IIESPERID.E. 285 



central largest and nearer to outer titan inner spot (the reverse being the 

 case in Vindex) ; above central spot is one on costa, composed of tivo 

 short lineolce, no trace of which exists in any example of Vindex ; row 

 of spots beyond middle, including an additional dot (just above third 

 median nervule), and more curved inwardly, so that the two lowest 

 spots come in line with central cellular spot and that above it, — the 

 lowest spot largest, while in Vindex the last but one is invaricMy the 

 largest in the row ; an interrupted submarginal row of dots, hut no 

 vestige of the row immediately before cilia; spot beneath first cellular 

 one wholly wanting. Hind-tving : transverse stripe commencing on 

 costa, interrupted on first subcostal nervule, very much attenuated 

 inferiorly ; dot in cell near base small, indistinct ; row of dots as 

 in fore- wing. Under side. — Fore-ioing : apical colour warmer, less 

 inclining to greyish. Hind-iving : ground-colour more including to ful- 

 vous (markedly so in some specimens) ; first stripe near base narrow, 

 but joining basal white edging on costa ; second irregular and den- 

 ticulated, but continuous from costa to inner-marginal stripe, which is 

 greyish rather than white ; some fuscous variegation of ground-colour, 

 especially on edges of stripes and spots of submarginal row, which 

 latter are somewhat enlarged, though ill defined. 



In the disposition and relative sizes of the discal series of spots 

 in the fore-wing, and in the form and direction of the two white 

 bands on the under side of the hind-wing, Asterodia is not unlike 

 Dromus, Plotz ; but, on the upper side, the much smaller and 

 duller white markings (and especially the very much narrower and 

 longer median stripe of the hind-wing) give it a totally different 

 aspect, and the differences above emphasised seem constantly to sepa- 

 rate it from both Vindex and Dromus. Its smaller size is also a dis- 

 tinction. 



I discovered this Pyrgus at Plettenberg Bay as long ago as 1859. It 

 frequented marshy plains about a stream called the Bitouw River, settling 

 constantly on the flowers of low plants. It has not since occurred to me in 

 life, and but ver\' few examples have reached me from correspondents, although 

 the species seems to be of tolerably wide distribution. 



Localities of Pyrgus Asterodia. 



South Africa. 



B. Cape Colony. 



a Western Districts. — Breede Eiver, Swellendam District(L. Taats). 



Plettenberg Bay. 

 h. Eastern Districts. — Between Zwartkops and Coega Rivers, 

 Uitenhage District (/. H. Boicker). Grahamstown {M. E. Bar- 

 ber). Burghersdorp {D. Ji. Kannemeyer). 

 d. Basutoland. — Koro-Koro (/. H. Boicker). 

 K. Transvaal. — Potchefstroom (W. Morant and T. Aprs). 



