NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE. 



Vol. XVin. SEPTEMBER, 1911. No. 2. 



PRELIMINAEY DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW OR LITTLE- 

 KNOWN FORMS OF THE GENUS ACBAEA. 



By H. ELTRINGHAM, M.A., F.E.S., K.Z.S. 



BEING engaged iu the preparation of a monograph on the African species of 

 the genus Acraea, I have had opportunities of examining ver)' large numbers 

 of examples from many collections. As a considerable time must elapse before the 

 completion of the work in question, I think it well to publish the following notes on 

 certain new forms. Figures and more complete descriptions will be included in the 

 completed monograph. 



1. Acraea aureola spec. nov. 



(?. Upperside rich golden yellow with black spots and markings. Forewing 



narrow and pointed, base very slightly suffused with black ; ground-colour of basal 

 portion rather richer in colour than remainder; costa narrowly black, except at 

 base ; snbcostal, upper radial, and distal ends of remaining nervules black ; 

 hindmargin narrowly black, expanded into small triangular marks at end of 

 nervnles ; a large ovate transverse spot in cell above origin of first median ; 

 a subquadrate spot ou upjjer part of end of cell ; a little beyond cell an out- 

 wardly convex row of five rather small rounded spots ; beneath these, nearer 

 base, and between first and second median, a rounded spot; below first median 

 a small, rather crescentic submarginal spot, and a very small subbasal spot 



close to median. Hindwing rather paler than forewing; a moderately heavy 



black basal suffusion ; in area 7 a subbasal spot followed by a larger transverse 

 spot near middle of costal margin ; beneath first subcostal a submarginal spot ; in 

 middle of cell a transverse V-shaped spot, the angle pointing outwards ; remaining 

 basal spots obscured by basal suffusion ; hindmargin with a very narrow black line, 

 and a series of well-marked regular black arches. 



Underside. — Forewing resembling upperside but paler and duller ; apical 

 portion pinkish ochreous ; nervules not black, and without triangular marginal 



marks. No basal suffusion. Hindwing pinkish ochreous ; the basal portion lemon 



ochreous, except above the snbcostal ; a round black spot near base of cell fidlowed 

 by a V-shaped spot as ou upperside ; beneath median a basal spot followed by 

 another V-shaped mark, and a spot in 1 a and 1 h ; other marks as on upperside. 



Head and thorax brown ; basal part of abdomen black, remainder orange ; 

 tarsal claws asymmetrical. 



Expanse, 60 mm. 



1 <J, Bih6, Angola; Mus. Tring. 



Apparently allied to A. oneraia, Trimen, but very distinct. The genital 

 armature is of a very peculiar structure, unlike that of any other Acraea so far 

 examined. 



H 



