The Variety A. above described is linked to the type by au inter- 

 mediate ^ taken by Uv. A. W. Eriksson in the region between the 

 north-west limits of tlie Transvaal and South Matabeleland. 



By means of an exquisite water-colour drawing of Wallengren's 

 type, obtained for me by the kindness of Mr. Aurivillius, I have identified 

 that author's lone with my Variety A. of Begina ; the markings being 

 only a little less developed, and approaching those of Mr. Eriksson's 

 example just mentioned. A second example was sent for my inspection 

 l)y Mr. Aurivillius with the following note, viz. : " Referred by Wallen- 

 gren to his lone, but distinct from his type and description." This was 

 a small worn example of my typical Regina $. 



The very closely allied Retccra, Gerst. {Gliederth.-Fauna d. Sansi- 

 har-Gchietcs, 1873, p. 365, t. xv. f. 2), founded on a single $ from 

 Endara, near Mombas, seems to be distinguished from Begina by its 

 rather larger size and redder apical patch,— the latter being also entirely 

 devoid of any trace of black on its inner edge. 



This magnificent species excels in beauty all its near congeners, and is, 

 moreover, the largest of the genus, with tlie exception of the doubtfully distmct 

 Hetcera. The apical patch of the ^ is nearly twice as broad as that of Io7ie, 

 Godt., and of diflferent colouring, the most brilliant metallic pale (almost 

 glaucous) blue shifting over a ground of purplish-lake. The ? , moreover, 

 stands alone in presenting an apical violet space partaking to a large extent of 

 the splendour proper to that of the ^ . The Variety A. is undoubtedly the 

 finest form of the species, but one of the two forms of ? that are referable to 

 it exhibits only traces of the purple of the typical ? , and the other none 

 whatever. _ , 



Like so many of its congeners, Begina appears to find its " metropolis 

 between the Zambesi and the limit of the Southern Tropic, and to penetrate 

 but a little distance into the extra-tropical tracts. Mr. T. Ayres, however, 

 informs me that he met with the species " in numbers for a very short time m 

 December 1875," among the mountains in the Lydenburg District of the 

 Transvaal, and several examples (including one ? of Var. A.) taken near the 

 junction of the Marico and Limpopo Rivers have reached me from i\Ir. Selous 

 and Mr. Eriksson. Mr. John A. Bell, who in 1862 made me first acquainted 

 Avith the butterfly, brought down from Damaraland no fewer than sixty-seven 

 specimens, and informed me that it was most abundant on the Botletle, one of 

 the chief streams connected with Lake Ngami. On the eastern side of the 

 interior, the Makloutze River and Tati seem to be favoured stations of Begina, 

 Mr. Gates having noted it from the latter, and Mr. Selous and Mr. John L. 

 Fry having each sent me ticketed specimens from both localities. Mr. Fry's 

 examples from Makloutze River were taken on the 20th May 1887, and a 

 $ of Variety A. from Tati on the 23d January. He informs me that at the 

 former place the butterfly was numerous on the purple flowers of a species of 

 Cineraria. 



Localities of TercLcolus Beginet. 



1. South Africa. 



K. Transvaal.— Marico and Limpopo Rivers {F. C. Selous— Ty-^. and 

 Var. A.). Junction of Marico and Limpopo (.4. W. Eriksson). 

 Lydenburg District {T. Aijrcs). 

 VOL. III. H 



