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Albatross fo Jes” Van Reen ss Cove 2, F aS ik: a , Sarid 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a Cata- logue of South-African Butterflies,’ which I published in 1862-66, has for long been out of print as well as out of date.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.’ ’ 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 98 100 102 103 105 107 109 Tit 112 116 119 120 121 123 125 128 131 133 134 137 139 141 142 144 147 149 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 168 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.) Sie 2G OG Co OC Gi oo “ee ‘ -* a ‘ 5; ~ r % S + . 7 é “t* $2 Pa > x a ops iB —~ = - . » Ore) ,- = oT > see 2 6 9 LOStEr tor Angle \ XN ( ‘b2 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