282 SOUTH-AFRICAX BUTTEEFLIES. 



side than the typical form, figured roughly by Cramer, which prevails 

 in the south of the Cape Colony. 



I quote Westwood's figure {op. cit.) with some doubt, because only 

 the upper side is depicted, and the narrower hind-wing band there 

 shown makes it possible that the illustration may apply to the nearly 

 allied 3Iafa, mihi. 



As regards the Spio of Linnaeus, Mr. C. Aurivillus, in his excellent 

 Becensio Critica Lcpidopticoriiiii Jlhisci Ludovicce Ulricce, published in 

 1882 in the Transactions of the Royal Swedish Academy, gives (Tab. i. ff. 

 3, 3a) copies of figures by Clerck (previously unpublished), which there 

 appears to be no reason to doubt were made from Linne's type speci- 

 men. As stated in my letter quoted (pp. 1 24-1 25) by Mr. Aurivillius, 

 I consider these figures to warrant the opinion that Spio is an aberra- 

 tion of Vindcx, in which the largest discal spot in the fore-wing was 

 confluent with the small spot which in ordinary examples is just below 

 the former, and was also so much extended superiorly as to unite with 

 the middle disco-cellular spot. The figure of the under side is rough 

 and obscure — a fault very conmion with the older iconographers when 

 dealing with small species — but is more like that of Vindcx than any 

 other species. 



Vindex and its near ally Dromus, Plotz, are distinguishable among 

 their South-African congeners by the broader and more sharply-defined 

 white markings of the upper side, especially the median band of the 

 hind- wings. Among European species, the southern P. Sao, Hlibn., 

 seems nearest to Vindex, but it has much smaller spots, and the under- 

 side ground-colour is ochreous-red. 



This is a widely-distributed and common South African P>/rgus, frequent- 

 ing open ground and waste places. About Cape Town it is numerous at the 

 base and on the lower slopes of the mountains, settling with expanded wings 

 on the ground, on stones, or on low plants. It appears almost throughout the 

 year, June and July being the only months in which I have not noticed it, but 

 is more abundant from August to October than at other seasons. 



Localities of Pyrgus Vindcx. 

 L South Africa. 

 B. Cape Colony. 



a. Western Districts. — Cape Town. Muizenborg, Cape District. 



Hex Eiver, Worcester District. Robertson. Oudtshoorn ( — 



Adams). Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Van Wyk's Vley, 



Carnarvon District {E. G. Alstoji). 



h. Eastern Districts. — Near Grahamstown (TF. S. M. D'Urba7i). 



King William's Town ( TF. S. M. U Urhan). 

 c. Griqualand West. — Vaal River (/. //. Boicker). Kimberley {H. 

 L. L. Feltham). 



D. Kaffraria Proper. — Bashee River {J. 11. Boivlicr). 



E. Natal. 



a. Coast Districts. — D'Urban. Itongati River. 



b. Upper Districts. — Udland's Mission Station. Greytown. Est- 



court (/. M. Hidchinsori). Rorke's Drift (/. H. Boicker). 



