered by Mr. Morant, with the exception of a small paler marking in fore-wing
midway between discoidal cell and apex, and in hind-wing between discoidal cell and hind-
margin (these markings are in this specimen much enlarged and blurred in the left-hand
wings). The under side does not differ from that of the ? except in the markings generally
being less clearly defined.
Colonel Bowker wrote that the few specimens of this insect he met with flew higher than
either Natalensis or Boisduvali, and that the ¢ just described fluttered down from a tree
and settled on a stone in the bed of the Umbilo.
NYMPHALIN . 25
Locality of Crenis Moranti.
I. South Africa.
BE. Natal.
a. Coast District.—Pinetown (JV. Morant).
“
83. (4.) Crenis Rosa, Hewitson.
Crenis Rosa, Hewits., Ent. M. Mag., xiv. p. 82 (1877).
Exp. ai, 2 in. 54 lin.
Q Blwsh-violaccous, with fuscous spots and borders. Fore-wing:
between extremity of discoidal cell and apex two oblique fuscous bars
crossing from subcostal nervure to near third median nervule; a
moderately-wide hind-marginal border of fuscous, radiating rather
broadly along the nervures, and forming a suffused cloud between
second and first median nervules; a row of spots near and parallel to
hind-marginal border, of which only the three upper ones are distinct ;
just below third median, a small isolated spot in a line with the inner
oblique bar. Hind-wing: duller than fore-wing ; hind-marginal border
ill-defined, traversed by a hght-blue streak, brightest and widest near
anal angle; submarginal row of spots continuous of that of fore-wing,
but the spots much larger, rounder, and relieved by an outer ring of
somewhat paler blue. Nervules generally defined with reddish-fuscous.
Cilia dull-white, mixed with fuscous at extremities of nervules. UNDER
SIDE.— Warm ochre-yellow, with greenish-white and black markings.
Fore-wing: costa very narrowly, apex and hind-margin narrowly,
bordered with greenish-white ; a fine extreme hind-marginal edging of
black, preceded by a similar black line broken into eight inter-nervular
lineole ; inner oblique bar only represented, and that much attenuated,
but spot below third median nervule larger than on upper side; a sub-
apical row of four black spots, representing submarginal row of upper
side, of which the upper three are small and in greenish-white rings,
while the fourth is much larger. Hind-wing : a pre-median, a median,
and a hind-marginal band, and also a narrow costal edging, of greenish-
white, each traversed by a black streak interrupted on the nervures
—that traversing the middle band being highly irregular ; midway
between median and hind-marginal bands, a row of seven conspicuous
black spots in broad greenish-white rings; hind-margin itself finely
edged with black.
Allied to C. Benguele, Chapman, from the Congo, but the upper-
side colouring much brighter than in the @ of that species (being,
indeed, bluer than in the # Benguelw), which is greenish-grey, clouded
from bases with dull-fuscous. The under side is remarkably different,
especially as regards the ochre-yellow of the fore-wing, which in both
sexes of Lenguele is restricted to a small basal patch, leaving the discal
256 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
area almost wholly fuscous varied with bluish; while all the spots
and other black markings are very much thinner, and the greenish-
white much brighter, than in Benguelw throughout.
From the West-African Crenis Amulia (Cram.) the species de-
scribed is easily separated by its much bluer tint on the upper side,
and by the much wider and greenish-white instead of bluish-white
markings on the under side, although in the feature of the almost
uniform ochre-yellow of the under side of the fore-wing the two species
approach each other.
The only example of this very beautiful Crenzs that I have seen is the 9
above described, which was taken by the late Mr. J. J. Monteiro at Delagoa
Bay in 1877, and was acquired for Mr. Hewitson’s collection, now in the
British Museum. Mrs. Monteiro has informed me that this butterfly was
captured on the wing “a little overhead,” at a spot called Poulana, and that
no other example was met with.
In a paper in the Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist. for August 1883, Mr. A. G.
Butler records the receipt of ‘a splendid male” of C. Rosa from the Victoria
Nyanza, but does not note in what respect it differs from the female.
Localities of Crenis Rosa.
T. South Africa.
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourengo Marques (J. J. Monteiro).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
br, Interior.—‘ Victoria Nyanza.”—A. G. Butler.
Genus EURYTELA.
Eurytela, Boisd., Faune Ent. de Madag., &., p. 54 (1833); Westw., Gen.
Diurn. Lep., i, p. 408 (1851).
Imaco.—Hcad of moderate size, hairy, with a small tuft of longer
hairs at base of each antenna; eyes usually hairy; palpi much elon-
gated, not compressed laterally, separate throughout but converging
slightly at tips,—second joint tufted above and finely hairy beneath,—
terminal joint unusually long (about half as long as the second), rather
blunt at tip, bent at a very obtuse angle with second joint and pro-
jecting horizontally about level with top of head, densely scaled ;
antenne of moderate length, with a gradually formed but rather short,
slender, laterally-flattened club, ending obtusely.
Thorax rather slender ; back shortly pilose anteriorly and poste-
riorly; breast rather scantily hairy. ove-wings: generally more or
less produced apically, usually angulated at extremity of lower discoidal
(radial) nervule and prominent at extremity of second median ner-
vule; costa but little arched; apical angle well marked ; hind-margin
dentated, usually more or less excavated in middle; inner margin
very slightly hollowed about middle; costal nervure strongly swollen
NYMPHALINA. 267
for a considerable distance from base, curved upward rather abruptly
towards extremity, and terminating about middle of costa; first and
second subcostal nervules originating rather close together, just before
extremity of discoidal cell,—third at a considerable distance beyond
cell, and terminating at apex ; discoidal cell very short ; upper disco-
cellular nervule minute, almost obsolete,—middle one short or very
short and curved inwardly,—lower one very long and attenuated,
very slightly curved, ending at origin of third median nervule. Hind-
wings: with costa prominently humped near base, but thence nearly
straight ; apex rather pronounced; hind-margin more dentate than
in fore-wings, especially towards anal angle slightly prominent; groove
formed by inner margins shallow, incomplete, leaving much of lower
side of abdomen exposed ; costal nervure running close along costa to
apex; radial nervure originating not far from base, just beyond the
branching of subcostal nervules; discoidal cell extremely short, nar-
row,—the lower disco-cellular nervule exceedingly slender or obsolete
altogether. ore-legs of gf very small, slender, scaly, set rather
scantily throughout with longish hairs; of 2 larger, smoother, with
scarcely any hairs, the tarsus dilated and spinose beneath at ex-
tremity. Jfiddle and hind legs stout, rather short, scaly,—femora
fringed with fine hairs beneath,—tibiz finely spinulose beneath, with
terminal spurs very short,—tarsi rather thickly armed with minute
spines laterally and beneath.
Abdomen slender, rather short.
Larva.—Head with two long, erect, curved, spiny horns; body
with dorsal and lateral tubercular processes bearing at extremity radiat-
ing bristles.
Pupa.—Head acutely bifid ; wing-covers not only prominently angu-
lated at bases, but sharply angulated and extended flatly outwardly ;
back rather gibbous; abdomen slightly curved, bifid at extremity.
[The above characters of larva and pupa are taken from drawings
of Natalian specimens of #. Hiarbas reared by Captain Harford and
Mr. Gooch. Except for the very long branched horns on the head, the
larva recalls those of Limenitis and Neptis ; and the pupa only exhibits
in an exaggerated form the extended wing-covers of the chrysalis of
the latter genus,—to judge from the figure of that of Meptis Varmona,
Moore (Lep. Ceylon, i. pl. 28, f. 10.) |
The long and very porrect palpi, and the simple instead of swollen
median nervure, at once distinguish Lurytela from Crenis, apart from
the less apparent characters (especially the dilated fore-tarsi of the ?
and the peculiar neuration of both wings) mentioned in the above
diagnosis. The genus is mainly Ethiopian, five species being recorded
from the African Continent and two others from Madagascar; but two
or three are known to inhabit the Indo-Malayan Sub-Region.*
1 Mr. Wallace (Zrans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1869, p. 331) states his belief that two of these
latter, Boisduval’s /orsfieldit and Stephensii, from Java, are g and @ of one species.
WOL. I. R
258 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
For so small a group there is considerable diversity of form and
great differences of colouring among the species. LH. Hthosea (Drury),
from West Africa, is so peculiar in outline and pattern as to have been
placed in the genus dcrwa by Godart; #. Ophione (Cram.) closely
resembles Neptis Melicerta (Drury); £. fulgurata (Boisd.), of Mada-
gascar, has a somewhat similar black and white (though much more
irregular) pattern, but is very strongly angulated and dentated on the
hind-margins; while the Malaccan and Bornean #. Castelnaut, Feld.,
is, on the upper side, of an uniform bright blue. The two species
occurring in South Africa, #. Hiarbas (Dru.) and H. Dryope (Fab.),
present a white or ochre-yellow transverse band (chiefly developed in
the hind-wings) on a blackish-brown ground, while the under side is
varied with pale-brown and ferruginous. ‘They have a very wide range
through Africa, Hiarbas penetrating considerably farther south than
Dryope, whose limit seems to be the coast of Natal. Both species
are strictly sylvan, and in habits and mode of flight much resemble
Crenis.
84, (1.) Eurytela Hiarbas, (Drury).
Puate V. fig. 5 (Var. A. ¢).
Papilio Hiarbas, Dru., Il. Nat. Hist., mi. pl. 14, ff. 1, 2 (1872). :
Biblis Hiarba, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. Suppl. p. 824, n. 5-6a (1819).
Eurytela Hiarbas, Doubl., Gen. Diurn. Lep., pl. 31, £. 4 (1846-50).
Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. p. 212, n. 122 (1862)
99 PP)
Exp. al., 2 in.—2 in, 6 lin.
Glossy blackish-brown (@ duller and paler), with a common trans-
verse white stripe, commencing near hind-margin (to which it is
parallel) of jfore-wing about third median nervule, widening as it
descends, and extending straight across hind-wing from costa (close to
apex) to anal angle. ore-wing: a white dot close to costa near apex,
beneath which are two indistinct ferruginous spots, indicates proper
origin of transverse stripe ; costa and hind-margin more or less tinged
with ferruginous, especially the latter, which is marked by a row of
thin silvery-white lunules towards anal angle. Mind-wing: hind-
margin coloured as in fore-wing, more conspicuously so near anal
angle, and with two rows of silvery lunules, the inner continuous of
that of fore-wing, and its lunules touching so as to form a festooned
streak,—lunules of the outer row separate, indistinct towards costa.
Cilia white between nervules. UNDER SIDE.—Pale-brownish with fer-
ruginous streaks and clouds ; transverse stripe narrower, not so white as
above, commenced by a very thin, often indistinct, streak (originating
a little below white costal dot of fore-wing), and interrupted on costa
of hind-wing, where it is clouded with ferruginous and marked with a
row of three blackish dots: common to both wings,—a dentate out-
NYMPHALINA. 259
wardly bluish white-edged stria crossing discoidal cells; a double
bluish-white line closing cell; an irregular transverse stripe, inter-
rupted on third median nervules, just beyond cells; a darker shade of
brown between this stripe and the white one; and two rows (more
or less interrupted) of whitish hind-marginal lunules. ore-wing: a
minute line close to base and a ring beyond it (enclosing a ferruginous
one) in discoidal cell, bluish-white; a ferruginous cloud on costa
beyond middle, and two others (smaller) on projections of hind-margin.
Hind-wing : a whitish ring in cell near base; close to it a smaller one
above cell; a large ferruginous cloud on hind-margin, between dis-
coidal nervule and anal angle.
Var. A. f.—Common transverse stripe warm ochreous-yellow instead
of white, and a little wider in hind-wing and on inner margin of fore-
wing.
Hab.—D’Urban, Natal (one specimen; Colonel Bowker, July 1880).
PLATE V. fig. 5.
Aberration 2.—Common transverse white band crenelated on both
sides, and somewhat suffused,—in hind-wing considerably broader than
usual ; two hind-marginal rows. of silvery-white lunules in hind-wing
united so as to form a border, thinly irrorated with fuscous. UNDER
sIDE.—Ferruginous and other markings somewhat confused and blurred ;
white stripe not so well defined as on upper side.
Hab.—D Urban, Natal (one specimen ; Colonel Bowker, 29th Octo-
ber 1879).
Larva.—Green or greenish, paler on under surface, with elevated
sub-spinous dorsal and sub-spiracular lateral tubercular processes ter-
minating in a stellate tuft of three to five bristles; processes on second
and third segments only half the length of those on fourth to tenth
segments, but on eleventh and tweltth much longer than the latter.
A sub-spiracular white or whitish longitudinal stripe, interrupted
obliquely on each segment from fifth to tenth; below this stripe, on
third and fourth segments, a black streak. Granulated black dorsal
patches on fourth, sixth, seventh, and eleventh segments. Head
dark-brown or blackish, slightly larger than next segment, bearing
in front two long, upright, outwardly-curving, rather widely-diver-
gent horns, thickened and branched at the tip, and irregularly spined
throughout; these horns are black in front and sandy - coloured
behind ; the face flat, edged with white, and closely set with white hairs
or bristles. Length, 1 to 1} inch. Feeds on a common creeper, Dale-
champia capensis.
Pupa.—Green, darker on back; wing-covers finely edged and
transversely streaked with dark-brown or blackish; also the following
blackish marks, viz., a dot on each wing-cover, on each side of the
thorax and abdomen, and on the head. In form, the head is acutely
bifid; lateral angles at bases of wing-covers very prominent; wing-
260 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
covers flattened, sharply angulated, and extended far out from the
body ; thorax rounded, expanded; back prominent; abdomen more or
less angular, slightly curved inward, bifid at tip. The chrysalis state
lasts from ten to fifteen days.
The above descriptions of larva and pupa are from notes and drawings
furnished by Captain H. C. Harford and Mr. W. D. Gooch. Both these
gentlemen reared the butterfly on the Natal Coast. Captain Harford notes
that the larva, hke those of many Nymphalide, has a habit of wagging its
head about—-doubtless a menacing gesture, to which the long antler-like horns
would give point. He also remarks that it spins a web to lie upon over the
surface of a leaf. Mr. Gooch observes that the larva presents a variety in
which all the body except the spiracular stripe is blackish.
Mr. Druce (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1875, p. 409) notes that examples of
this butterfly, taken by the late Mr. J. J. Monteiro in Angola, had the white
band of the hind-wings much wider than in the specimens from Natal.
The Variety A. of Hiarbas indicates an intimate relation of the species
with its congener Dryope, Cramer, which has the common transverse stripe of
the same warm ochreous-yellow, but much broader. This alliance is emphasised
by the circumstance of the capture by Colonel Bowker, on 13th April 1881, at
D’Urban, Natal, of an ordinary male Hiarbas, paired with a female Dryope,
only separable from ordinary examples by a narrower yellow band in the hind-
wings. My correspondent wrote—-‘‘ There was no question about this union,
as I followed the pair for some distance before making the capture; on the
wing, the female carried the male.” The paired sexes of Hiarbas were taken
by Colonel Bowker at D’Urban in March 1879.
This elegant butterfly prevails widely over the wooded parts of South
Africa. Its flight is somewhat curious, not rapid or direct, but backwards and
forwards in a limited space, usually about a group of shrubs or young trees,
Often several individuals keep hovering around a single tree, or settle on the
stem and sun themselves, shuffling about in a playful fashion. I have not
noticed it anywhere in abundance, but it may be termed common—specimens
almost always being seen in the course of a woodland walk.
Localities of Hurytela Hiarbas.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts.— Knysna.
6. Eastern Districts.—Grahamstown. Kleinemond River, Bathurst
(H. J. Atherstone). ‘King William’s Town.”’—W. S. M.
D’Urban. East London (P. Borcherds).
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker).
EK. Natal.
a. Coast Districts—D’ Urban. “ Lower Umkomazi.”—J. H. Bowker.
b. Upper Districts.—Pietermaritzburg (J/iss Colenso).
F. Zululand.—sSt. Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower).
II. Other African Regions.
A, South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—“ Angola (J. J. Monteiro).”—Druce.
B. North Tropical.
a, Western Coast.—Sierra Leone: Ashanti.—Coll. Brit. Mus.
b, Eastern Coast.—“ Abyssinia: Shoa (A ntinorz).”—Oberthur.
|
}
NYMPHALINL. 261
85. (2.) Hurytela Dryope, (Cramer).
Papilio Dryope, Cram., Pap. Exot., t. Ixxviii. ff. n, F (1779).
Biblis Dryope, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. Suppl. p. 824, n. 5-60 (1819).
Eurytela Dryope, Trim., Rhop. Afr, Aust., il, p. 213, n. 123 (1866).
Hep. al., 2 in. I—7 lin.
§ Brown, with a warm ochreous-yellow discal transverse band common
to both wings. Fore-wing: the band begins very narrowly on upper
radial nervule, but widens greatly downwards till it occupies about the
outer third of inner marginal edge; externally the band is bounded
by a lunulate submarginal black streak, and internally by a broad,
obscure, chocolate-red band extending from costa to inner margin ;
on costa near apex a short row of two to four very faint small ochreous-
yellow spots indicate actual origin of the band of that colour; before
middle two obscure, irregular, transverse fuscous streaks, of which
the outer internally edges the obscure chocolate-red band; also,
two cellular striole, one near base, the other at extremity of cell; a
hind-marginal narrow border of mixed brown and ochreous-yellow, the
yellow predominating at posterior angle. Hind-wing: ochreous-yellow
band very wide, occupying apical area and extending pretty evenly
to inner margin before and up to anal angle, leaving a border of
the ground-colour only along its middle portion, and that of variable
width and distinctness ; lunulate black submarginal streak more con-
spicuous than in fore-wing, becoming silvery-edged in its lower
portion; hind-marginal brownish-ochreous border traversed by a
broken indistinct fuscous streak; before middle, two very obscure
fuscous streaks continuous of those in fore-wing. Cilia fuscous, with
white inter-nervular marks. UNDER sIDE.—Zrownish-grey, much varied
with transverse irregular ferruginous streaks and thin white or whitish
lines; in both wings the following thinly white-edged ferruginons
streaks before middle, viz., a short cellular one (smaller in hind-
wing), a long one from costa to submedian nervure crossing cell, an
almost linear even one at extremity of cell, and a broader very irre-
gular one quite across wing beyond cell; a little beyond this latter
streak, an irregular whitish line (sometimes indistinct), which in hind-
Wing runs near and almost parallel to the ferruginous streak. ore-
wing: immediately beyond whitish line just mentioned a ferruginous
transverse bar, widest on costa; succeeded by a row of eight small
lunulate marks, of which the first (on costa) is white and all the
others ochreous-yellow; beyond the lunules a paler space traversed
inwardly by a more or less distinct white or whitish streak; two
hind-marginal, lunulated, parallel white linear streaks (of which the
inner one is silvery), obscured by a ferruginous cloud both below apex
and a little above posterior angle. Hind-wing: a similar arrange-
ment of markings to that in fore-wing; in the row of seven lunules
the two near costa are usually creamy-yellow and conspicuous, the
262 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
others indistinct and sub-ocellate (being outwardly marked with a
fuscous dot) ; inner of two hind-marginal white linear streaks bright
silvery.
Q Duller, paler throughout ; ochreous-yellow band in hind-wing
usually proportionately narrower; transverse fuscous streaks before
middle much more apparent, broader. ore-wing: first spot of short
subapical row enlarged, whitish, rather conspicuous. UNDER SIDE.—
Paler, more inclining to ochreous ; all the markings more conspicuous;
the paler discal space well marked; its traversing whitish ray rather
suffused, but continued across hind-wing.
In a small female, taken near D’Urban by Colonel Bowker, the fore-wing
presents in a narrower form the median transverse chocolate-red band of the
male, and the ochreous-yellow band in the hind-wing is very broad, having
only a little brown irroration externally and inferiorly.
Southern examples of this butterfly are usually considerably larger than the
type-form from the West Coast of Africa, and the under side of their wings is
rather darker, especially in the discal area,—in which latter, however, the
traversing whitish streak is much more distinct, being sometimes obsolete in
Gold Coast specimens. The angulation of the wings is also much more pro-
nounced in South-African examples.!
Colonel Bowker has sent me the paired sexes, taken at D’Urban, Natal, in
May 1880. In this case the female was the small one above mentioned. As
noted under #. Hiarbas, a female not separable from Dryope (but with a
narrower than usual ochreous-yellow band in hind-wing) was captured in
copuld with an ordinary male of the former species. A very perfect male
Dryope, received from Delagoa Bay (where it was taken by Mrs, Monteiro),
almost exactly agrees with the female just mentioned in the comparative
narrowness of the hind-wing band; but even in this individual the band is
twice as wide as in the male Hurytela, which I have described as Variety A. of
i, Hiarbas.
Apart from its colour, the width of this band in both wings, the browner
eround-colour, the fuscous streaks before middle, and the male character of
a chocolate-red median band are the chief features distinguishing Dryope
from Hiarbas on the upper side; while on the under side, the more ochraceous
general tint, the less broken and less angulated striz, the want of any dis-
tinct discal stripe in the hind-wing, and the presence, instead, of two con-
spicuous costal lunules heading a row of very indistinct imperfect ocellate
marks are all distinctive of Dryope.
I did not meet with this species in Natal, but Colonel Bowker has been
more fortunate, taking several examples near D’Urban in August, December,
and February, and two at the mouth of the Tugela River in July. He
describes it as having the same habits as Hiarbas, but as much rarer, I have
not heard of its occurrence tothe south of Natal.
1 [ think that £. Narinda, Ward, from Madagascar, though closely allied to £. Dryope,
is entitled to recognition as a distinct species. It is small (about the size of the West-African
Dryope), but the wings are even more angulated than those of the Southern examples described
in the text. On the upper side the ochreous-yellow band in the male begins nearer apex of
fore-wing, and is very much broader in both wings; and in the fore-wing its inner side is
deeply pierced by the dark-clouded nervules, while in the hind-wing it occupies greater part
of surface from before the middle. In the female, the only marked difference in the band
is its width in the fore-wing. In both sexes the hind-marginal strie are straighter, not so
lunulated. The under side is very different ; all the striz being straighter, narrower, and
of a yellower ferruginous; the hind-marginal clouds very pronounced ; and the white discal
streak very well marked.
NYMPHALINA. 263
Localities of Hurytela Dryope.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts—D'Urban and mouth of Tugela River (J. H.
Bowker).
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower).
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourengo Marques (Mrs. Montezro).
II. Other African Regions,
A. South Tropical.
a, Western Coast.—“ Angola: Loanda (R,. Meldola).”—Butler.
“ Angola (J. J. Montetro).”—Druce.
6, Eastern Coast.—“ Querimba.”—Hopffer.
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.——Cape Coast Castle (J. IZ Pash). Sierra Leone
(Coll. Brit. Mus.)
b. Kastern Coast.— Abyssinia: Lake Tzana (Raffray), and Shoa
(Antinorz).” —Oberthiir.
Genus HYPANIS.
Hypanis, Boisd., Faune Ent, de Madag., &., p. 55 (1833); Westw., Gen.
Diurn. Iep., 1 p. 41° (1857).
ImaGco.—Characters generally of Hurytela. Antenne with a longer
club; eyes smooth. TZhorax rather thicker, more rounded. JFore-
wings: not apically produced; hind-margin not angulated or dentated,
but very slightly sinuated. Mind-wings: not so prominently humped
near base ; hind-margin rather more decidedly sinuated than on fore-
wings. Middle- and hind-legs with the tibiae and tarsus more spiny,
and the tibial spurs longer. Abdomen more slender and much longer.
Pupa.—Slender, elongate, especially in abdominal region; anal
extremity with suddenly-narrowed point of attachment from blunt end
of abdomen. Cephalic prominences well-marked, acutely pointed ;
dorso-thoracic elevation highly ridged to a sharp point ; edges of wing-
covers prominently ridged at shoulders and again at posterior angles,
forming strong projections laterally ; between these two hinder projec-
tions, at base of back of abdomen, a pointed tubercular prominence ;
two minute tubercular points on median line of back, about midway
between base and extremity of abdomen. Antennz-covers prominent.
(These characters of the pupa are given from a living example
sent to me by Colonel Bowker at the beginning of December 1878,
from Natal.)
The elongated abdomen and almost entire hind-margins of the
wings are the features which mainly distinguish Hypanis from Kury-
tela. Its pattern and colouring are, however, highly characteristic, the
fulvous-ochreous upper side being varied with black bands and irregular
markings, while the under side of the hind-wings is remarkable for the
264 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
number and varying shades (creamy, yellow-ochreous, ferruginous,
black-and-white) of its transverse bands and chains of spots.
As will be seen below, I have not been able to separate specifically
more than one of the many forms of A. Jlithyia (Drury) which have
been named by different authors, viz., the Malagasy H. Anvatara,
Boisd.; but the form most prevalent in South-Hastern Africa (to
which Wallengren’s name Acheloia is given), while it follows the type-
form in the extreme variability of its under-side colouring, is a suf-
ficiently recognisable variety.
H. Ilithyia is a handsome and conspicuous insect on the wing; it
shows much more activity than Hurytela Hiarbas, and though more
frequent about woods, is often to be found in open ground. It ranges
over the whole of Africa, and as far eastward as India and Ceylon, its
near ally, H. Anvatara, appearing to replace it in Madagascar and
the Comoro Islands.
The pupa is in form not unlike that of the allied genus Lrgolis,
Boisd., judging from the figure given by Horsfield and Moore (Cat.
Lep. Ins. HE.L.C. Museum, 1857, pl. vi. f 6a) of the chrysalis of the
Javan L. Coryta (Cram.)
86. (1.) Hypanis Ilithyia, (Drury).
Puate V., fig. 4 (Var. A. 3g).
3d Papilio Ihthya, Drur,, Ill, Nat. Hist., i. pl. xvi. ih 1, 24773):
9 Papilio Polinice, Cram., Pap. Exot., iv. t. ecclxxv. ff a, H (1782).
Biblis Ilithyia, Godt. [part], Enc. Meth., ix. p. 327, n. 7 (1819).
Hypanis Polinice, Boisd., Sp. Gen. Lep., i. pl. ix. f. 6 (1836).
Hypanis Cora, Feisth., Ann. Soc. Ent, Fr., 1850, p. 249, n. 2.
Hypanis Ilithyia, Hopf. [part], Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb., Ins., p. 396
(1862).
a Lrim, aa Rhop. Afr. Aust., il, p. 214, n. 124 (1866);
and Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. (1870), p. 359.
Byblia Ilithyia, Moore, Lep. Ceylon, p. 45, pl. 23, ff. 3, 3a (1881).
Var. A. Acheloia, Wallengr.
Papilio Ilythia, Cram., Pap, Exot., iii. t. 213, ff. 4, B (9), and t. 214, ff
GD (2). 41782):
Biblis Llithyia, Godt. [part], Enc. Meth., ix. p. 327, n. 7 (1819).
Hypanis Ilnthyia, Doubl., Gen. Diurn. Lep., p. 411, pl. 68, f. 1 (1851).
Hypanis Itithya, Wallgrn., K. Sv. Vet.-Ak. Handl., Lep. Rhop. Caffr.,
p:. 29: 0, -1°(18577).
Hypanis Acheloia, Wallgrn., op. cit., p. 29, n. 2 (1857).
Hypanis Ilithyia, Hopff. [part], Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb., Ins., p. 396
(1862).
‘s », ‘Lrim. [part], Rhop, Afr. Aust., ii. p. 214, n. 124 (1866).
Exp. al., 1 in. 84 lin.—2 in. 3 lin.
tg Warm fulvous-ochreous, with black bands and other markings.
Fore-wing : along costa, from base to a little distance before apex, a
moderately broad band, emitting downward three rather curved trans-
verse disco-cellular striz,—a wider, more oblique, subangulated bar
NYMPHALIN&. 265
beyond cell, as far as third median nervule, and a small, short stria
(sometimes a mere dentation) near the end of the band; from inner
margin, before middle, an oblique irregular marking, emitting an
upward sharp projection which all but meets the middle disco-cellular
-stria, and ending abruptly in a broad subquadrate portion which
superiorly touches origin of third and second median nervules; a
short, narrow, black line along third median nervule connects this
irregular marking with the angulated transverse bar emitted by costal
band beyond extremity of cell; a moderately wide or rather narrow
submarginal band, from inner margin to lower radial nervule, inwardly
denticulated on nervules, outwardly united by five black nervular rays
to a narrow black hind-marginal edging traversed by a whitish line ;
end of costal band and of its almost terminal short ray or denta-
tion also united to hind-marginal edging by four black nervular rays,
much longer than the five lower ones. AHind-wing: an irregular basal
patch, externally dentate and somewhat excavate, not running along
costa, but emitting two sharp denticulations to it; a little before
middle a transverse row of four or five small spots, from near upper
extremity of basal patch to near inner margin; a rather broad sub-
marginal band (continuous of, but wider than, that of fore-wing), in-
wardly denticulate, and outwardly united by nervular black rays to a
hind-marginal edging rather broader than that of fore-wing, so that
seven rather large elongate spots of the ground-colour are enclosed.
Cilia fuscous, with conspicuous white inter-nervular spots. UNDER
SIDE.—Paler, duller ; hind-wing with strongly-contrasted transverse bands,
very variable. Fore-wing: costal band wanting, but its rays and cellu-
lar strize (of which latter the middle one commences on costa) present,
narrower, not so black, with here and there some whitish edging;
inner marginal and submarginal markings also much attenuated ;
apical area crossed by a transverse quadrimacular white ray; hind-
marginal edging very narrow, the traversing streak being pure white
and conspicuous; a small black spot at base of discoidal cell. Hind-
wing: varees from pale dull yellow-ochreous to deep ferruginous ; always
two pale-creamy or whitish transverse bands, one near base bordered
on both sides by a macular black stria, the other median, bordered
inwardly by black spots, and outwardly by a fuscous line; black sub-
marginal band very much narrowed, containing seven pairs of small
white inter-nervular spots; upper part of ground-colour spots between
this band and the hind-marginal border either creamy or whitish,
giving the effect of a third pale transverse band; pure-white travers-
ing streak of black hind-marginal edging broken into seven pairs of
inter-nervular elongate spots; a small white-edged black spot marks
upper angle of extremity of discoidal cell; in the ferruginous-tinted
specumens, both the submarginal and hind-marginal white-spotted black
bands are partly or wholly obliterated. Cilia as above, but brownish-
fuscous replaces the black.
266 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
2 Paler, duller ; the costal black of fore-wing and the basal black of
hind-wing replaced by suffused fuscous, except the strice and spots respec-
tively. Fore-wing: submarginal band united to outermost costal stria
or dentation, so that in all eight instead of six spots of the ground-
colour are enclosed; inner-marginal marking much attenuated. Hind-
wing: a fuscous streak a little before submarginal band and united to
it by blackish on the nervules so as to enclose seven small spots of the
ground-colour. UNDER SIDE.—As in ¢.
Var. A. (Acheloia, Wallengr.) gf, 9.
gf Darker, more inclined to rufous. Fore-wing: costal black broader,
especially its downward ray beyond discoidal cell, which is very wide and
sharply dentated externally, the outermost dentation usually joining,
or almost joining, the top of submarginal band on second radial ner-
vule; ground-colour beyond the wide downward ray extends all but to
costal edge, so as to isolate subapical extremity of costal band; lower
part of submarginal band much thickened at posterior angle, so as
almost to obliterate the lowest enclosed spot of the ground-colour.
Mind-wing : no spots before middle ; submarginal band and hind-marginal
border more developed, and united by wider nervular rays, so that spots
of ground-colour are smaller. UNDER sipE.—Like that of typical
form, but even more variable, the hind-wing and apex of fore-wing being
often of a pale creamy-yellowish, rn which the whitish or creamy bands
are. indistinguishable, but all the black markings very conspicuous;
while in others every grade of deepening coloration is found as far as
the same deep-ferruginous as the typical form sometimes exhibits, or
even rather darker.
2 Differs quite in correspondence with the characters just given,
but is very commonly duller and more suffused in markings than the
typical 9. :
|PLaTE V. fig. 4 (9).
Pupra.—Dull greenish-grey, antenne-cases pale-yellowish. Attached
to middle of a leaf.
Description of a living specimen sent to me from D’Urban, Natal,
by Colonel Bowker, and received on gth December 1878, The imago
emerged the next day, so in all probability the colour of the pupa was
duller than at an earlier date; it was a % of the Acheloia variety that
emerged.
** Wallengren’s I/lithya and Acheloia both belong to the variety just described,
as I have ascertained from drawings of his types which Mr. W. F. Kirby
showed me in 1881; the former being an example of the medium under-side
coloration, and the latter one of the deep-ferruginous hue. ‘The differences
pointed out enable me to distinguish the variety from the typical form, but I
think it best not to separate it as a species, for the present at any rate, as I
have seen so few Hypanis specimens from Tropical Africa, and both forms are
so extremely variable both in size and marking. It is Ilithyia proper which
(in a smaller form with thinner black markings) extends to Ceylon and India;
NYMPHALIN &. 267
it is figured by Cramer (t. 375, f. G@, H) as Polinice.1 The variety seems to
have almost as wide a range in Africa as the typical form, but not to extend
beyond the continent; MH. anvatara, Boisd., inhabiting Madagascar and the
Comoro Islands, though more nearly related to it than to Ilithyia proper,
being, I consider, a distinct species.?
§ Many of the West-African specimens of this variety approach in appear-
ance Cramer’s figures (A and B, t. 213, and c and p, t. 214) of ¢ and 9,3
having the black markings strongly developed throughout; the submarginal
band of fore-wing being not only continued rather widely to costa, but broadly
united just above third median nervule to the broad projection of the costal
bar, so as to completely isolate an oblique subapical ray of!the ground-
colour. I also possess a g from D’Urban, Natal, in which the black hind-
marginal bands are very wide, and so completely coalesce as to leave only five
small spots of the ground-colour.
The specimen figured by Drury, and stated to be from ‘ Senegal,” is a large
well-coloured and strongly-banded ¢, with the ground-colour of the hind-wings
on the under side dull-ferruginous, yet with the white-spotted black sub-
marginal and hind-marginal bands quite distinct though narrow. I possess a
very similar ¢, taken by Mr. T, Ayres in the Transvaal in 1870, but it is not so
large, and the upper-side markings are rather narrower, the base of the hind-wing
being suffused with fuscous. A very small 9 of the typical form, from Damara-
land, has all the upper-side markings much attenuated, and the under side of
the hind-wing uniform deep-ferruginous, except for the three white bands and
narrow white black-edged hind-marginal border.
Along the Eastern Coast of South Africa it is the Variety A. which prevails ;
but the late Mr. M. J. M‘Ken sent me a 4 of the Ilthyia proper, which he
took at D’ Urban, and I met with one not far to the northward, in the Victoria
Country. The variety fis very common about D’Urban, and I took many
examples there in the summer of 1867, including two pairs 7m copuld. The
sexes in each case were nearly alike, with the palest under-side colouring of
the hind-wings, but the males had the faint yellow-ochreous bands rather more
distinct from the general creamy-yellowish ground-colour. Colonel Bowker
in 1878 and 1881 captured two quite similar pairs, and in 1880 sent me a
pair with ferruginous under sides, In the latter, the ferruginous was less deep
in the ¢ than in the 9. Farther inland the typical J/ithyia seems to replace
the variety, but it is by no means so numerous in individuals.
This very pretty butterfly, which has somewhat the look of a large Melitea,
frequents grassy and bushy spots on the borders of woods. It is conspicuous
on the wing, flying low and not rapidly, and often settling on the ground or on
the herbage. I do not recollect having seen it feeding on any flower. It
comes out in the winter, but is not then so numerous as in the hotter months.
Localities of Hypanis Llithyia.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
b, Eastern Districts.—King William’s Town (H. J. Atherstone).
c. Griqualand West.—Vaal River (MZ. E. Barber.—Typ.)
rd, Basutoland.—Maseru (J. H. Bowker.—T'yp.)
D, Kaffraria Proper.—Butterworth and Bashee River (J. H. Bowker.—
Var, A.)
1 T think that Boisduval’s Polinice (op. cit.), from “ Senegal,” is of the typical form, but
as he only figures the under side, cannot be certain about it.
2 A constant distinguishing character in H/, anvatara is the waved and dentated form
of the bands crossing the under side of the hind-wings,
3 Cramer in his text gives ¢ for 2? and vice versa, j
268 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban (Typ. and Var, A.) Victoria Country
(Typ.)
b. Upper Districts—Greytown (Typ.) Estcourt (J. M. Hutchinson,
—T yp.)
F, Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower.— Var. A.) Napoleon
Valley (J. H. Bowker.—Typ.)
K. Transvaal.—Potchefstroom District (7. Ayres.—Typ.) Marico
River (/. C. Selous.—Typ. and Var. A.)
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Damaraland (H. Hutchinson, J. A. Bell, and
W. C. Palgrave.—Typ.) ‘‘ Angola (J. J. Montezro).”—Druce.
Congo (Coll. Brit. Mus.) ‘‘ Chinchoxo (Falkenstein).”— Dewitz.
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi River (Rev. H. Rowley). ‘“ Tette
(Peters).”"—Hopffer. “Tchouacka (Rafay).” — Oberthiir.
“‘Mombas and Lake Jipe (O. Kersten).”—Gersticker.
br. Interior.—Kama’s Country, near Bamangwato (H. Barber.—Typ.)
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—‘ Gaboon.”—Oberthiir. Cape Coast Castle (J.
M. Pask.—Var. A.) Sierra Leone (Col. Brit. Mus.) “ Casa-
manza.”—Feisthamel. ‘ Senegal.”—Drury.
b, Eastern Coast.—‘‘Somauliland.”—Felder. ‘Samara: Tajurrah
(J. i. Lord).”—H. Walker. Abyssinia: ‘ Schoa (Antinori).”—
Oberthiir; ‘“ Harkeko (J. K. Lord),”—F. Walker. ‘ Atbara.”
—A.G. Butler. ‘‘ Nubia.”—Hopffer.
IV. Asia.
A. Southern Region.—‘“ Arabia.”—Oberthiir and Hopffer. India
(North India): E. Ind. Mus. Madras: Brit. Mus. Ceylon (Z.
L. Layard).
Genus NEPTIS.
Neptis, Fab., “ Syst. Gloss.—Illiger’s Mag., vi. p. 282 (1807) ;” Westw.,
Gen. Diurn. Lep., ii. p. 270 (1850).
Neptis and Athyma, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. pp. 145, 148 (1862).
ImaGo.—Head broad, moderately hairy above and in front; eyes
large, very prominent, smooth; palpi short, slender, acute, not rising
above level of forehead, scaly, clothed beneath with rather long but not
dense hair, and above with a little short hair,—second joint rather short,
—terminal joint long, broad at base, but ending in a very attenuated
and acute point; antenne rather short, with a gradually-formed elongate
but rather thick club, slightly flattened and hollowed inferiorly. _
Thorax about as broad as head, rather short and weak, slightly
hairy anteriorly, posteriorly, and inferiorly. Sore-wings: elongate,
rather truncate ; costa but slightly arched ; apex more or less rounded ;
hind-margin very slightly sinuated, sometimes a little emarginate about
middle; posterior angle marked ; inner margin rather convex near base,
but emarginate in middle; costal nervure very short, ending on costa
before middle; first subcostal nervule emitted considerably, second one
slightly, before extremity of discoidal cell in most species, but occa-
sionally the latter nervule originates at a little distance beyond cell;
NYMPHALIN Zi. 269
third subcostal nervule emitted far beyond cell and ending at apex;
upper and middle disco-cellular nervules both very short (the latter
inclined towards base), so that the radial nervules are closely approxi-
-mated at their origin,—lower disco-cellular quite wanting; discoidal
cell short. Hind-wings: broad, subtruncate ; costa strongly arched,
especially in ¢ (where the very convex margin is superiorly polished
and subnacreous, and covers a corresponding similar surface on inner
margin of fore-wings; hind-margin rather more sinuated than in fore-
wings; anal angle not prominent ; inner margins but slightly convex,
forming a very incomplete and shallow groove, leaving hinder part of
abdomen exposed; costal nervure usually terminating beyond middle,
but rarely extending to just before apex; subcostal nervure branched
very near base; upper disco-cellular nervule (forming base of radial
nervule) leaving second subcostal nervule very near its origin,—lower
disco-cellular quite obsolete; discoidal cell extremely short; internal
nervure usually rather short, ending about middle. ore-legs of f very
small and slender, scaly, sometimes with a very sparse external edging
of minute hairs; tibia much shorter than femur; tarsus exceedingly
short, blunt at extremity,—of 2 considerably larger, almost without
hairs; tarsi nearly as long as tibia, distinctly jointed, finely spinulose
near and at extremity. J/iddle- and hind-legs rather short and stout,
scaly; tibize strongly spinose inferiorly, and with rather long terminal
spurs; tarsi densely spinulose inferiorly.
Abdomen elongate ; very slender in ¢.
Larva.—Head large, bifid on its summit; on back of fourth seg-
ment a pair of elongate, divergent, erect fleshy processes, set with short
bristles ; similar but very much smaller pairs of short processes on back
of third, sixth, and twelfth segments,—the two latter pairs inclining
backward ; body rather attenuated posteriorly.
Pupa.—Usually much curved abdominally, thick centrally; head
deeply bifid; wing-covers projecting widely on each side.
(These characters of larva and pupa are taken from figures of
those of WV. Aceris, Lepech., in Pl. V. of Horsfield and Moore’s Catal.
Lep. Ins. in H.EL.C. Museum (1857), and of those of WN. Varmona
and NV. Jumba, Moore, in The Lepidoptera of Ceylon, pl. xxviii.
1881.)
Neptis is not nearly related to any other South-African genus, but
is in several respects intermediate between Athyma and Limenitis,
neither of which has any African representative, although both have
otherwise a very wide Old-World distribution, and Zimenitis extends
also to North America. From Athyma, which it most nearly resembles
in colouring and pattern, Veptis is at once known by its far smaller
thorax; while it is distinguished from Limenitis by its much more
acute palpi; shorter, less gradually-clavate antenne; open discoidal
cell of the fore-wings; much smaller fore-legs in the $; and more
strongly-arched costa in the hind-wings.
270 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
This is an extensive group of closely allied forms, about ninety species
having been described. ‘They are butterflies of rather small or middle
size, mostly characterised by very conspicuous sharply-defined white or
ochreous bands and spots on a black or fuscous ground. ‘The metro-
polis of the genus is the Indo-Malayan Sub-Region, but it extends through
the Austro-Malayan Islands to Australia, and in opposite directions to
China, Japan, and Eastern Siberia, over the Ethiopian Region, and
even to Hastern Hurope,—two species (Aceris, Lep., and Lucila, W. V.)
occurring not uncommonly in many parts of South Russia, Turkey,
Austria, &c.
Of the fifteen Ethiopian species known, four are apparently limited
to Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands, and three to Angola; five
others seem only to have occurred in Western Africa north of the
Hquator; while of the three remaining, all of which inhabit Southern
Africa, V. Agatha (Cram.) appears to range throughout the Continent,
NV. Marpessa, Hopft., extends through South-Tropical Africa and on the
eastern side northward to Abyssinia, and NV. Goochit, Trim., has only
been found in Natal. Of these three South-African forms, only Mar-
pessa appears to penetrate the Cape Colony, a specimen haying been
sent to me from Port Alfred at the mouth of the Kowie River. Agatha
is considerably the largest, and is very striking from the size of the
pure-white bands. Gooch is the smallest, and differs from both the
others in possessing a longitudinal white bar in the discoidal cell of the
fore-wings.
The butterflies of this genus frequent sheltered wooded spots.
Agatha and Marpessa, which I observed in Natal, and Frobenia, Fab.,
a yellow-banded species which I took in Mauritius, all have a weak
but rather floating flight; they haunt a particular tree or shrub, and are
fond of settling on the leaves, often keeping their wings expanded when
at rest.
87. (1.) Neptis Agatha, Cramer.
Papilio Melicerta, Fab. [nee Drury], Syst. Ent., p. 508, n. 274 (1775). 2
Papilio Agatha, Cram., Pap. Exot., iv. t. ccexxvii. ff. a, B (1782).
Nymphalis Melicerta, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. 432, n. 260 (1819).
Neptis Melrcerta, Trim., Khop, Afr. Aust., i. p. 146, n. 87 (1862).
Neptis Agatha, Hoptt., Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb., Ins., p. 383 (1862).
Exp. al, 2 i1.—2 in. 7 lin.
Lrowmsh-black, with a reddish gloss, with pure-white transverse
bands. Sore-wing: a slightly curved, rather broad white band, com-
posed of six contiguous spots, beyond middle, extending from costa to
first median nervule not far from hind-margin; on inner margin, a
little before the end of band, a semicircular white spot, crossed by sub-
median nervure; along hind-margin three rows of paler markings,
thin, lunular, partly white, the two first spots of the innermost row
NYMPHALIN A, 271
being larger and whiter than the rest; between the latter row and
white band is a series of rather large, almost contiguous quadrate
marks, darker than ground-colour, and forming a stripe parallel to
hind-margin; from three to seven pure-white dots in discoidal cell,
and one or two just beyond extremity of cell. Hind-wing: a broad
white stripe, continuous of the inner-marginal, semicircular mark on
fore-wing, divided into seven by crossing nervules, occupies central
portion from costa to inner margin, being curved, parallel to hind-
margin; series of dark spots broader than in /orc-wing ; three thin,
lunular, pale streaks: bordering hind-margin as in /fore-wing. Cilia
of both wings conspicuously marked with white between denticula-
tions. UNDER SIDE.—Very sumilar, ground-colour paler. Fore-wing :
costa white close to base; a short, white, longitudinal streak from base
in discoidal cell, bordering subcostal nervure; five or six white dots
in cell, and a transverse row of three from costa, a little beyond cell;
white band and marking as on upper side; three rows parallel to hind-
margin conspicuously white, and forming almost continuous streaks ;
the three first spots of the innermost row larger than on upper side,
longitudinally triangulate. Hind-wing: three white bands in basal
portion—a broad one edging costa to a little before middle, a narrow
one, parallel to the first, commencing on inner margin, and a broad
one, also parallel and from inner margin, which is broken into three
spots towards costa; central band as on upper side; lunulate streaks
bordering hind-margin conspicuously white. Cilia as on upper side.
A very close ally of WV. Agatha is N. Nysiades, Hewits. (Exot. Butt., iv.
pl. 25, ff. 3, 4), from Old Calabar; but it differs in having the lower portion of
the band of the fore-wings much narrowed and divided into two entirely sepa-
rate spots ; it has, moreover, in discoidal cell of fore-wing on upper side only a
white dot and oblique line ; and on under side, besides the longitudinal streak
from base, only two oblique streaks,
Neptis Ktkidelt, Boisd., from Madagascar, is also nearly related to UN.
Agatha, but at once recognised by its very broad white bands (scarcely
indented externally by black nervules) across hind-wings and lower discal area
of fore-wings.
A Neptis taken by Colonel Bowker at Quilimane, in the year 1878, is to
some extent intermediate between Agatha and Aikidelz, having the bands in
arrangement like those of the former, but markedly broader, and externally not
more indented by black nervules than those of the latter.
This strikingly-marked Neptis frequents wooded places; it flies rather
slowly, and often settles on the leaves of low trees. I once took a specimen
on the flowers of Lantana. It was far from numerous on the coast of Natal
during the summer of 1867, and does not appear ever to be abundant there.
Localities of Neptis Agatha.
I. South Africa,
EK. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban. Verulam. Tongaati River. More:
wood’s Bay (J. H. Bowker). ‘ Lower Umkomazi.”—J. H.
| Bowker.
K; Transvaal.—Lydenburg District (7. Ayres).
272 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Western Coast.— Angola: Loanda (R. Meldola).”—A. G. Butler,
“Congo: Kinsembo (H. Azsell).”—A. G. Butler. “ Chinchoxo
(Falkenstein).”—Dewitz.
6, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi (Rev. H. Rowley).—Coll. Hope, Oxon.
‘“Querimba.”—Hopffer. “ Zanzibar (Raffray).”—Oberthiir,
br. Interior.—Mashunaland and Zumbo, Zambesi (F. C. Selous),
B. North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.—Cape Coast Castle (#. Bourke). Ashanti.—Coll,
Hope, Oxon. Sierra Leone.—Coll. Brit. Mus.
b, Eastern Coast.— Abyssinia: Shoa (Antinor?).”—Oberthiir.
88. (2.) Neptis Marpessa, Hopffer.
Neptis Marpessa, Hopff., Monatsh. K. Ak. Wiss. Berl., 1855, p. 640, n. 8;
and Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb., Ins. p. 383, t. xxiv. ff. 9, 10
(1862).
Athyma Saclava, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. p. 148, n. 88 (1862); and
(Neptis 8.) i. p. 338 (1866).
Exp. al., 1 in. 74 lin.—2 in.
Browntsh-black, with white bands and spots. Lore-wing: on costa
beyond middle, not far from apex, three white spots of moderate size,
forming a short band inclining towards hind-margin; below them,
between first and third median nervules, a large, somewhat quadrate,
white spot, divided almost equally by the second median nervule;
immediately below the latter marking, and a little nearer base, is a
semicircular, moderately-sized, white marking on inner margin; 7
discoidal cell three white dots; at its extremity a dark-margined, pale,
transverse streak ; just beyond extremity, three white dots; bordering
hind-margin, three parallel rows of whitish lunules, the outer row
very indistinct or even obsolete; between the innermost of these
lunular rows and the large white spots is a row of spots darker than
the ground-colour; close to the outer edge of the white spots are a
few minute, white, thin spots, two or three of which are situate
between the large white markings. Hind-wing: a compact rather
narrow white band, almost straight on its imner edge, crosses about
middle, from costa to inner margin, and is continuous of the semi-
circular marking on inner margin of fore-wing ; row of darker spots as
in fore-wing, but more distinct ; rows of lunular marks almost obsolete.
UNDER SIDE —Pale-ochreous, varied with ferruginous-brown ; white bands
and spots as on upper side. ore-wing: costa at base ochreous-white ;
four whitish-brown margined spots in discoidal cell, and a streak
similarly coloured at its extremity; portion around large white spots
ferruginous-brown, with blackish rays between nervules ; row of darker
spots, beyond white ones, blackish ; between the rows of white lunules
bordering hind-margin are parallel dark-brown streaks. Hind-wing:
basal portion pale-whitish ochreous, varied with ferruginous-brown strie
and marks, darker macular row, and lunular lines, as in fore-wing.
NYMPHALINA, 273
This species is readily distinguished from WV. Agatha by its smaller size,
browner ground-colour, much broken and macular white marking of fore-wing,
and totally different under-side colouring. It is a very close ally of NV. Saclava,
Boisd., from Madagascar; but, as Hopffer (doc. cit.) points out,! appears to
differ in having three white dots just beyond discoidal cell of fore-wing, and
the row of fuscous spots common to both wings followed by three rows of
whitish lunules ; Saclava wanting the former altogether, and instead of the
latter, possessing two or three rows of blackish lunules separated (in the fore-
wing only) by a thin white line.
Another near ally is the West-African NV. Nemates, Hewits. (Hxot. Butt.,
1868, iv. pl. 25, f. 1, 2), which differs from MJarpessa in having the large
white spot on median nervules of fore-wings and the inner-marginal spot
united and much widened, so as to form a short irregular band ; while on the
under side the tint of the ground-colour is much duller and greyer, and there
are no white spots in or just beyond discoidal cell.
I met this butterfly not uncommonly at Port Natal in February, March,
and April 1867, Its habits are quite like those of its congener, N. Agatha , it
frequents wooded spots, and flits slowly about trees and shrubs, often settling
upon the leaves.
Localities of Neptis Marpessa.
I. South Africa,
B, Cape Colony.
b. Eastern Districts.—Port Alfred, Kowie River (J. H. Randall). ~
D, Kaffraria Proper.—Tsomo River (J. Hf. Bowker).
K. Natal.—D’Urban. ‘ Lower Umkomazi.”—J. H. Bowker.
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Colonel H, Tower).
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourengo Marques (Mrs. Monteiro).
II, Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical,
a. Western Coast.—‘‘ Angola (J. J. Monteiro).”—Druce. ‘ Chin-
choxo (Lalkenstein).” —Dewitz.
b, Eastern Coast.—“ Zambesi: Tette.”— Hopffer.
B. North Tropical.
b, Eastern Coast.—“ Abyssinia : Atbara,”—Butler.
89, (3.) Neptis Goochii,Trimen.
Pruate V. fis, 6(¢).
Neptis Goochii, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1879, p. 336.
Exp. al., 1 in. 44 lin—1 in. g lin.
Fuscous, with pure-white bands and spots. Lore-wing: a longi-
tudinal white bar, divided transversely about its middle, occupying
lower half of discoidal cell; a small spot immediately beyond ex-
tremity of cell; subapical costal bar broad, even, abruptly truncate
on radial nervule; close to outer extremity of this bar a small spot,
1 IT have compared Boisduval’s description and Chenu’s figure of N. Saclava, but the
only note I have of the Madagascar specimens in Mr. Hewitson’s collection (in the year 1867)
is that the band of the hind-wings was broader than in the Natalian butterfly then associated
with them.
VOL. I, s
274 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
in a longitudinal line with that just beyond extremity of cell; large
spot on disc between third and first median nervules about the same
size as costal bar, but less elongate and more rounded; inner-marginal
marking rather small, acuminate superiorly ; five almost parallel, thin,
submarginal white streaks, of which the innermost is indistinct and
more widely separated from the rest, more irregular, and the outermost
also indistinct. Hind-wing: central band broad, even, extending to
inner-marginal edge but not to costa, being abruptly rounded off just
below the first subcostal nervule; five submarginal streaks much as
in fore-wing, but more distinct, the innermost less irregular and more
remote from the second. UNDER sIDE.—Ground-colour much paler,
almost grey; markings corresponding with those of upper side, but
submarginal streaks broader and more conspicuous. fore-wing:
cellular longitudinal bar not, or but very indistinctly, transversely
divided. Hind-wing: basal portion with three curved transverse white
stripes (much as in NV, Agatha, Cramer, but not nearly so conspicuous),
of which the first is on costal edge, and the third near central band,
and less distinct than the others.
This butterfly is allied to N. Melicerta, Drury (nec Cramer), and to
N. Marpessa, Hopff., but is considerably smaller than those species. —
It agrees with the former insect in possessing the longitudinal white
bar* in the discoidal cell of the fore-wings (which character at once
separates it from JJarpessa), but differs markedly (1) in the short, com-
pact, undivided costal bar of the fore-wings; (2) wm the broad, even,
superiorly-rounded band of the hind-wings ; and (3) in having four
(instead of three) parallel hind-marginal white lines. Other characters
separating it from Marpessa are the small size and acuminated form of
the inner-marginal white marking of the fore-wings, and the entirely
different colouring and pattern of the under side.
Mr. W. D. Gooch, after whom I have named this species, met with four
specimens in the neighbourhood of his plantation (Spring Vale) on the coast of
Natal. No other examples came under my notice until Colonel Bowker sent
one taken near D’Urban in December 1879, and again, in June 1881, for-
warded four others captured in the same locality. Nothing special in the
habits of the butterfly has been noted by either observer; and it is not
unlkely that NV. Goochii may often be passed over in mistake for NV. Marpessa.
Localities of Neptis Groochit.
I. South Africa.
FE. Natal.
a. Coast Districts —D’Urban (J. H. Bowker). Little Umhlanga
(W. D. Gooch).
1 In four of Colonel Bowker’s specimens the inner portion of this bar is almost obsolete.
NYMPHALIN/. 275
Genus DIADEMA.
Diadema, Boisd.,} ‘ Voyage de l Astrolabe—Lep., p. 135 (1832),” and Faune
Ent. de Madag., p. 39 (1833); Westw. (“Section A, Sub-Section a,
Divn. *,” of Diadema), Gen. Diurn. Lep., ii. pp. 279-280 (1850) ;
Wallace, Trans, Ent. Soc. Lond., 1869, p. 277; Trim. (part), Rhop.
mur, Aust, 1. : 150,(1862).
Imaco.—Head large, as wide as thorax, densely hairy and scaly,
and with a long tuft of hairs in front; eyes large, prominent, smooth ;
palpt rather stout, elongate, widely separated, divergent, porrected
horizontally, not rising above middle of eyes, densely scaly,—second
joint long, with a dense fringe of short, stout hairs superiorly and
internally,—terminal joint of moderate length and rather broad, with
the tip rather blunt; antenne rather short, slender, with an abruptly-
formed, subovate, slightly-flattened club, bearing a minute acute point
at its extremity.
Thorax moderately stout, clothed beneath and anteriorly above
with short hair, posteriorly above with long hair. ore-wings elon-
gate, produced apically ; costa considerably arched; hind-margin con-
eave about middle, slightly sinuated; posterior angle prominent but
rounded; inner margin slightly emarginate in middle; costal nervure
strong, terminating at some distance beyond middle; first and second
subcostal nervules arising not far from each other, a little before extre-
mity of discoidal cell,—third at a considerable distance beyond cell,
and terminating at apex; upper disco-cellular nervule very minute,—
middle one rather short, very strongly curved or bent towards base
of wing inferiorly,—lower one well developed, rather long, slightly
curved, united to third median nervule at a little distance beyond
its origin; discoidal cell rather short, truncate. ind-wings broad,
rounded, somewhat truncate; costa very convex close to base, thence
moderately arched ; hind-margin sinuated; anal angle marked, rather
prominent; inner margins strongly convex to considerably beyond
middle, forming a broad, deep groove completely receiving abdomen,
thence markedly divergent; costal nervure extending to apex; dis-
coidal cell very short; upper disco-cellular nervule (forming base of
radial nervule) united to second subcostal nervule not far from the
latter’s origin,—-lower one very slender but quite distinct, slightly
angulated towards base of wing, joining median nervure at or a little
before origin of second and third nervules; internal nervure rather
short, terminating just at end of convexity of inner margin. ore-
1 Mr. W. F. Kirby (Syn. Cat. Diurn. Lep., 1871, p. 224) has abandoned Diadema as a
| Mame preoccupied, and has substituted for it Hiibner’s title of Hypolimnas. It is true
| that the name Diadema was proposed by Schumacher in 1817 for a genus of Cirripede
| Crustacea, but it has not been adopted in that class, being synonymous with Lamarck’s
genus Coronula, founded in 1802. (See Darwin, Monogr. Cirrip., 1854, p. 397.)
276 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
legs of g§ small and slender; femur clothed with long hair infe-
riorly,—tibia and tarsus fringed with short hair ; of 2 not very much ©
larger, but throughout with much scantier hair; tarsus much better
developed, indistinctly articulate, spinulose at extremity. Middle and
hind legs of moderate length, rather thick, scaly ; tarsi with two rows
of strong spines beneath and a few small ones above,—the terminal
spurs long and strong; tarsi spiny, especially beneath, where the
spines at end of each joint are longer than the rest.
Abdomen of moderate length, rather stout.
Larva.—Rather tapering towards head, armed with stout, rigid,
branched spines; head with two erect, elongate, spinose horns.
Pupa.—Thick, rounded, more or less constricted at junction of
thorax and abdomen ; head very bluntly bifid, not prominent; dorso-
thoracic prominence rather elevated posteriorly ; wing-covers bi-angu-
lated laterally at and near bases, somewhat projecting at apices;
abdomen strongly arched; back of thorax with three very small acute
tubercles on each side; back of abdomen with three rows of larger
very acute tubercles, and each side with two rows of very small or minute
ones.
Pruste Tato. 5.
Of this genus, as restricted by recent authors, only one species,
the well-known D. Misippus (Linn.)—long called by the name of its
near ally, D. Bolina (Linn.)—occurs in South Africa. It is rather a
large butterfly, expanding over three inches; the male being of remark- ©
able beauty and instantly recognised by the large purple-ringed white ~
spot which adorns the black upper surface of each wing, while the
entirely different female is coloured with reddish-ochreous in close
imitation of Danais Chrysippus. As will be-seen from the list of
localities given below, this species has an immense range over the
warmer regions of the globe; but I think Mr. Wallace (following
Westwood, Joc. cit.) inaccurately—in his Votes on EHastern Butter- —
flies in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for
1869, p. 280—gives it as a native of Australia. Hxcept in copying
the varieties of Danais Chrysippus, the female Diadema Misippus can-
not be termed very variable; but the female of the closely related JD.
Bolina is one of the most unstable forms known, exhibiting such
numerous variations that quite a formidable array of different names
has been assigned to it by various authors. The geographical distribu-
tion of this Diadema is also extremely wide, including India, the whole
Malayan Archipelago, Australia, and many islands of the Pacific, but
not any part of Africa.
' As Mr. Wallace, however, points out, these two Diademe stand
alone in their enormous range, the great majority of the genus occur-
ring in the Austro-Malayan Islands only, while six or seven are
described from Polynesia. Besides Misippus, the Ethiopian Region
NYMPHALINAL 277
_ yields only three other species, but these are peculiar to it, viz., D.
Salmacis (Drury), reputed (but I believe erroneously) to have occurred
in South Africa ;! D. Monteironis, Butl., from Old Calabar and Angola,
allied to Salmacis ; and the very distinct D. Dexithea, Hewits., a native
of Madagascar.
An even more striking case of mimicry than that of Danais Chrysip-
pus by Diadema Misippus 2 occurs in this genus, and has been well
described by Mr. Wallace (loc. cit., p. 287). It is that of the Indo-
Malayan D. anomala, Wall., where, in reversal of the rule among
butterflies, the male is dull-brown, while the female is glossed with rich
purplish-blue, in simulation of the protected and abundant Luplea
Midanvus (Linn.)
In Diadema, the head, the prothorax, and the sides and under part
of the mass of the thorax are marked with conspicuous white spots.
90. (1.) Diadema Misippus, (Linnzus).
@ Papilio Misippus, Linn., Mus. Lud. Ulr. Reg., p. 264, n. 83 (1764);
ADGGOVsta Nab, 2, pa 707) Neto (1767).
e Lapilio Bolina, Dru., Il. Nat. Hist., i. pl. xiv. ff. 1,2 (1770), —-
1 Cram., Pap. Exot., i. t. Ixv. ff EB, F (1779).
2 Papilio Diocippus, Cram., Opn, t, Rxavll eit, Bye C,
@ Nymphalis Misippe, Godt., Ene. Meth., ix Pa 394.0. 158 (Tono):
6 2 Diadema Bolina, Boisd., Faune Ent. de Madag., &c., p. 39, n. 1
1833).
fe) ae apie dnarid, Cram, 0p. Cit. t. CCxiv, tl, A, B{1752).
3 9 Diadema Bolina, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., 1. p. 153, n. gi (1862).
3 9 Diadema Misippus, Hopff., Peters’ Reise nach Mossamb., Ins., p.
385 (1862).
5, 5s Trim., Trans, Ent. Soc. Lond., 1870, p. 356.
Larva AND Popa.
(Cingalese) Moore, Lep. Ceylon, pl. 29, f. re (1881).
ep. al. 2 in. 7 lm.—3 in. 7 hn.
f Black, with white, violet-shot, large spots. Fore-wing: just beyond
extremity of discoidal cell, a transverse, rather large, elongate, sub-
ovate, obliquely-lying, white marking, shot with blue-violet (forming
in certain lights a lustrous circle on the black ground-colour around
the white), crossed by four nervules, and extending from near costa to
below second median nervule; a similar, much smaller spot, crossed by
two nervules, close to apex. Hind-wing: a large, central, circular,
white marking, violet-ringed like those in jfore-wing ; two or three
small, indistinct, thin, bluish lunules, close to anal angle. ringes of
both wings very short, black, varied with white in indentations of
1 I included this very fine species, which expands 4} inches, in Rhopalocera Africe
Australis (i. p. 151), on the strength of its being included by Boisduval as among Delegor-
gue’s captures at “ Port Natal;” but as no other Natalian or South-African example has
ever been forthcoming, it is probable that some mistake occurred, and I have withdrawn the
species fiom this work:
278 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
margin. UNDER SIDE.—fore-wing: large white markings as on wpper
side, but not violet-ringed; costa thinly dusted with white as far ag
larger white marking; three small white spots immediately below
subcostal nervure; a space of rich chocolate-red, from base, occupies
nearly whole of cell, extending a little below it; apical portion shining
brownish-ochreous ; white spot at apex commencing a row of white
dots, parallel to hind-margin, only a few of which are apparent; two
parallel rows of conspicuous white lunules along hind-margin, which is
black ; immediately before larger white marking, and sometimes touch-
ing it, is a small, narrow, irregularly-shaped white mark on costa.
Hind-wing: shining brownish-ochreous ; tinged with chocolate-red near
anal angle, and on costa near base; large central spot extended into a
very broad, white, median band, from costa to inner margin, edged
with black inwardly from costal nervure, and containing an elongate
black spot, close to costa a little beyond middle, and a black streak on
inner margin before anal angle; hind-marginal black broader than in
fore-wing, its two rows of white lunules larger and more conspicuous ;
parallel to hind-margin a row of-rather distinct white dots.
2 Dull reddish-ochreous. ore-wing: apical half of wing blackish,
narrowing to a very thin bordering at base and anal angle, containing
an oblique pure-white stripe from costa, consisting of four moderate-
sized spots (of which the lowest is separate from the rest), and almost
reaching hind-margin ; two rows of whitish lunules border hind-margin,
as on under side of g, but not so distinct; close to apex, a narrow
white stripe, composed of three small spots, almost parallel to the
larger stripe, with a white dot a little below it. Hind-wing: a dusky-
blackish spot on costa, a little beyond middle, as in f on under side,
but much broader ; a rather narrow, blackish border to hind-margin,
containing a row of more or less distinct, whitish lunules, and the
indications of a similar row before the outer one; faint-bluish tinge at
anal angle as in f. UNDER sipE.—Considerably like that of 3%, parti-
cularly the fore-wing. fore-wing: white stripes as on upper side;
white spots below subcostal nervure as in f; dull-red from base much
paler than in g, tinged with ochreous, and occupying whole of inner
margin (where it is very pale), only leaving a narrow band of blackish,
from base to anal angle, before larger white stripe; apical portion,
beyond larger stripe, shining yellow-ochreous; hind-marginal lunules
as in f. Hind-wing: shining yellowish-ochreous; a whitish central
shade indicates position of white transverse band; blackish costal spot
as on upper side; a blackish mark at base, on costal nervure; and
another, larger, irregular, blackish mark at extremity of discoidal cell
on discoidal nervure; hind-marginal border as in {, as well as row of
white dots parallel to it.
Var. 2 (D. Inaria, Cram.)—A suffusion of the reddish-ground-
colour covers apex, only leaving costa and hind-margin blackish ; the apical
and subapical white stripes beng also obliterated with the same hue.
—--—— -
ae
NYMPHALIN A. 279
Between the Jnaria form and the ordinary 2 very numerous grada-
tions appear, some examples retaining part of the apical blackish as
well as the white markings, others presenting the white markings only,
and some again exhibiting merely a part of the latter in varying
degrees of distinctness.
The 2 often presents a whitish suffusion on the disc of the hind-
wing, chiefly about the median nervure and its nervules; this seems to
be more frequent in the Znaria form and the specimens more or less
approaching it.
LaRva—Fuscous-brown on back; sides dull-greenish, with two
longitudinal dull-red streaks (of which the upper one is the broader) ;
all the legs red. Head dull-red, with two rather long, divergent,
spinose, black horns. Body beset throughout with blackish branched
spines, tinged with pale-red at their bases. Feeds on Portulaca oleracea
and P. quadrifida (M. EH. Barber).
Pupa.—(Plate I. fig. 5.) Brownish yellow-ochreous, varied with
very dark-brown; abdominal segments rather closely ringed with fine
fuscous parallel lines; back of thorax irregularly patched with very
dark-brown ; wing-covers all dark-brown except for some ochreous
spotting near extremity.
The above description of the /arva is from a drawing sent to me
by Mrs. Barber in the year 1867; that of the pupa is from a specimen
I obtained at Maritzburg, Natal, in April of that year, and from two
others (which produced respectively a ¢ and a 2 of the Jnaria form)
sent to me in March 1870 by Colonel Bowker from Maseru, Basuto-
land. One of the latter is represented in my figure.
Judging from the figures given in Moore’s Lepidoptera of Coy ylon,
the Cingalese Jarva is of much duller colouring, the back and upper
sides being given as ochreous-brown, the lower sides very dark-brown ;
the head and pro-legs dull ochre-yellowish, and the spines of the body
almost the same colour but paler. The Cingalese pupa is also darker
and more uniform in colouring; but the South-African one is variable
in this respect, a figure of Mrs. Barber’s representing it as of a pale
greyish-brown without dark variegation.
This well-known and widely-ranging species is generally distributed over
South Africa, except in the S.W. of the Cape Colony, where it only occurs as
a straggler, a few examples even reaching Cape Town in seasons when the
insect is numerous. The ¢ varies scarcely at all, except in size and in the
depth of the under-surface colouring, while the 9, as above noted, is highly
variable within certain limits. Md‘sippus is a bold and active insect, frequent-
ing flowers in gardens and open spots, and often settling on the ground, The
latter habit is more practised by the ¢, who thus shows off his expanded
purple-ringed wings to much advantage. Colonel Bowker has noted, near
D’Urban, with what persistence a ¢ will continue to occupy one particular
spot. In one instance, when a ¢ so guarding a little space of about ten
yards square, and beating off other ¢s who intruded, was captured, Colonel
Bowker found, the next day, that another ¢ had taken possession of the
vacant station. He suggests that possibly the presence of a @ pupa almost
280 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
ready to emerge as imago may be the explanation ; and the similar cases
recorded (cf. those of Papilio Demoleus and Heliconius Charitonia mentioned
in Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1882, p. iv.) render this not improbable.
The ¢ (as noticed by Colonel Bowker in 1863), when in pursuit of the |
@, keeps a little below her, with his wings constantly and rapidly quivering ;
while the ¢ slowly rises, with little motion of the wings, towards the summit
of some adjacent tree. I observed the same habit in Natal.
The imitation of Danas Chrysippus (Linn.) by the 9 Diadema Misippus
is one of the most exact and unmistakable cases of mimicry known, and is
the more striking from the extreme dissimilarity of the ¢ Diadema. The
obvious intention of the mimicry is demonstrated by the singular fact that
the very variations of the Danais are correctly reproduced by the 9 Diadema,
viz., the failure of the ordinary black and white at the apex of the fore-wings,
and the suffusion of white on the disc of the hind-wings.! In life the imita-
tion is singularly deceptive, as well when the butterfly is settled on flowers as
when it is on the wing; and it requires a keen eye and close observation to—
distinguish one insect from the other. I once noticed at Port Natal a Chry-
sippus for a long time pursue a ? AM’sippus, and have little doubt that the
former mistook the latter for a female of its own species.
Mrs, Barber notes that the larve of Misippus, however unlike in colouring
to their food-plants, are really protected by their appearance, the species of
Portulaca on which they live being prostrate in habit, with their stems often
half-hidden in the soil; and the larve being thus, when feeding, as much on
the dark earth as on the plants.
She adds that the pupe are not suspended, but simply concealed among
dry leaves on the ground; but there seems to be variety of habit in this
particular, Colonel Bowker reporting that the two pupe he sent to me from
Basutoland were found suspended by the tail in clefts of rocks.
D. Misippus has a very wide range, being found throughout the countries
inhabited by Danais Chrysippus (with the single exception of the European
shore of the Mediterranean), and apparently occurring also in several parts of
South America and the West Indies.
Localities of Diadema Misippus.
I. South Africa.
B. Cape Colony.
a. Western Districts—Cape Town. Swellendam (7. Cazrncross).
Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. Oudtshoorn (Adams).
b, Eastern Districts;—Uitenhage. Grahamstown. Kowié River
(Sir A. Scott), King William’s Town (W. S. M. D’ Urban).
Burghersdorp (D. R. Kannemeyer). Colesberg (A. &. Ortlepp).
d. Basutoland.— Maseru (J. H. Bowker),
D. Kaffraria Proper.—Bashee River (J. H. Bowker). °
i. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban. “ Lower Umkomazi.”—J. H. Bowker.
b. Upper Districts.—Pietermaritzburg. Estcourt (J. If. Hutchin-
son).
F. Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower).
K. Transvaal.— Potchefstroom District (2. Ayres) Limpopo River
(Ff. C. Selous).
L. Bechuanaland.—Motito (Rev. J. Frédouz).
* Colonel C. Swinhoe (Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1884, p. 505) notes that at Kurrachee the
¥ Dradema mimics the variety Dorippus more commonly than the typical Chrysippus.
NYMPHALIN As, 281
II. Other African Regions.
A, South Tropical.
a, Western Coast.—Damaraland (C. J. Andersson and J. A. Beil).
“Angola (J. J. Monteiro).”—Druce. “Congo: Kinsembo
(ZH. Ansell).”—Butler, “ Chinchoxo (Falkenstein).”—Dewitz.
aa. St. Helena (Miss Shorts). ‘‘ Ascension (Bewicke).”—Mrs, Wol-
laston.
b, Eastern Coast.—Zambesi (Rev. H. Rowley). ‘* Tette.’—Hopffer.
br, Interior.—Bamangwato District (H. Barber). Tauwani and
Tati Rivers (/. C. Selous). ‘ Zambesi: Victoria Falls (/.
Oates.)”— Westwood.
bb. Mauritius.—“* Madagascar and Bourbon.”—Boisduval. “ Rodri-
guez (G. Gulliver).”—Butler.
B, North Tropical.
a. Western Coast.— Gaboon (Theorin).”-—Aurivillius, Ashanti.—
Coll. Brit. Mus. Sierra Leone (J. M. Pash).
b. Eastern Coast.—‘ Somauliland.”—Felder. ‘Abyssinia (Raf-
fray); and Shoa (Antinort).”—Oberthiir. ‘ Abyssinia:
Atbara.”—A, G. Butler. |
GY, Asia,
A. Southern Region.—India (North India: Canara.—Coll, E. Ind.
Mus.) Madras: Bangalore (2. G. Southey). Ceylon (£. L. Layard).
“ China.”—Boisduval. ‘ Formosa.”— Wallace.
B, Malayan Archipelago.—Java: Borneo.—I. Ind. Mus. ‘ Lombock,
Timor, Celebes,”— Wallace.
VI, America.—‘ Guiana.”—Boisduval. “ Surinam.”—Cramer and Drury.
“ Cayenne.”—Godart. ‘‘ Para (Berlin Mus.).”—Hopfter, ‘St. Chris-
topher’s.”—-Drury. Antigua.—Hewitson Coll. :
GrenuS EURALIA.
Euralia (“ Sect. B. Sub-Sect. a,” of Diadema), Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep.,
il, p. 281 (1850).
Diadema (part), Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 150 (1862).
ImaGco.—Intimately allied to Diadema, Head narrower; antenne
considerably longer, with the club gradually-formed and elongate.
Hind-wings: with discoidal cell open,—the lower disco-cellular nervule
entirely wanting.
Larva.—aAs in Diadema, but apparently thicker.
(In Mr. W. D. Gooch’s series of drawings and notes there are two
pencil outlines and written details of a larva stated to have resulted in
“ Buralia mima or H. dubia.” The attenuation of the two segments
next the head is represented as more abrupt from the general thickness
of the body than is usual in Diadema. The colouring is noted as vel-
vety-black, with the spines springing from narrow white rings.)
It is with very great hesitation that I have allowed Luralia generic
rank, as I can discover in the perfect insect no constant structural
distinctions from Diadema except those above noted. The section or
sub-section was defined by Westivood for the two West-African species
D. dubia (Pal. de Beauv.) and D, Anthedon, Doubl.; and the seven
282 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
species—five being near allies of the former and two of the latter—
which have since been described are all confined to the Ethiopian
Region. Of these, one, H. Drucei (Butl.)," belonging to the Dubia
section, inhabits Madagascar; three, viz., Dubia, Dinarcha, Hewits.,
and Anthedon, belong to Tropical Western Africa north of the Hquator ;
Damoclina, mihi, is found in Angola; Usambara, Ward, an ally of
Anthedon, was discovered in Eastern Africa a few degrees south of the
Equator; and AZima, Trim., Wahlbergi, Wallengr., ad Decepior, ‘Trims
seem to be limited to Natal and Zululand. All the species have a
peculiar facies, six of them very closely mimicking the same number of
the Danaine genus Amawis inhabiting their respective localities, and
the remainder being probably imitative (less perfectly) of some of the
same kinds of Amauwris, or possibly of certain forms of that genus not
yet known. It is worthy of remark that while in Diadema close
mimicry of other butterflies is confined to the female, in Hwralia both
sexes are equally well disguised.
Although the Anthedon section, with its broad white patches, has so
different a superficial aspect from that of the Dubza section, in which
the white or yellowish spots of the fore-wing are small, all the forms
known are really most intimately related. The white spotting of the
head and thorax is identical in all; and the fact of a male Mima
having been taken paired with a female Walberg: is a further indica-
tion of the close alliance existing between the sections.
The few specimens of the two last-named species that I observed
in Natal were confined to the outskirts of woods, where they frequented
low trees; their flight was slower and more floating than that of Diadema
Misippus. All the three South-African forms present striking instances
of mimicry; &. mina copying the Natalian variety of Amauris ELcheria,
EL. Wahlbergi most exactly simulating A. dominicanus, and the very
rare ZL. deceptor very closely resembling A. Ochlea.
91. (1.) Huralia Wahlbergi, (Wallengren).
Prate V1. fie. 2 ( ¢).
é Diadema Wahlbergir, Wallgrn., K. Sv.-Ak. Handl., 1857,—Lep. Rhop.
Cali. 0.27 .0.n:
g Diadema Anthedon, Trim. [part], Rhop. Afr. Aust., i p. 152, n. gt
(1862) ; Trans. Linn. Soc., xxvi. pp. 511-512 (note) (1869); and
Trans. Ent. Soc., 1873, p. 106, 107 (note) [¢, @ ].
Euralia Anthedon, Doubl., Var. marginalis, Butl., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist.,
1875, P. 395:
Exp. al., 3 vo. 4 lin.—q in. 1 lin.
ft Black, with large patches of iridescent white. Fore-wing: an
elongate, more or less distinct, longitudinal-oblique white streak in
1 Mr. Butler (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1874, p. 426) gives this form—which appears to be
the Diadema dubia described by Boisduval in Faune Ent. de Madag., p. 4o—as a ee j
but there can be no doubt that it is really referable to Euralia.
NYMPHALIN “A, 283
discoidal cell; a broad, oblique, white stripe beyond middle, not reach-
ing to costa or to hind-margin, crossed by three nervules; a large,
somewhat semicircular white blotch occupies nearly the whole of
inner margin, rising as far as median nervure, but not quite to its
second nervule. HMind-wing: iridescent white ; basal portion blackish ;
a broad black band along hind-margin, wider and suffused with brownish
about anal angle, radiating in streaks bedween nervules. UNDER SIDE.
—Paler;: similar in pattern. Sore-wing: a small white spot at base ;
another on costa, near base; a third in discoidal cell, before the white
streak ; costa tinged with ochreous-brown, as well as apical portion
beyond oblique white band. Mind-wing : hind-marginal band coloured
with ochreous-brown, very much narrower than on upper side, radiating
very distinctly between nervules ; a conspicuous white spot on narrow
basal black. On both wings are the traces of a double row of minute
whitish lunules along hind-margin, and in hind-wing a submarginal
series of rather indistinct white minute spots in fuscous rings situated
on the inter-nervular blackish rays.
2 Similar to the fg, but all the white markings larger, especially
the cellular streak and the subapical stripe. Sore-wing : a small spot
in discoidal cell corresponding to that of the under side. UNDER
SIDE.—Hind-marginal lunules more pronounced,—those of the fore-
wing tinged with blue.
This is a very near ally of EH. Anthedon, Doubl., a native of Western
Africa, being indeed its Southern representative. The principal differences pre-
sented by Wahlbergi are (1) its considerably larger size (Anthedon not appearing
to exceed 3 in. 8 lin. in expanse of wings), and (2) its larger white markings,
especially as regards the hind-wing, where in Anthedon the white extends to
but little beyond the middle. These differences exactly correspond to those
which distinguish the South-African Amauris duminicanus, Trim., from the
West-African A. Neavius (Linn.); and £. Wahlberg? is as accurate a mimicker
of the former as £. Anthedon is of the latter species of Amaurvis.
I met with this very conspicuous butterfly at D’Urban, Natal, in February,
March, April, and June; but it was always scarce, and I captured four speci-
mens only. It is a woodland insect, and is fond of floating about low trees,
quite in the manner of the Amawrvs it so closely resembles. The imitation is
so exact, that, prior to actual examination of a captured individual, I found it
impossible to tell whether I was taking the Huralia or the Amaurits. The late
Mr. M‘Ken sent several specimens to the South-African Museum, all taken in
the D’Urban Botanic Gardens ; and Colonel Bowker has since forwarded a few
from the same neighbourhood. Of the latter, one remarkably small ¢ is only
3 in. 1 lin. in expanse of wings. Ihave recorded (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1873,
p. 107, note) the capture by Captain H. C. Harford of a 2 of this butterfly
paired with a 6 £. mima, Trim. Notwithstanding the very different pattern
and colouring of the wings, the two forms are very closely related,
Localities of Zuralia Wahlbergi.
I, South Africa,
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban. Little Umhlanga (A. C. Harjord),
“ Lower Umkomazi.”—J. H. Bowker.
F, Zululand.—St. Lucia Bay (Colonel H. Tower).
284 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
92, (2.) Euralia mima, (Trimen).
Diadema mima, Trim., Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., xxvi. p. 506, note (1869) ;
and Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 107 (notes).
Exp. al., 3 in. 3 lin—4 in.
g Sooty-black, with slightly-cridescent white spots; hind-wing with a
pale ochrey-yellow patch. Fore-wing: the following white spots, viz.,
towards middle an oblique row of two—one thin, elongate, almost
longitudinally placed, in discoidal cell near the extremity, the other
much larger, subovate, farther from base, between first and second
median nervules ; a nearly parallel oblique subapical row of three, about
midway between the first row and apex, consisting of two small rounded
spots close together near costa, and a larger, inferior, irregularly sub-
ovate one just above third median nervule; and a submarginal row of
seven small round ones, of which the first and seventh are largest, and
the fourth and fifth minute or obsolete. Hind-wing: yellow patch
occupying basal and central area, commencing very near base, rounded
superiorly, rising more or less above subcostal nervure, extending to
rather beyond middle on disc and also to inner margin, having its outer
limit rather ill defined, and more or less penetrated by inter-nervular
black rays from hind-margin; nervures crossing yellow patch black; a
submarginal row of five small round white spots, of which the lowest
(between first and second median nervules) is tinged with yellow. Cilia
black, with small but very distinct inter-nervular white spots. UNDER |
SIDE.—Hind-wing and apical area of fore-wing pale ochreous-brown with
a tinge of grey ; markings like those of upper side. ove-wing: a small
white spot in discoidal cell, before the first of the oblique median row ;
three still smaller ones close to base,—two on costa and one at origin
of subcostal and median nervures; on costa, immediately above first
spot of subapical row, a narrow white mark; submarginal row of seven
spots, usually complete,—often a minute additional spot just above the
first; from anal angle to lower radial nervule a double row of bluish-
white lunules along hind-margin. Mind-wing: ochrey-yellow patch
paler, smaller, its exterior outline better defined but irregular ; spots
of submarginal row larger, better defined—a sixth sometimes present
below first median nervule; a double row of white lunules usually well
marked along all the hind-marginal border; inter-nervular black rays
well-defined ; base narrowly black, with two small white spots,—one
close to origin of precostal and costal nervures, the other at origin of
subcostal and median nervures.
2 Similar to f, but the white spots of oblique rows in fore-wing larger,
and usually ringed with bluish (sometimes also with a few ochreous-yellow)
scales ; in both wings traces of a double row of bluish-white lunules
along hind-margin. UNDER sIDE.—As in f.
Specimens of both sexes occur in which the yellow patch of the
hind-wing is much restricted, not rising above subcostal nervure or
———
NYMPHALIN. 285
extending far below or beyond median nervure, With one exception
-—a @—the five examples (3 fs, 2 2s) I have examined presenting
this variation are unusually small.
Var. A (f and 9).
mie... (26) 3 im.; (2) 3 1m. 6. lin,
Fore-wing : two spots of median oblique row much enlarged (especially
that in discoidal cell), almost touching. Hind-wing: basal patch iri-
descent-white, only slightly tinged with ochreous-yellow on its edge.
UNDER SIDE.—In ff with a slightly rufous tinge in the brown portions.
Hab.—f, Natal (? local.) ; 2, D’Urban (J. H. Bowker).
This Hwralia is the Southern representative of H. dubia (Palis. de Beauv.)
of Western Africa. It differs with apparent constancy in the following parti-
culars, viz., in the fove-wing : (1) the two spots of the median oblique row are
much smaller and far apart ; (2) the subapical oblique white band is narrower,
and divided into three quite distinctly separate spots ; (3) the white spots of
the submarginal row are smaller ; (4) the ochreous scaling or suffusion on the
inner margin is altogether wanting ; and (5) the white spot near base, in dis-
coidal cell, is obsolete ; while in the hind-wing (6) the basal patch is broader
and uniformly yellow-ochreous. The under side differs correspondingly, and
(7) the white spots at the bases of the wings are smaller.
The small Variety A. above characterised decidedly inclines in the direction
of EL. dubia, as far as the enlarged median spots of the fore-wing and the white
patch of the hind-wing are concerned, but in other respects retains the distince-
tive features of LE. mima.+
A very fine ?, taken at D’Urban by Colonel Bowker in March 1879, is
remarkable for possessing a gloss of indigo-blue over the black ground in the
apical half of the fore-wings, and also for having all the spots in those wings
very distinctly ringed with bluish on the upper as well as on the under side.
E. mima was very rare on the coast of Natal in the summer of 1867, and
I only met with two specimens—one at D’Urban and the other near Verulam,
both during February. On each occasion I at first mistook the butterfly for
Amauris Echeria, until I noticed its more active flight. The late Mr. M. J.
M‘Ken and Colonel Bowker, during their long residence in the Colony, often
took specimens, and about twenty examples have been received from them.
Among the latter gentleman’s captures was a pair taken zz copuld in the Park,
D’Urban, on the rith February 1881. These individuals were unusually
small—the ¢ expanding only 2 in. 11 lin,, and the ? 3 in. 4 lin.—and much
alike, both presenting the variation above mentioned, viz., the much-reduced
yellow patch of the hind-wing, and having also the spots of the fore-wing
smaller and less distinct than usual, especially in the g. This close resem-
blance of the paired sexes is of interest, seeing that (as noted under LZ. Wahlbergr)
the ¢ Mima has on one occasion been taken én copula with the 9 Wahlbergt.
Localities of Huralia mama.
I, South Africa,
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—D’Urban, Little Umhlanga (1. C. Harford).
Verulam,
1 This small variety appears to approach very closely £. (“ Panopea’’) Drucet, Butler,
from Madagascar (to judge from the description and figure in Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1874,
p. 426, pl. vi. f. 3), differing chiefly in the less regular macular bars of the fore-wing, and in
the smaller and less ochre-tinged patch of the hind-wing.
286 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
93. (3.) Huralia deceptor, (Trimen).
Prare VL, fe 380O7
3 Diadema deceptor, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 105.
Hop. al. (h) 3 in. 34, lin. 3) (2) un, 2 lin. |
a Black, with white (wery slightly pink-glossed) markings. Fore-
wing : costa dusted with pale-bluish scales near base; a small rounded
spot in discoidal cell near base ; an irregular oblique central bar, con-
sisting of a narrow cellular stripe and a large ovate patch, lying mainly
between second and first median nervules (but extending slightly above
the former and considerably below the latter nervule); a narrow sub-
apical stripe of three spots, extending from a little below costa to
third median nervule (the lowest spot largest); a small spot near apex,
and a similar one near anal angle, just above submedian nervure. Hind-
wing: in basal region a large, sub-rotundate patch, not reaching base,
and scarcely extending above subcostal nervure, but spreading indistinctly
to inner margin, and projecting outwardly between radial and third
median nervules; outer edge of patch indented by black between
nervules ; a submarginal row of four minute whitish spots, between
first subcostal and second median nervules,—that nearest costa less
indistinct than the rest; beyond them, but towards anal angle, very
faint traces of a hind-marginal, lunulate, whitish streak. UNDER SIDE.
—Hind-wing, and costal and apical border of fore-wing, pale, glossy,
greyish-brown. Lore-wing: violaceous-pink lustre over white mark-
ings more observable than on upper side; three additional white spots
at base; subapical stripe commencing on costa with a broad white
mark; brown border commencing at base, extending widely along
costa, so as to cover upper portion of discoidal cell (irrorated with
whitish scaling on each side of costal nervure), and occupying apical
region to below extremity of third median nervule; some faint whitish
irroration on costa near apex just above white spot; and some (rather
stronger) at lower extremity of subapical stripe; a double row of hind-
marginal white lunules; a blue tinge over the black ground-colour,
especially on the edges of the large central marking, of the anal-
angular spot, and of a minute spot above latter. Hind-wing: basal
lobe dull-white ; this dull-white extends beyond precostal nervure ;
an orange dot and a white dot at origin of costal and median nervules
white patch duller than on upper side, larger and more irregular in
outline, widening so as to occupy inner margin to its edge as far as in
a line with end of abdomen, and emitting a conspicuous ray upward to
apex from between the subcostal nervules; from outer angle of patch
there extends some dense whitish irroration, on each side of third
median nervule, as far as hind-marginal lunules; five distinct dots in
submarginal row; two rows of hind-marginal lunules, thin, distinct,
almost continuous throughout.
Palpi and legs of the same greyish-brown as the under side of
hind-wings and of great part of the fore-wings. | |
NYMPHALIN. 287
9 All white markings larger. Fore-wing: central bar touches
small spot near base, reaching inwardly to origin of first median
nervule, and outwardly to a httle beyond lower part of extremity of
discoidal cell. Hind-wing: white patch very much larger, extending
so far beyond middle as to leave only a moderately broad hind-marginal
border of black (of almost even width throughout). LEdges of larger
markings (especially of central bar of fore-wing) glossed with violaceous-
blue as in HL. Anthedon. UNDER SIDE.—As in f, but white mark-
ings much enlarged, especially in hind-wing, which is all white except
for a costal and a hind-marginal border of brown.
This Huralia presents an unmistakable mimicry of Amauris
Ochlea (Boisd.), a local species inhabiting the coast of Natal and St.
Lucia Bay. All the white markings in the Hwralia are in proportion
smaller than in the Amawuris, and the central bar of the fore-wings is
more obliquely placed ; while on the under side the grey colouring is
paler and the hind-wings want the narrower basal black of Ochlea, and
present a pale ray (from the central patch to the apex) which is not
found in the latter.
_ E. Deceptor is intermediate in character between H. mima and
E. Wahlbergi, but is on the whole perhaps nearer to the former, both
in size and markings; though the absence of any ochreous tinge in
the white bars and the pinkish gloss of those markings, added to the
width of the central bar of the fore-wings, approximate the insect to
the latter. The white spots of the head, palpi, and back of thorax
are identical in the three species, and a tuft of ochreous hairs on the
posterior region of the breast is also found in all of them.
The first example (a ¢) of this interesting Diadema known to me was
taken by Mr. W. Morant in a road cut through thick bush, in Victoria
County, Natal, about the middle of July. In reply to an inquiry from me,
that gentleman states that the place of capture was one in which he had some-
times found Danais Ochlea.
The only other specimen I have seen was captured by Colonel Bowker at
Clairmont, near D’Urban, on 2d February 1880. This is the ¢? figured on
Plate VI. Colonel Bowker wrote at the time that it was quite a chance
capture, having been started by his walking among some low branches and
leaves by the side of a bush-road.'
Localities of Huralia deceptor.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts. —D’Urban (J. H. Bowker). Victoria County
(W. Morant).
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lorenco Marques (Mrs. Montetro).
1 Since the above was written, I have seen a second 4g, from the collection of Mr. H.
Grose Smith, taken at Delagoa Bay by Mrs. Monteiro. This individual differs slightly on
the upper side from Mr. Morant’s example, having the central bar of the fore-wing narrower
in its lower and larger portion, not rising at all above second median nervule, and extending
only a very little below first median nervule.
288 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Genus PSEUDACRAA.
Pseudacrea, (“Section A. Sub-Section b, Division **,” of Diadema) and
Panopea (‘ Do. do., Divn, * of Do.”), Westw., Gen. Diurn, Lep., ii. p,
281 (1850).
Panopea, Trim., Trans. Ent, Soc. Lond., 1868, p. 79.
Imaco.—Alled to Diadema, Boisd., and Huphedra, Hibn. Head
of moderate size, downy above, hairy in front; palpi elongate, conver-
gent, densely scaly, ascendant to about level of forehead,—second joint
long, tufted above and along inner edge, and sometimes thinly hairy
beneath,—terminal joint short and blunt; antenne long or very long,
rather thick, with the club very elongate and very gradually formed.
Thorax long and thick, densely downy beneath, more thinly so
above, and moderately hairy posteriorly. Fore-wings elongate, more or
less produced apically, much as in Diadema; first subcostal nervule
originating much more towards base, and second considerably more
before extremity of discoidal cell than in Diadema, and third one origi-
nating not so far beyond cell; lower disco-cellular nervule stronger,
more arched. AMind-wings with costa, after basal convexity, very slightly
arched; hind-margin more or less sinuated; anal angle sometimes
decidedly prominent in f#; neuration as in Diadema; discoidal cell
rather shorter (in P. Semire (Cram.) exceedingly short); lower disco-
cellular nervule quite distinct, more or less curved, usually joining
median nervure where second and third nervules originate; groove
formed by inner margins not so deep or complete as in Diadema.
Abdomen very compressed laterally; much longer than in Diadema
or Huralia.
With the exception of the green-spotted Semire, Cram., and Jmerina,
Hewits. (= Glaucina, Guér.), and the rufous-and-black Hostilia, Drury
—which have the hind-wings much produced in their inferior half, and
constitute a section apart—all the species of this Ethiopian genus are
in both sexes distinctly imitative of various species of Acreine, the ?
of two only (P. Tarquinia and P. Delagow, Trim.) showing more resem-
blance to two species of Amauris, of the sub-family Danaine, It
would be difficult to imagine more perfect mimicries than several of
these—e.g., that of Planema Gea (Fab.), gf and 9, by Pseudacrea
Hirce (Dru.), ¢ and 2; of Pl. Aganice (Hewits.), ¢ and 9, by ae
imitator, Trim., ¢ and 2; or of P. elongata, Butl., 9, by Ps. meta-
planema, Butl., 9—extending as they do not merely to colouring and
pattern, but to outline of wings and such minutize as the colour of the
palpi and the spotting of the thorax and abdomen. Almost as per-
fect also are the imitations of Acrwa Zetes (Linn.), $ and 2, by Ps.
Boisduvalvi, Doubl., # and 2, and of A. Acara, Hewits., f and 2, by
Ps. Trimenii, Butl., f and 2. The exactness of these and of some other
mimicries among African butterflies can best be estimated by the fact
NYMPHALINA, 289
that they have deceived not only practised collectors, but experienced
entomologists, so that it was by no means uncommon until recently to
find even in public collections specimens of the models and of their
copies placed together, in the mistaken belief that they were represen-
tatives of one and the same species. ‘There is thus no difficulty in
understanding how complete is the deception in the field, where the
habits and flight of the mimicking insects are more or less assimilated
to those of the protected species mimicked, which inhabit the same
districts, and very often haunt the same spots.
Of the four known South-African species, Ps. Trimenii and Ps.
imitator respectively imitate the red black-spotted Acrwa Acara and
the black yellowish- or white-banded Planema Aganice,—the latter
affording an instance of remarkably exact imitation. The males of the
remaining two, Ps. Tarquinia and Ps. Delagow, present a much less
close resemblance to the same Planema ; while their females, singularly
enough, are modified in distinct relation, respectively, to the Danaine
Amauris Echeria and A. Ochlea. In range, Tarquinia seems farthest
distributed, occurring at Natal, on the Zambesi, and in Usambara;
Trimenw inhabits Natal, Delagoa Bay, and Zambesia; Jmztator has
been found only in Natal; and Delagow inhabits the place after which
it is named. All appear to be rather scarce insects, but it is not
unlikely that they are less rare than they seem,—their disguise render-
ing them very apt to be passed over among the abundant Acree.
94. (1.) Pseudacreea Tarquinia, (Trimen).
§ Panopea Tarquinia, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1868, p. 79, pl. v.
f3.
Exp. al., 2 in. 44 lin.—3 in.
$ Lrownish-black, with white and yellowish-white bands. Fore-
wing: an outwardly arched band of four white spots, of which the first
(much smaller than the others) is in discoidal cell close to its extremity,
and the fourth (the largest) between first and second median nervules ;
two elongate yellowish-white spots, one on each side of submedian
nervure, forming an irregular patch on inner margin rather beyond
middle (of these the upper spot is sometimes very much reduced or
almost obsolete); between white band and apex two obliquely-lying
subquadrate white spots, one on each side of first discoidal nervule; a
fine linear edging of pure-white along costa from a little beyond
middle, ending at apex in a conspicuous white spot extending to the
cilia immediately adjoining. Hind-wing: crossing middle, a broad
_yellowish-white band, beginning close to costa, opposite inner-marginal
patch of fore-wing; of this band, the inner edge, not far from base, is
slightly irregular,—the outer edge regularly and sharply dentated by
inter-nervular black rays extending from hind-margin. In both wings,
WO. I, AA
290 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
but especially in fore-wing, indistinct traces of a submarginal row
of small dull-whitish spots; ci/ia with minute inter-nervular white
spots. UNDER SIDE.—Ground-colour pale ochreous-brown, except discal
area of fore-wing, which is brownish-black. Fore-wing: a small white
spot at origin of subcostal and median nervures; a fulvous-ochreous
streak along costa for a little distance from base; a longitudinal black
ray in discoidal cell, at extremity joining the discal black; white band
and spots larger than on upper side, especially spot at apex, which is
widely suffused inwardly ; sometimes a third spot, narrower and usually
much smaller than the other two, at lower end of subapical bar; four
or five small white spots in a submarginal row between third median
nervule and anal angle. Hind-wing: base, as far as inner edge of
central band, dull fulvous-ochreous, marked with eight black spots,
viz., one on costa at base, one on each side of precostal nervure, three
in discoidal cell, and one on each side of first subcostal nervule; four
of these are on the edge of central band, which igs broader than on
upper side; a more or less complete submarginal row of small white
spots arranged in pairs between nervules (wanting in one example);
inter-nervular rays more conspicuous than on upper side.
Head and thorax black; head with a large white spot in front
and four small ones on summit,—the palpi black above, with white
black-edged sides; thorax with four small white spots on each side
above, and seven large ones on each side beneath. Abdomen black
above, with a row of five small white spots on each side; creamy
beneath.
2 Ground-colour browner than in §; all the markings of fore-wing
smaller, more yellowish, and more or less obscured by some greyish
scaling; band of hind-wing pale ochreous-yellow ; submarginal row of
small whitish spots much better marked im both wings, but especially
in hind-wing. Jore-wing: apical white spot wanting, but adjacent
cilia white as in ~. UNDER SIDE.—Ochreous-brown duller than in ~.
Fore-wing: bands yellower, narrower, more distinctly macular; basal
fulvous-ochreous streak and apical white spot wanting. Hind-wing:
basal colouring duller, browner.
Apical portions of fore-wings much more elongated in the &.
This species is closely allied to P. Lucretia (Cram.), but, as far as the male
sex is concerned (I have not seen the ? Lueretia), presents the following dif-
ferences, viz.: In fore-wing (1) the two spots of subapical bar are more or less
quadrate, and do not radiate towards hind-margin ; (2) the inner-marginal patch
is yellower and much smaller; (3) the white costal edging and apical spot are
characters wanting in Lucretia; while in hind-wing (4) the band is yellowish
and much broader. On the under side, in fore-wing (5) the whitish scaling in
discoidal cell and the conspicuous white radiation from subapical bar are both
wanting ; (6) the median band is wider; (7) the submarginal spots are smaller
and fewer ; while in hind-wing (8) the basal ochreous is broader ; (9) the sub-
marginal spots are smaller; and (10) the inter-nervular streaks fainter. The
abdominal white spots are smaller than in Lucretia.
NYMPHALIN 2, 2Q1
The ¢ P. Tarquinia is apparently imitative of Planema Aganice (Hewits.),1
the shape and position of the central bands, the colouring, and particularly the
basal markings of the under side of the hind-wings, being remarkably similar ;
but the Pseudacrea has a short subapical white bar not found in the Planema.
The latter marking is, however, not noticeable in flight, and I fully believed
the first example that I met with to be Planema Aganice,—a butterfly
frequenting the same spot. Curiously enough, the 9? Varquinia does not
resemble either sex of Pl. Aganice, but is plainly modified in imitation of
Amauris Echeria (Stoll), as shown by the reduced spots and (especially) apical
prolongation of the fore-wings, the ochreous-yellow band of the hind-wings, the
more distinct series of small submarginal spots, and the browner colouring of
the under side. I have not seen the ? ZVarquinia in life, but the likeness to
Echeria in the cabinet is so strong, that on the wing it is in all probability
entirely deceptive.
I met with two examples only in Natal, one near D’ Urban, on 18th February
1867, and the other near Verulam, on the 24th of the same month; the former
was settling on a shady pathway in a wood, and the latter hovering about young
trees at the edge of a wood, and settling on the outermost twigs occasionally.
This latter individual had precisely the same slow floating flight as Planema
Aganice, and settled in exactly the attitude adopted by that butterfly and by
Amauris Echeria, viz., with the wings dependent and closely shut, at the very
extremity of a twig.
The butterfly is undoubtedly rare ; but the late Mr. M. J. M‘Ken forwarded
a male from D’Urban in 1869 and a female in 1871. A female from Natal
was in Mr. Hewitson’s collection in 1867, as well as a male from the Zambesi.
During his stay in Natal, Colonel Bowker has sent me four males from D’Urban
(April 1879 and June 1881), one male from Isipingo (April 1879), and two
males and one very small female (eap. al., 2 in. 44 lin. only) from Pinetown.
In Mr. Distant’s collection I noted an apparent g from Magila, East Africa,
in which the bands were tinged with reddish-ochreous. The Natahan ¢s vary
in the more or less yellowish tint of the band of the hind-wings.
Localities of Pseudacrwa Tarquinia.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts —D’Urban. Verulam, Pinetown and Isipingo
(J. H. Bowker).
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. Eastern Coast.—Zambesi.—Coll. Hewitson. Usambara: Magila.
—Coll. Distant. |
95. (2.) Pseudacreea Delagoe, Trimen.
ip.al., (f) 2 in. 64 lin.; (2) 2 in. 11 lin.
f Black, with white bands and spots. Fore-wing: an outwardly arched
rather broad band of five white spots, of which the first is of about the
same size as the second, and is in discoidal cell at its extremity (being
separated from the second by the curved and strongly black-clouded
1 The West-African Lucretia, with its much more conspicuous subapical white marking
| in the fore-wings, bears a strong likeness to Planema Lycoa (Godt.), a native of the same
region.
292 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
lower disco-cellular nervule),—the fourth is the largest,—and the fifth
(immediately below first median nervule) very small; two elongate
white spots, one on each side of submedian nervure, forming a distinct,
rather small, superiorly-rounded patch on inner margin rather beyond
middle; between arched white band and apex two obliquely-lying
white spots, of which the lower is outwardly rather deeply bifid;
below the lower of these two spots, the indistinct trace of a linear
white mark, succeeded by a very faint series of almost obsolete minute
whitish spots, between nervules, close to hind-margin; a very fine
linear white edging along costa from a little beyond middle to apex,
where it terminates in a conspicuous white spot extending to the cilia
immediately adjoining, and somewhat suffused on its inner side. Hind-
wing : a very broad central white band from costa to inner margin; of
this band, the inner edge near base is slightly dentated, the outer edge
regularly and deeply pierced by inter-nervular black rays extending from
hind-margin ; the ray between submedian and internal nervures much
longer than the rest, reaching almost to base; close to hind-margin, a row.
of very indistinct whitish minute spots arranged in pairs on both sides
of each inter-nervular ray ; at anal angle two or three indistinct ochrey-
yellow marginal marks. Cilia with minute inter-nervular white spots.
UNDER SIDE.—Very pale ochreous-brown, nixed with whitish in apical
hind-marginal area of both wings ; discal area of fore-wing tinged with
fuscous. Fore-wing: a small white spot at origin of subcostal and
median nervures ; a pale fulvous-ochreous streak along costa from base.
to a little before middle; a longitudinal black ray in discoidal cell
surmounted by a shorter divergent white ray; white markings larger
than on upper side, especially first spot of central band and both sub-
apical spots,—the latter forming a continuous bar inferiorly confused
with the whitish inter-nervular clouding of apical hind-marginal area ;
crossing this area, conspicuous inter-nervular fuscous rays; apical white
spot enlarged and inwardly merged into whitish clouding ; submarginal
white spots distinct from third median nervule to anal angle. Mind-
wing : base, as far as inner edge of central band, pale fulvous-ochreous
marked with eight black spots as in P. Yarquinia; central band
broader than on upper side; submarginal white spots much larger
than on upper side, and quite distinct except near apex, where they
are confused with the inter-nervular whitish clouding ; hind-margin and
anal angle bordered with ochrey-yellow.
2 All the white markings (except apical spot) considerably larger,
especially the central band in both wings. Fore-wing: central band
very much broader than in f, more even and continuous, its first spot
so enlarged as to occupy outer half of discoidal cell; lower disco-
cellular nervule only thinly marked on the white; costal white edging
line wanting, and apical white spot very thin and minute; submarginal
spots distinct,—the two next succeeding subapical spots elongated, sub-
linear. Hind-wing: central band begins rather nearer to base and
NYMPHALIN A, 293
extends rather nearer to hind-margin ; submarginal spots distinct in
pairs throughout; hind-marginal ochrey-yellow marks developed into
an edging from radial nervule to inner margin a little before anal angle,
UNDER SIDE.— White markings as above, but with a distinetly greenish
gloss, in parts tinged with violaceous ; whitish clouding almost obsolete
in apical area of fore-wing, and quite wanting in that of hind-wing.
Fore-wing: discal area much darker than in f, Hind-wing: hind-
margin distinctly edged with ochrey-yellow throughout, and anal angle
suffused with that colour.
This butterfly is a very near ally of P. Tarquinia, Trim. ; and when I had
only seen a ¢ example in- Mrs. Monteiro’s collection in the year 1881, I did
not think that it should be treated as more than a variety of the species
named. But having now (August 1884) received both sexes on loan from Mr.
H. Grose Smith, I find that the @ presents features so very dissimilar as to
demand specific separation. As regards the ¢, P. Delagow is distinguishable
by (1) the greater development and purer white of the central markings,
(2) the better definition of the small submarginal spots, (3) the presence of
ochrey-yellow marks at the anal angle of the hind-wing, and on the wnder side
by (4) the mixture of whitish clouding in apical hind-marginal area of both
wings, (5) the paler fulvous ochreous at base of hind-wing, and (6) the ochre-
yellow hind-marginal and anal angular border. In the @ all these differences
(except the whitish clouding on the under side) are emphasised ; and the con-
trast between her and the. narrowly yellow-banded ? Tarquinia is too great
to need minute description. In fact, while the 9 Tarquinia, as above pointed
out, is in outline, pattern, and colouring modified in resemblance to Amauris
Echeria, the 9‘Delagow is decidedly imitative of A. Ochlea. The abdominal
white spots, which are indistinct in 2? Tarquinia, are conspicuous in 9 Delagoe.
The g and @ here described and the ¢ above referred to are all the ex-
amples I have seen, and all three were taken at Delagoa Bay by Mrs. Monteiro.
It is curious that the ¢ Delagow, though in some characters farther removed
from the West-African Lucretia, Cram., than is Tarquinia, shares with the
former only the conspicuous feature of whitish clouding on the under side near
the apex of both wings.
Locality of Pseudacrea Delagoe.
I. South Africa.
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourenco Marques (Mrs. Monteiro).
96, (3.) Pseudacreea imitator, Trimen.
Prats VI. fig. 1 (¢ ).
Pseudacrea imitator, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1873, p. 107.
Exp. al., 2 in. 114 lin.—3 in. 24 lin. (Q).
2 Fuscous, with yellowish-white bands. Fore-wing: an oblique, nar-
row, subapical band, tolerably even and continuous, slightly broader
inferiorly, crossed by three nervules, extending from a little below
costa as far as second median nervule; on inner margin, beyond
middle, a small space inconspicuously irrorated with yellowish-white ;
five black spots in discoidal cell, the largest one at base, and enclosing
a small white spot; two rather smaller, nearer to base than to extre-
mity of cell, placed very obliquely, so that the lower is wholly beyond
294 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
the upper; and two, smaller than the two central ones, still more
obliquely placed at outer end of cell, the lower being on second disco-
cellular nervule; two small black spots just below cell, one at base,
immediately preceded by a white dot, the other about as far from base
as second cellular spot; a bluish-bronzy gloss along costa and over
basal and inner-marginal region, strongest on inner-marginal edge,
Hind-wing: a rather broad, central, transverse band, rather straight,
and of even width except near costa, where it is rather narrowed and
obscured ; a good-sized black spot at base, marked (on origin of median
nervure) with a whitish dot, and surmounted towards costa by a whitish
spot; two black spots obliquely placed in discoidal cell near base;
two above cell, one on each side of first subcostal nervule; one imme-
diately below cell, close to base; one (small and thin) on the almost
atrophied nervule closing cell; and one (minute) just outside cell above
the radial nervule; the two spots last mentioned are within the white
transverse band. Jn both wings inter-nervular black rays extend from
hind-marginal edge to exterior of white band, in hind-wing piercing
the band to some depth. UNDER sipE.—JMuch paler; outer halves of
wings ochreous-grey ; spots near base as on upper side, but much more
conspicuous ; pale bands with less distinct outline, that of hind-wing
narrower ; in each wing an additional white spot at origin of costa.
Fore-wing : inner-marginal whitish space more apparent, but still ill-
defined ; a faint basal tinge of fulvous below cell. Hind-wing: all the
basal ground-colour before transverse band /ferruginous-fulvous, with a
faint violaceous gloss.
Antenne black; palpi black above, laterally and beneath yellow;
head, thorax, and base, broad dorsal line, and segmental incisions of
abdomen black. Head with six white spots (two on front, two on
summit, and two behind the eyes); collar with two; thorax with
eight; base of abdomen with two; breast with one central white spot,
and two yellowish spots on each side; legs brown, with a white spot at
base of each femur, except first aborted pair, which are yellowish.
Abdomen with sides and under-surface ochre-yellow.
The species is nearly allied to P. Hirce, Drury. (See Mr. Hewit-
son’s figure of the typical form of the 2 Hirce (Eurytus, Clerck), from
Calabar.) It may, however, be readily distinguished from the latter
by the absence in the fore-wings of the conspicuous white band which
in the @ Hirce extends from the inner margin towards the subapical
band; and by the fuscous base of the hind-wings, which in the 2 Hurce
is occupied by the white of the band. In P. imitator the subapical
band of the fore-wings is much longer and narrower, and the second
and third cellular spots are in all the wings nearer to the base.
The above description was made from the only two specimens (both ¢)
then known to me. I have since received from Colonel Bowker the follow-
ing Natalian examples, viz, a @ in 1878, whose locality was not recorded, 1f
ee Eee
1 Exot. Butt., iv. Diadema, iii. f. 11 (Part 66, April 1868).
|
NYMPHALINA. 295
having been mistaken for Planema Aganice, Hewits.; and two ¢s and three
9s from Pinetown in 1883. The @s quite agree with the foregoing descrip-
tion, except that in the finest and freshest of them the bands of both wings
are pure white. The two @s are considerably smaller than the 9s, the
expanse of wings being respectively 2 in. 64 lin. and 2 in, 8 lin. In pattern
they do not differ from the ?, except in the narrower oblique band of fore-
wing beyond middle. The fresher of the two has, however, the bands of both
wings of a decidedly pale ochrey-yellowish throughout, while the other has only
a tinge of that colour at the superior extremity of the band of hind-wing. On
the under side the sexes present no difference.
The ¢ P. ¢mitator is very unlike the ¢ P. Hirce, which has rufous bands
(including a large patch or short band on inner margin), in imitation of the
3 Planema Gea (Fab.) of Western Africa.
From P. Tarquinia (Trim.), which inhabits the same districts, P. dmitator
may at once be distinguished by possessing—(1) only one oblique even bar in
the fore-wing, instead of two submacular ones, and (2) the black spots in the
basal area of both wings. The apical area is very much blunter in outline,
especially in the @. ‘The palpi are ochre-yellow laterally and beneath, instead
of white with a black edging; and the sides of the abdomen are of the same
yellow, without any white spots.
Captain H. C. Harford, of H.M. 99th Regiment, took a single specimen, on
the 21st January 1868, in a narrow bush-path near the Little Umhlanga,
and describes it as settled on the ground with the wings expanded, sucking
moisture from the damp sand. Another example was captured by Mr. Walter
Morant, on the 8th June 1869, near Pinetown: it is noted by him as flying
near the ground on a hillside in the vicinity of thick bush. Mr. Harford
observes that these two individuals were the only ones ever seen by him.
P. imitator is a close mimicker of Planema Aganice (Hewitson), the ? dif-
fering principally in the fore-wings in the minor features of possessing some
black spots near the base and a slight inner-marginal whitish suffusion, and of
wanting a separate white or yellow spot at the extremity of the subapical bar.
The spots at the base of the hind-wings are not so numerous as in the Acrea ,;
and the palpi are yellow, instead of black spotted with white. The spotting
of the head, thorax, and base of abdomen is almost identical in the two
insects; and in both the abdomen is ochreous on the under side, while the
ochreous abdominal spots and rings of Aganice are roughly represented by the
general ochreous lateral colouring in the Pseudacrcea.
Colonel Bowker, when forwarding ¢ and ¢ in very fine condition from
Pinetown in April 1883, wrote: ‘“‘It is quite impossible to distinguish the
difference between this butterfly and Aganice, either when settled or on the
wing; and the first notice you get is the brittle crunch between finger and
thumb of Jmitator, or the soft leathery feel of Aganice. Death is, moreover,
instantaneous with the former, while you may squeeze Aganice as long and as
hard as you like without effect; nothing but the poison-bottle will settle
him!” This very exact mimicry leads to the conjecture that possibly P. ¢m-
tator may not actually be so rare as it would appear; for undoubtedly the
ordinary collector would overlook it among specimens of its model, Aganice.
At present (April 1884) the eight specimens above mentioned are the only
ones known to me as having been met with. Colonel Bowker’s examples were
taken on 31st March (one), in April (two), and in June (two).
Localities of Pseudacrea imitator.
I. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—Little Umhlanga (H. C. Harford). Pinetown
(W. Morant and J. H, Bowker).
296 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
97, (4.) Pseudacrea Trimenii, Butler.
3 @ Panopea Boisduvalit, Trim. [part], Trans. Linn, Soe. Lond., xxvi. pp.
517-518, t. 43, ff. 8, 9 (1869).
& Pseudacrea Trimenit, Butl., Ent. M. Mag., xi. p. 57 (1874).
Var. 6, Trim., loc. cit., pp. 517-518 = Pseudacrea Colvillet, Butl., Ann.
and Mag. Nat. Hist., 5th Ser., xiv. p. 123 (1884).
Hp. al., (f) 3 in. 3-5 lin.; (2) 3 in. 8-11 lin.
2 Deep-red (more vivid and carmine-tinged in hind-wing), spotted
and bordered with black ; apical half of fore-wing semi-transparent
Juscous, crossed by an oblique yellow-ochreous bar. Fore-wing: costa
from base very narrowly, apex broadly, and hind-margin rather nar-
rowly, bordered with black; on inner margin for a little distance from
base a narrow black or fuscous streak, prolonged thence as a mere
linear edging as far as posterior angle ; red ground-colour not reaching
upper corner of extremity of discoidal cell, nor rising above second
median nervule, but extending to hind-marginal border; in discoidal
cell, five rather large rounded black spots, viz., one near base, two
obliquely placed about middle, and two (the lower situated on lower
disco-cellular nervule) at extremity; below median nervure, six similar
spots, viz., one at base, two (one above and a little beyond the other)
near base, and three (in a transverse row) situated respectively on
second median nervule at its origin, on first median nervule, and on
submedian nervure; all these spots are very thinly ringed with semi-
transparent fuscous-grey scales; neuration everywhere black; semi-
transparency of apical half of wing most pronounced on its inner por-
tion; oblique yellow-ochreous bar variable in width, sometimes rather
narrowed superiorly, extending from costal to hind-marginal black
border; from hind-margin a series of seven strongly-marked inter-
nervular black rays (changed to fulvous where they cross the ochreous
bar), much thickened inwardly, especially the three lower ones. Hind-
wing: at base, four or five black spots unite to form a large marking
above and partly entering discoidal cell; the black at base of cell is
marked with a white or whitish spot; in cell near extremity a good-
sized rounded black spot, and a similar spot on the disco-cellular
nervule; another black spot just below median nervure, and a row of
three small ones on the median nervules at or near their origins; a
moderately-broad hind-marginal black border containing seven fulvous-_
ochreous spots between nervules; the inner edge of this border radiates
slightly on the nervules, and in some specimens also emits short inter-
nervular rays; about median nervure and its branches and submedian
nervure some more or less distinct clouding of whitish scales. Cilia
extremely narrow, black, in hind-wing with very minute inter-nervular
white spots. UNDER sIDE.—Very like upper side, but deep-red replaced
by rose-pink tinged with carmine. Fore-wing: borders fuscous-grey
instead of black ; yellow-ochreous bar paler; black spots as on upper
EEE oo
NYMPHALIN A. 207
side; inter-nervular rays almost obsolete except at their inner ends.
Hind-wing: whitish discal clouding much more developed ; neuration
generally black finely edged with whitish scales ; basal black broken
up into one large mark at base enclosing three white spots, three rather
large rounded spots above discoidal cell, and a small round spot in upper
part of cell ; other black spots as on upper side; inner-marginal fold
more or less clothed with creamy-yellow hairs; spots in hind-marginal
border pale ochreous-creamy, in parts faintly tinged with pink (an
eighth spot between submedian and internal nervures).
Head, thorax, and abdomen black, with the following white and
yellow markings, viz.: superiorly, two small white spots on front, and
two on back of head ; two rather larger white spots on collar; two
white spots on patagia of thorax, and four large ochreous-yellow ones
(one pair about middle, the other posterior) behind them; on abdomen
a pair of white spots on basal segment, and a pair of large ochreous-
yellow ones on each other segment ;—inferiorly, the palpi are ochreous-
yellow with the terminal small joint black; thorax with a central
ochreous-yellow stripe, and nine or ten good-sized white spots on each
side ; abdomen with the segmental incisions and a stripe on each side
pure-white. Antenne black. Legs black, with small white spots
defining each joint.
2 Much duller, the red in fore-wing replaced by pale greyish-ochreous,
and in hind-wing by pale rufous-ochreous ; the black spots in paler
(some of them in whitish), more developed rings; other black markings
duller and less pronounced, especially the inter-nervular black rays of
the fore-wing. ore-wing : yellow-ochreous subapical bar paler and
broader (ats lower extremity in one example indistinctly separable from
the discal colouring); immediately preceding its upper part an ill-
defined, short, blackish oblique ray. UNDER SIDE.—Very much paler
and duller, with only a faint reddish tinge over bases and on discs.
Hind-wing : whitish-creamy, tinged with pale-yellow on the margins;
spots in hind-marginal border the same colour, partly tinged with red-
dish ; before hind-marginal border some faint inter-nervular reddish
rays.
Head, thorax, abdomen, &c., coloured and marked as in ¢.
Var. A.—f and §.
a The subapical yellow-ochreous bar of fore-wing wholly wanting,
so that the whole apical half is left semi-transparent fuscous-grey.
The spots in hind-marginal border much larger than usual. (Two
examples. )
2 An oblique, narrow, white subapical ray in fore-wing, obsolete
superiorly, inferiorly tinged with yellow-ochreous; ground-colour
brighter and redder, especially in hind-wing near base; spots in hind-
marginal border not much larger than in ordinary 2. On under side
the basal and discal rose-pink is much developed, and only a little paler
than in the g. (One example; exp. al., 4 in.)
298 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES,
P. Trimenii is the Southern representative of P. Botsduvali, Doubl., from
West Africa, The black spots are in size, number, and arrangement the same
in both forms, but the hind-marginal border of the hind-wing is broader and
the spots it contains are smaller in Z'rimenz?. It is in the colouring, however,
that a striking difference exists, Bovsduvaliz having in the fore-wing only a
basal and inner-marginal reddish suffusion, and wanting altogether the con-
spicuous yellow-ochreous subapical bar,—the 9, however, having in its place a
faint white mark, while the red of the hind-wing is duller and paler without
a carmine tinge. The variety of Zrimeniz above described approximates to
the West-African form in wanting the yellow bar of the fore-wing, and in
having the spots of the hind-marginal border of the hind-wing larger; but in
other respects, and especially in the deep red ground-colour of both wings, is
quite like the Southern form.!
This extremely handsome butterfly was first brought to my notice in a
collection sent from Natal by the late Mr. M. J. M‘Ken, who from time to time
met with individual examples near D’Urban, and forwarded altogether five
males (one of the Variety A.) and two females. During my visit to Natal in
1867, I specially watched for this species, but only saw one (a 9) in the
Botanic Garden, on the 25th March. ‘This example was on the wing, and
floated overhead in the full sunlight of mid-day—just out of reach of my net!
Colonel Bowker wrote to me that during the first eighteen months of his stay |
at Natal, 1878-79, he saw but four “ Boisduvaliz,” all of which he captured.
Besides two of these D’Urban specimens, both ¢s, he has forwarded a ¢ of the
Variety A. from the Umkomazi (February 1883), a ? of the variety taken at
D’Urban (on 7th April 1884), and a very fine and perfect ordinary ¢ from
Pinetown (May 1883).
As pointed out in my paper on Mimetic Analogies among African Butterflies
(Trans. Linn, Soc. Lond., xxvi. p. 517), 2. Lrimenti—then regarded as a local
variety of P. Botsduvalii—closely imitates Acrwa Acara, Hewits., just as Bots-
duvalii itself is a mimicker of A. Zetes (Linn.) The mimicry is twofold, each
sex of the Pseudacrwa copying the corresponding sex of the Acrca, and is
carried out on the under as well as on the upper surface of the wings, and also
in such minutie as the yellow palpi and the spotting of the thorax and
abdomen. Even the variable whitish suffusion on the disc of the hind-wings
in A. Zetes is reproduced more or less distinctly in P. Trimeniz.
A brought from the Zambesi by the Rev. H. Rowley, and presented to
the Hope Museum at Oxford, did not differ from Natalian examples.
It is remarkable that the brilliant carmine-tinged red of this beautiful
Pseudacreea soon fades in the cabinet to a dull brick-red, exactly as the similar
bright reds of the Acree face.
Localities of Pseudacrea Trimenit.
I. South Africa.
EK. Natal.
a. Coast Districts —D’Urban (M. J. M‘Ken and J. H. Bowker).
Pinetown and Umkomazi (J. H. Bowker).
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourencgo Marques (Mrs. Monteiro).
II, Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
a. East Coast.
Zambesi (Rev. H. Rowley).
1 It has recently been described as a new species (P. Colvillei) by Mr. A. G. Butler, but
it does not seem to me separable from P. Trimenit.
NYMPHALINA. 299
Genus GODARTIA.
Godartia, Lucas, “ Ann, Soc. Ent. France, 1842, p. 299;” Westw., Gen.
Diurn. Lep., ii. p. 282 (1850).
ImaGo.—Head of moderate size, shortly tufted in front; eyes
smooth; palpi rather small, erect, divergent, roughly scaly; basal
joint hairy beneath ; middle joint tufted above as in Diadema, rather
long and thick, terminal joint short and blunt; antenne short and
thick (especially in ?), with the club elongated and but slightly hol-
lowed inferiorly.
Thorax moderately thick, very convex superiorly, downy beneath
and in front above, hairy posteriorly above; prothorax forming a well-
marked neck. SFore-wings: broad, remarkably truncate in ¢—-inner-
margin being of unusual length; costa very strongly arched in ¢,
moderately in Q, finely serrated; apex squared in g, rounded in §;
hind-margin rather convex about middle in ¢, concave in 2; inner
margin fringed with hair near base, shghtly concave about middle;
costal nervure very thick and rigid, especially near base; first sub-
costal nervule short, slender, rising far before end of discoidal cell and
united to costal nervure at about the same distance beyond cell; second
and third also slender, but very long (the latter ending at apex), and
arising respectively considerably before and a little beyond extremity
of cell,—fourth and fifth thicker, branching off not very far beyond
third ; discoidal cell very short ; disco-cellular nervules all very oblique,
—upper one rather long, middle one very short (radial nervules thus
originating close together), lower one very long, more slender than the
others, slightly curved, joining third median nervule at same distance
from its origin. lind-wings: very broad—especially in ¢, where they
are markedly prominent apically ; costa very slightly arched after basal
prominence; hind-margin slightly sinuated; inner-margins forming a
wide rather shallow groove; nervures thick and rigid near base, espe-
cially the precostal ; costal nervure terminating at apex; upper disco-
cellular nervule forming curved base of long radial nervule, lower one
wanting (leaving discoidal cell quite open); submedian and internal
nervures much curved,—the latter short and unusually thick and rigid.
Fore-legs of & very small, but rather thick, densely scaly ; tarsi with some
short thick hairs at extremity ; of the 2 much longer, rather smoother,
—tibia about as long as the femur, tarsus rather long, thickened at
extremity, spinulose beneath. Middle and hind legs short, thick,
scaly ; tibize and tarsi bristly above, spinose beneath; tibial spurs very
short.
Abdomen rather thick (in ¢ rather long), dorsally hairy at base and
along median line.
This remarkable genus, though exhibiting relationship with Diadema
300 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
and allied groups, more especially in the female, is emphatically charac-
terised by its erect palpi, short antenne, very exceptional neuration of
the fore-wings, and extraordinary shape of the fore-wings in the @.
The last-named feature gives a peculiarly clumsy, almost deformed look
to the male, rendering it impossible to fail in recognising a Godartia of
that sex; but the female in pattern and outline of wings usually much
resembles a Diadema or Huralia. All the six species recorded are
Ethiopian only, one being from Madagascar; and in all but one—@.
Trajanus, Ward, from Camaroon in Western Africa, which has white
markings tinged with yellow, and a chestnut-red basal patch in the
fore-wings—the male has a peculiar colouring of shining-greenish ray-
marks and spots on a black ground. ‘This gives him somewhat of the
appearance of a Danais of the Limniace section; but his shape is so
very different, that the resemblance in life cannot be very close,
especially as I learn from Mrs. Monteiro that his habits and flight are
quite unlike those of the Danaine butterflies. Mr. Butler (Lep. Exot,
p- 53), In noticing the resemblance to a West-African Danais borne
by G. Hurinome (Cram.), points out that the female of the latter is the
more accurate mimicker; and in the case of the only species—@.
Wakefieldii, Ward—inhabiting Southern Africa, it is noticeable that
the male is less hke a Danais than his near congeners, while the female
clearly imitates a large black-and-white species of Amawris. All the
Godartie have the head, palpi, prothorax, breast, and legs spotted with
white, and their abdomen (except apparently in G. Zvrajanus) is
ochreous-yellow.
G. Wakefield is a native of Eastern Africa, and its only known
South-African station is Delagoa Bay.
98. (1.) Godartia Wakefieldii, Ward.
Godartia Wakefieldii, Ward, Ent. M. Mag., x. p. 152, pl. vi. f. 3 (1873).
ess 5 Oberth., Etudes d’Ent., liv. ill, p. 28; pl. 711) tame
(1878).
Hap. d., (g) 3 in. 6 lin.
gf Black, with macular bands and spots of pale-green changing to
white wm certain lights. Fore-wing: an oblique median macular band
of nine distinct elongate spots, running from costa before middle to
inner margin beyond middle; of this band, one large spot is in dis-
coidal cell, and of the eight spots external to it, the second and eighth
are much the smallest (almost linear), and the fifth and sixth the
largest ; a subapical slightly-oblique bar of three separate rather small
subquadrate spots; a submarginal row of six very small rounded
spots (of which the upper four are wanting in one example). Hind-
wing : a sub-basal pale-green patch occupies discoidal cell and a space
below and above it, but does not reach base or extend above first
NYMPHALIN. 301
subcostal nervule or below submedian nervure; this patch is divided
very unequally into six by the crossing black nervures, the cellular
portion being very much the largest, and the portion at furcation of
third and second median nervules very much the smallest ; a discal row
of eight conspicuous rounded spots, of which the first is largest, and the
seventh and eighth (close together) are the smallest; close to hind-
margin, a row of eight minute inter-nervular spots ; just preceding them,
in lower part of wing, a closer series of similar spots arranged in pairs
between nervules. UNDER SIDE.—AHind-wing, and costal, apical, and
hind-marginal border of fore-wing warm ochreous-brown ; markings of
upper side reproduced, but those of fore-wing greenish-white and those
of hind-wing pure-white. ore-wing: a very small white spot on costa
at base; another, close to the first, at origin of median nervure; a
rather larger one on costa near base; and a similar one in discoidal
cell a little beyond the third. Hind-wing: three small white spots at
and near base,—one at base marking common origin of nervures,
another just above costal nervure, and another on precostal nervure ;
a fourth larger white spot on costa a little farther from base; sub-basal
patvh produced inferiorly to inner margin; a ninth small spot in discal
row near inner margin; eight minute spots along hind-margin edged
with fuscous; inner series of minute spots completed as far as costa.
Head, palpi, collar, breast, and legs black spotted with white ;
abdomen ochreous-yellow, fuscous superiorly at end near its base.
I have not seen the 9! of this species, but, through the kindness of Mr. A.
G. Butler, of the British Museum, possess a lithographic figure of it in the proof
of a plate intended for a third part of Ward’s African Butterflies, From this
carefully drawn figure of the upper side, it is evident that the ? differs much
from the ¢, wearing more the aspect of the genus Huralia. The fore-wings
are lengthened and produced apically (exp. al., 3 in. 8 ln.), and the median
band is enlarged by the increased size and complete union of the cellular and
the four larger divisions, while the subapical bar is similarly much enlarged ;
there are further a small spot superiorly just preceding subapical bar, and one
in discoidal cell near base. The hind-wings have the patch very much enlarged
outwardly, and extending very broadly quite to inner-marginal edge; the sub-
marginal row of very small white spots in pairs complete, as on the under side
of the ¢. ,
G. Wakefieldii, as far as the ¢ is concerned, seems more closely allied to
the West-African type of the genus, G. Hur/nome, Cramer, than to any other
known Godartia. The ¢ is distinguished from that sex of Hurinome by its
deeper-green markings, and by their greater development in the fore-wing, the
component spots of both the median and subapical bands constituting a toler-
ably even and continuous bar, instead of being widely separated and irregularly
placed. The 2? Wakejieldit differs greatly from the 9 Hurinome in the fore-
wing, which is produced apically, instead of being of the ordinary form; and
1 The South-African Museum has since acquired a ? example taken at Delagoa Bay by
Mrs. Monteiro. On the upper side it nearly resembles the figure described in the text, but
in the fore-wing has the median band (which is pure white) wider in the lower portion, and
wants a small white spot in the discoidal cell near the base. On the under side the white
markings are like those of the upper side, the basal white spots are similar to those in the 6,
and the brown of the margins is of a much duller, less ochreous, brown.
302 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
in which the enlarged markings are massed into a median and a subapical
band, instead of being scattered and separated.
This very striking species, first known from East Africa between 3° and 4°
S. of the Equator, was found at Delagoa Bay by the late Mr. J. J. Monteiro,
but does not seem to extend farther southward. Mrs. Monteiro informs me
that she has noticed several specimens of Wakefieldii sporting together and
“‘ tumbling over each other,” at a height of about six feet from the ground. She
found the insect wary, letting one approach pretty near, and then going
straight towards the nearest cover with an irregular but not swift flight. It
was attracted lke the Noctue to “sugar.” An example of the ¢ from Delagoa
Bay was presented to the South-African Museum in 1882 by Mrs. Thompson,
through the good offices of Colonel Bowker. It is almost exactly like Ober-
thiir’s figure, above cited, of a Zanzibar example, and has the central band of
the fore-wings considerably narrower and more macular than in a figure of the
typical ¢ which accompanies that of the ? in the plate for Ward’s African
Butterflies, above mentioned as communicated to me by Mr. Butler.
While the ¢ of this Godartia, like G. Eurinome and its near allies, but in
a less degree, is imitative of the variety of Danais Limniace (Cram.), from
Western Africa, named Petiverana by Doubleday (1847), and Leonora by
Butler (1866), the 9 most decidedly mimicks an Amauris of the Niavius form,
being most like the Malagasy A. Nossima, Ward, but also very similar to A.
dominicanus, Trim. The outline of wings in the g (as in others of the genus)
is not at all Danaine, but in the @? the apical production of the fore-wings
makes it decidedly so, and quite approximates it in aspect to the species of
Luralia which mimic the same group of Amaurvs.
Localities of Godartia Wakefield.
I. South Africa.
H. Delagoa Bay.—Lourengo Marques (J. J. Montero).
IT, Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
b, Eastern Coast.—“ Zanzibar (Raffray).”’—Oberthiir. “ Ribe.”—
Ward.
Genus EUPHAXDRA.
Euphedra, Hiibn., Verz. Bek. Schmett., p. 39 (1816).
Romaleosoma, Blanch., ‘‘ Hist. Nat. Ins., iil. p. 448 (1840).”
Romaleosoma, Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep., il. p. 283 (1850).
ImaGo.—Head broad, shortly downy ; eyes smooth, very prominent ;
palpr short, compressed, ascendant, convergent, not rising above summit
of head, densely clothed with scales and appressed short hairs,—basal
joint tufted with longer hairs beneath,—second joint superiorly with
a tuft of hair near extremity,—terminal joint very short and small,
almost hidden by terminal hairs of second joint; antennw very long,
slender, with a gradually-formed, very elongate, only slightly flattened
club, rather blunt at tip.
Thorax very (in some species extremely) thick and rather long,
especially in ~; clothed with short fine down, moderately hairy above
posteriorly. Fore-wings rather elongate, being slightly or moderately
NYMPHALINA. 303
produced in apical portion; costa usually rather strongly arched ; apex
not pronounced ; hind-margin slightly sinuated, slightly or moderately
concave about middle ; inner margin almost straight; costal nervure
strong, ending considerably beyond middle; first and second subcostal
nervules arising (the former at some distance, the latter considerably)
before extremity of discoidal cell,—third ata little distance beyond
extremity of cell and extending to apex,—fourth very short, arising not
very far before, and terminating a little below, apex; upper disco-cel-
lular nervule extremely short,—middle one short, shghtly curved,—
lower one rather long, oblique, slightly curved, very slender, joining
third median nervule at a little distance beyond its origin ; discoidal
cell short, rather wide at extremity. Mind-wings broad, in f somewhat
(rarely much) produced in anal angular portion ; precostal nervure
strong, much curved; costal nervure extending to apex ; upper disco-
cellular nervule united to second subcostal nervule not far from the
latter’s origin,—lower one very attenuated, slightly curved, joining
third median nervule at or just beyond its origin; d'scoidal cell very
short, rather narrow ; internal nervure strong, rather short; costa very
convex at base, and thence moderately arched (more so in ¢); hind-
margin more sinuated than in fore-wings; anal angle rather marked
(rarely projecting as a short “tail”); inner margins very convex,
forming a deep complete groove to beyond middie. Jore-legs of f
rather large ; femur hairy beneath,—tibia and tarsus densely fringed
with rather long hair,—the latter joint nearly half as long as the former ;
of the larger and longer, scaly, with only the femur hairy,—tarsus
rather long, indistinctly articulated, sharply spinulose beneath towards
extremity. JMMtddle and hind legs thick, rather long; tibie slightly
spinose above, strongly so beneath,—the terminal spurs long and rigid ;
tarsi long and thick, very spinose throughout, but more strongly so
beneath.
Abdomen compressed, rather short, hairy on back near base.
Among the characters given above, those which best distinguish
Euphedra are the broad head, small short palpi, very long straight
antenne, closed wing-cells, very short fourth subcostal nervule of the
fore-wings, thick spinose legs, and very robust thorax. The last-named
feature reaches its extreme in #. Perseis (Drury), but is almost as
marked in #. Hlews (Dru.), where the volume of the thorax is larger
proportionally than in the most robust Charazxes.
The colouring of the majority of the species is above black glossed
more or less with dark-greenish or bluish-purple, and marked in the
fore-wings with a bluish-whitish or dull-yellow subapical bar, and in
the hind-wings with a central space of greenish or bluish inclining to
whitish in the middle; while beneath the surface is of a yellowish- or
bronzy-green, with numerous sub-basal and submarginal black spots,
and in some species basal or discal spaces of purplish-crimson. A
section of the genus, however, distinguished by the extraordinary size
304 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
of the thorax above referred to, has the colouring more diversified,
with a good deal of red on the upper side, and the body most con-
spicuously spotted with large white or whitish spots. Two of these,
E. Ruspina (Hewits.), and (in a less degree) the allied #. Eleus (Drury),
are indeed distinctly imitative of the slow-flying conspicuous Lithosiid
Moth, Aletis Helcita (Linn.), in which the wings are brick-red with broad
black white-spotted borders.
The genus is essentially Tropical African, and does not seem to
have any representatives in Madagascar. About thirty-three species
are recorded, many of which are so closely allied as to be very difficult
to distinguish satisfactorily. I have not seen any recent mention of the
habits of these butterflies; but a century ago Smeathman (as recorded
by Drury, op. cit.) noted that they frequented the gloomiest shades of the
West-African woods, often congregating about a puddle or moist spot.
Only one species, the Hast-African 2. Neophron (Hopffer), enters South
Africa proper, occurring at Delagoa Bay; it is easily recognised by its
general bluish-green upper side, and by the width and brightness of the
oblique yellow bar crossing the apical black of the fore-wings. |
99, (1.) Euphedra Neophron, (Hopffer).
Romaleosoma Neophron, Hopff., Monatsb. K. Akad. Wiss. Berl., 1855,
p. 640, n. 9; and Peters’ Reise n. Mossamb., Ins., p. 386, t, xxilj
fi, 1,2 [9 |) (7862).
& Romaleosoma Zambesia, Feld., Reise d. Novara, Lep., iii. p. 430, n. 687
(1867). 7
Exp. al., 2 in. 6-11 lin.
f Dull bluish-green ; apical half of fore-wing black, crossed by a
broad bar of ochre-yellow. Fore-wing: two smail round black spots
about middle of discoidal cell, of which the lower spot is a little
beyond the upper one; subapical oblique ochre-yellow bar extending
from costa to hind-margin, its outer edge sinuated, its inner edge
irregularly dentated; at apex a good-sized ochre-yellow spot. Hind-
wing: all dull bluish-green, except near margins, which are rather
narrowly bordered with brownish-grey, ill-defined on the inner edge.
UNDER SIDE.— Pale dull greyish-green, with a slight violaceous gloss, and a
tinge of ochre-yellow over areas beyond middle. Fore-wing : two spots in
cell not so distinct; subapical bar and apical spot represented only
by ill-defined dingy ochrey-whitish ; traces of a submarginal row of
imperfect whitish rings. Hind-wing: a small round black spot in
discoidal cell, close to bifiurcation of subcostal nervure; an indistinct
central paler fascia; traces of a submarginal row of imperfect whitish
rings, as in fore-wing.
2 Similar to g. UNDER sIDE.—Darker, violaceous gloss more
apparent ; all the markings much more distinct, whitish, viz., in fore-
|
NYMPHALIN. 305
wing, the subapical bar (in its upper portion) and apical spot, the
submarginal rings, and a short narrow median fascia; and in hind-
wing the median fascia and submarginal rings.
This very handsome Euphedra belongs to the group of which Z. Medon
(Linn.) is the type, but is very distinct from all its allies in the breadth and
rich yellow tint of the subapical bar of the fore-wings. Oberthtir (tudes
d@ Entomologie, iii. p. 28) notes an example from “ Tchouacka,” in which the
dull bluish-green of the upper side is replaced by violaceous.
I include Neophron in my list on the authority of Mr. W. F. Kirby’s
Catalogue of the Hewitson Collection, in which (p. 93) Delagoa Bay is given
as one of the localities of the examples contained in that collection. The late
Mr. J. J. Monteiro wrote to me in 1877 that he had taken the species at one
spot about three miles from Lourengo Marques; and it is probable that Mr.
Hewitson obtained it from him.
The examples that I have examined are from the Zambesi Valley and
Zanzibar.
Loealities of Huphedra Neophron.
I, South Africa.
H. Delagoa Bay.—Coll. Hewitson.
II. Other African Regions.
A. South Tropical.
b. Eastern Coast.—Zambesi Valley (Rev. H. Waller). ‘“ Querimba.”
Hopffer. Zanzibar.—Coll. Brit. Mus. ‘ Tchouacka (Raffray).”
—Oberthiir. Magila.x—Coll. W. Distant.
b1. Interior.—Lake Nyassa.—Coll. Hewitson.
Genus HURYPHENE.
Euryphene, Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep., ii. p. 285 (1850).
ImaGo.—Nearly allied to Huphedra. Head not so wide, with a
. tuft of hair in front; palpi longer, not so ascendant, not convergent.
Thorax much less robust, more hairy beneath. ore-wings some-
what truncate, with apical angle more or less pronounced; hind-margin
usually entire, occasionally slightly hollowed about middle; neuration
as in Huphedra, except that (in some species) third subcostal nervule
originates very little beyond extremity of discoidal cell. Hind-wings
larger, and in f considerably lengthened inferiorly ; hind-margin entire
or very slightly sinuated ; lower disco-cellular nervule very attenuated,
sometimes almost obsolete. ore-legs of $ not so densely hairy generally,
but with a longer tuft of hairs at extremity of tarsus. Middle and hind
legs with considerably longer, slightly curved femora ; tibie only very
finely spined beneath,—terminal spurs extremely small; tarsi long,
scarcely spinulose above, and but moderately spinose beneath.
These characters, while serving to distinguish Huryphene from
Luphedra, for the most part approximate it to Aterica, Boisd., and
Harma, Westw. From the two latter genera it differs, however, in its
WOE. 1, U
306 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
more hairy head and palpi, less robust thorax, origin much nearer to
discoidal cell of third subcostal nervure of fore-wings, larger fore-legs
in ¢, and much longer middle and hind legs in both sexes.
The limits of Huryphene, Aterica, and Harma—all purely Ethiopian
genera—are by no means well defined, and authors appear of late years
to have referred newly-discovered species to them somewhat at random.
Aterica, founded by Boisduval in 1833, is the oldest in date, and its
type was A. Rabena, Boisd., of Madagascar. Huriphene (sic) was pro-.
posed, but not defined, by Boisduval in 1847 (Appendix to Dele-
gorgue’s Voyage dans l Afrique Australe, p. 592) for a South-African
butterfly ( £. cewrulea, Boisd.) brought from Natal; and it was West-
wood (op. cit.) who first gave a diagnosis of Huryphene, adding to £.
cerulea the Fabrician species, Sophus and Absolon, with Doriclea, Drury,
and seven others referred with doubt to the group. Among the nume- —
rous species since added to the genus, such differing forms as £. Comus,
Nivaria, and Porphyrion, of Ward, and £. Soemis, Phantasia, Aramis,
and Doralice, of Hewitson, seem ill associated with #. cerulea and its
allies; and those of them which prove not to be better placed with
Aterica (or some possibly with Harma) will probably require new genera
for their reception. Harma—also characterised by Westwood in 1850
—ais a more homogeneous group in general facies, but, as its founder
pointed out, variable in neuration; and in nearly all respects its struc-
ture agrees with that of Aterica.
E. cerulea would appear to be a very rare butterfly, as no example
has to my knowledge occurred in any collection made in Natal or the
neighbouring regions since the time of Delegorgue’s visit. It is,
however, a species of small size and dark colouring, and if, like some
of its congeners in Western Africa, it frequents the shadiest parts of
the woods and is not very active, it would easily escape observation.
No other Huryphene is recorded from Southern Africa, nor does the
genus appear to be represented in Eastern Africa, all the species except
E. cerulea being natives of Tropical Western Africa to the north of the
Equator.
100. (1.) Kuryphene cerulea, Boisduval.
Euriphene cerulea, Boisd., App. Voy. de Deleg., p. 592, n. 77 (1847).
Habit and size of Guwineensis.|\—Deep-blue, as in Veronica, Cram. 5
near hind-margin of both wings a row of oval spots rather darker than
ground-colour, succeeded by a marginal streak of the same hue. Basal
portion of wings, as far as middle, of a darker hue than ground-colour ;
and on this darker portion, in fore-wing, are two or three annular spots
of paler blue, situated transversely between costa and median nervure.
1 This seems to be only a manuscript name of Boisduval’s, and is by Westwood (Gen.
Diurn. Lep., ii. p. 286) doubtfully given as a synonym of #. Absolon (Fab.)
NYMPHALIN A, 307
UNDER SIDE.—Lrownish-red, as in Veronica, with some paler transverse
strie; beyond middle, as in Veronica, a transverse series of small
whitish dots.
The above description is adapted from Boisduval’s brief diagnosis. In
1867 the late Mr. W. C. Hewitson showed me a specimen which had been lent
to him by Boisduval, and I noted at the time that it seemed to agree very fairly
with the characters noted in the Appendix to Delegorgue’s Voyage, but had
not an opportunity of fully describing it." The Veronica of Cramer (Pap. Exot.,
iv. t. cccxxv., 0, D), with which Boisduval compares /. cerulea, is a native of
Western Africa, placed doubtfully in the genus Atertca by Westwood, and in
the pattern of the under side having apparently some resemblance to H. Deda-
lus, Fab. (= Meleagris, Cram.), with which, indeed, Hiibner associates it in his
genus Hamanumida.
Locality of Huryphene cerulea.
TI. South Africa.
E. Natal.
a. Coast Districts.—“ Port Natal.”—Boisduval.
Genus HAMANUMIDA.
Hamanumida, Hiibn., Verz. Bek. Schmett., p. 18 (1816).
Aterica (part), Westw., Gen. Diurn. Lep., li. p. 286 (1850); Trim., Rhop.
Afr. Aust., i. p. 156 (1862).
Imaco.—Head not quite so broad ag thorax, hairy in front; eyes
smooth; palpi short, not or very slightly convergent, projecting for-
ward, rising to about a level with top of head,—basal joint with a tuft
of hair beneath,—second joint long, scaly, hairy superiorly and along
inner edge,—terminal joint very short, scaly; antenne of moderate
length, with a well-marked but elongate sub-cylindrical club, blunt and
rounded at its tip.
Thorax robust, rather long, clothed with a fine close down, and
finely hairy posteriorly (especially on back). ore-wings: in $ sub-
acuminate, in 2? scarcely prominent, apically; costa moderately arched ;
hind-margin almost imperceptibly concave about middle, scarcely
sinuate; inner margin almost straight; costal nervure strong, its
extremity not far beyond middle; first and second subcostal nervules
originating near each other, before extremity of discoidal cell,—third
one very short, originating not far from apex (where it terminates),—
fourth extremely short, originating half way between base of third and
apex (a little below which it terminates) ; upper disco-cellular nervule
exceedingly short,—second one short, oblique, strongly curved,—third
long, well-developed, slightly angulated about its middle, joining third
1 Hewitson (Exot. Butt., iii. p. 53, 1866) notes as follows, viz. :—‘“ £. cwrulea, of Bois-
duval, which he has kindly lent me for comparison, resembles Veronica more closely than
Tadema” [described by Hewitson as an Aterica], ‘‘and is also without the apical white
spots,”
308 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
median nervule at some distance from latter’s origin. Hind-wings:
large, prolonged inferiorly (especially in $); costa very prominent at
base, thence moderately arched; hind-margin slightly sinuated; anal
angle rather pronounced in %, rounded in 2; inner margins forming a
complete but not deep groove; costal nervure extending to apex;
upper disco-cellular nervule rather long, united to second subcostal
nervule not very far from latter’s origin, bent slightly outward,—lower
one slender but quite distinct, gently curved, joining third median
nervule just beyond latter’s origin ; internal nervure short, not reaching
beyond middle of inner margin; discoidal cell very short. Fore-legs
of ¢ very slender, scaly,—femur with a fringe of hair beneath, tibia
considerably shorter than femur,—tarsus less than half as long as tibia,
tufted thinly with fine hairs; of the 2 much larger and thicker, with
tarsus distinctly articulated, not at all hairy, fully two-thirds the length
of tibia, and spinose near extremity beneath. Middle and hind legs
rather long and thick; femora smooth, slightly curved; tibie spinu-
lose above, armed beneath (especially middle pair) with unusually long
spines, and with long terminal spurs; tarsi thick, finely spinulose
above, very spinose beneath, with terminal pair of spines on each arti-
culation longer than the rest.
Abdomen short (less than half as long as inner margins of hind-
wings); very slender in ¢.
I have followed Mr. Kirby (Synon. Cat. Diurn. Lep., 1871, p.
249) in adopting for Daedalus, Fab. (= Meleagris, Cram. and Drury),
distinct generic rank from Aterica under Hiibner’s name, Hamanumida,
because, on comparison with A. Rabena, Boisd., the type of Aterica, I
found that the characters of the former (which are those given above)
differed very considerably from those of the latter. Besides the closed
cell of the hind-wings noted by Westwood (/oc. cit.), Daedalus presents
the following differences from > bb bb bb bb
PAGE
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100
102
103
105
107
109
Tit
112
116
119
120
121
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133
134
137
139
141
142
144
147
149
I51
153
155
157
159
162
163
166
SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES.
Genus Acrma—continued.
A. Anacreon, Trim.
A. Buxtoni, Butl. .
A. Cabira, Hopf.
Genus Piuanema, Doubleday
P. Esebria, Hevwits.
P. Aganice, Hewits.
Genus Parpopsis, Trimen,
N.G.
P. punctatissima, Been)
Sub-Family NY MPHALINA
Genus ATELLA, Doubleday .
A. Phalantha, (Drury)
A. Columbina, (Cram.)
Genus LAcHNOPTERA, Double-
day .
L. Ayresii, ieee
Genus Pyramets, Doubleday
P. Cardui, (Linn.) . ,
Genus Eurema, Doubleday
E. Hippomene, (/7zibn. )
E. Schoeeneia, Z'77m.
~ Genus JunontA, Doubleday
J. Cebrene, 772m.
J. Clelia, (Cram.)
J. Boopis, Trim.
Genus Precis, Doubleday .
P. Sophia, (Fad.)
P. Cloantha, (Cram.)
P. Ceryne, (Boisd.)
Pe eieii02, (Walleng.)
P. Simia, Walleng. .
. Octavia, (Cram.)
. Sesamus, 7’r7m. .
. Archesia (Cram.)
. Pelasgis, (Godt.)
. Natalica, Felder .
. Hlgiva, Hewits. .
. Tugela, Trim.
Genus SALAmis, Boisduval .
S. Anacardii, (Linn.)
S. nebulosa, Tvzm. .
Genus CRENIS, Boisduval
C. Natalensis, Boisd. :
C. Boisduvali, Wadlleng. .
C. Morantii, Trim. .
C. Rosa, Hewits.
POW!
PAGE
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17
173
175
Ley
180
182
183
185
188
189
re)
)6)
196
198
200
203
204
207
209
210
214
204
219
220
222
224
226
2277
220
221
254
236
238
240
241
243
244
246
248
250
202
250
255
Genus Euryte.a, Boisduval
K. Hiarbas, (Drury)
K. Dryope, (Cram.)
Genus Hypanis, Boisduval .
Hf. Dhthyia, (Drury)
Genus Neptis, Fabricius
N. Agatha, (Cram.)
N. Marpessa, Hopf:
N. Goochi, Trim.
Genus DiapEmA, Boisduval
D. Misippus, (Zinn.)
Genus HurALiA, Westwood
K. Wahlbergi, fea
E. mima, Trim.
EK. deceptor, Tram. .
Genus PsEuDAcR&A, West-
wood .
P. Tarquinia, (Tr Bey
P. Delagox, Trim., sp. n.
P. imitator, Trim. .
P. Trimenii, Butl. .
Genus GopartTia, Lucas
G. Wakefieldil, Ward
Genus KupHapra, Hiibner.
EK. Neophron, (Hop#:)
Genus EuryYpHENE, West-
wood .
E. cerulea, Boisd. .
Genus Hamanumipé, Hiibner
H. Dedalus, (Fab.)
Genus Harma, Westwood .
H. Alcimeda, (Godt.)
Genus CHARAXES, Ochsen-
heimer
. Zoolina, (Westw.)
Neanthes, (Hewits.)
. Varanes, (Cram.)
Jahlusa, (Trim.).
. Candiope, (Godt.)
Druceanus, But.
Pelias, (Cram.) .
Saturnus, Butl. .
Brutus, (Cram.) .
Castor, (Cram.) .
Achemenes, feld.
Ethalion, Goisd.
Pheus, Hewits.. .
. Citheron, Feld. .
. Xiphares, (Cram.)
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WING NEURATION
AND OTHER STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF BUTTERFLIES.
R.T. ad nat. delt
(aeeg5r 3
EXPLANATION OF PLATE A.
WING NEURATION AND OTHER STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF BUTTERFLIES.
t. In this Plate the neuration of the fore-wing and hind-wing of butterflies of each Family
and Sub-Family found in Southern Africa is represented, as are also the head and legs of some
of them.
The species here illustrated have been purposely selected as the commonest and most easily
procurable among the more characteristic representatives of the several groups, with the
exception of Libythea Laius (fig. 5), which is the only South African member of its Family,
and Rhopalocampta Keithloa (fig. 9), which from its large size afforded more convenience of
illustration than the commoner small species of Hesperide.
The figures of wing neuration-are in every case of the natural size. Those of the head are
all somewhat magnified, except fig. 8A (Papilio Demoleus) and fig. 9A (Rhopalocampta Keithioa).
The figures of the legs are all of the natural size except fig. 1B, a’ (Danais Chrysippus), which is
considerably enlarged. j
The species representing the several Families and Sub-Families are the following, viz. :—
. Family NyMPHALIDZ—
Sub-Family Danaine . . Figs, 1, 1A, 1B. Danais Chrysippus. 6
ra Satyrine ; . eo eee Pseudonympha Sabacus.
- Acroine : i 53 > Op. BAS Acrea Horta. 6
gs Af Nymphalinee . Fig. 4. Pyraneis Cardui. 6
_ Family Erycrinta—
Sub-Family Libythewine . . Figs. 5, 5A. Libythea Laius. ¢
' Family LYCHNIDE . : : : », 6, 6A. — Lycena Asteris. 6
4, Paprnionipa— .
Sub-Family Pierine ee Bien, Pieris Hellica. 2
Pe Papilionine . . Figs. 8,84, 8B. Papilio Demoleus. 6
Family HESPERIDA , : P x 95 OA, Rhopalocampta Keithloa.
The sign ¢ denotes the male, the sign @ the female.
2. In the figures of W1nG NEURATION, the letter and numbers attached to a particular
nervure and its nervules (or branches) are uniform throughout, and apply to both fore and hind
wings. In fig. 8 (Papilio) advantage has been taken of its large size to add the names of the
various marginal parts and chief areas of the wings, such as base, costa, hind-margin, discoidal
cell, &c., which apply to all butterflies alike.. The names of the nervures and nervules, and the
letters and numbers indicating them, are as follows, viz. :—
aa. Costal nervure. Simple, without nervules.!
b. Subcostal nervure ; bi, b2, b3, b4, b5, subcostal nervules. There are usually five sub
costal nervules in the fove-wing, but sometimes (see fig. 6) four only, or more rarely
(see fig. 7) three nervules. In the hind-wing there are invariably only two subcostal
nervules.
ci, c2. Discoidal or radial nervules. These nervules.are held to be persistent branches of
a discoidal nervure traversing the discoidal cell, still found in many moths (Hete-
rocera) but wanting in all butterflies, except for a trace or rudiment in rare instances
at the outer extremity of the discoidal cell (see figs. 1 and 9). There are two of
these nervules in the fore-wing, but only one in the hind-wing. The latter is, how-
ever, badly developed or wanting altogether in the Family Hesperide (see fig. 9).
d.*Median nervure: di, d2, d3, median nervules. There is no variation in the number of
_, these nervules. bi
e. Submedian nervure. Simple, without nervules.
f. Internal nervure. Simple, without nervules. This short nervure is usually wanting in
the fore-wing. When present it usually terminates (see Danais, fig. 1; and Libythea,
fig. 5) by junction with the submedian nervure. In Papilio (fig. 8) it is best
developed, and terminates independently on the inner-margin. In the hind-wing it
is usually much more prominent, and always independent, terminating at some point
on the inner margin ; but in Papilio it is altogether wanting. ;
gi, g2, g3.\ ‘Disco-cellular nervules. These short transverse or oblique nervules connect
the discoidal or radial nervules with each other, and also with the subcostal and
median _nervures (or one of their nervules) respectively above and below them. In
_ the fore-wing the first (upper) nervule is generally very short, and sometimes (as in
ieris, fig. 7) absent entirely, the first (upper) discoidal, or» radial nervule being
directly united with the subcostal nervure 3 while the third (lower) nervule is some-
1 The base of this nervure, in common with that of the median and submedian nervures in some
* . . 4 74 , i ui 152 - o + y Fz) +f
poate; is in many Satyrinw and some Nyimphalinw swollen or inflated (see fig. 2, aa) in the sore-wing
only. ,
rwrare