3o6 SOUTH-AFRICAX BUTTERFLIES. 



342. (5.) Thymelicus Barberse, (Trimen). 



$? Cyclopides Barherce, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1S73, P- 120, pi. i. 

 f. ii[?]- 



Exp. cd., (<?) I in. 1-2^ lin. ; (?) I in. 4 lin. 



^ Glossy hrownish-fuscous, ivith an ochreous tinge, spotted icith luhitc. 

 Fore-iving : a narrow, elongate spot at extremity of discoidal cell ; 

 beyond middle, a very irregular row of eight spots, of wliicli the first 

 three touch each other, and form a short costal and subapical stripe, 

 the fourth and fifth (nearest hind-margin) are small and almost obsolete, 

 and the seventh (immediately below disco-cellular spot) the largest. 

 Hind-wing : a scarcely visible paler spot marks extremity of discoidal 

 cell. Cilia varied with fuscous and white. Under side. — Hind-wing 

 and costal and apical border of fore- wing hoary-grey, varied with Irotvnish. 

 Fore-ioing : a small whitish spot immediately above disco-cellular spot ; 

 five minute white marks on costal edge, of which the fourth adjoins 

 first three spots of transverse row ; fourth and fifth spots of transverse 

 row merged in an ohlique apical marking of hoary-grey. Hind-iving : 

 an elongate white mark in discoidal cell before middle is scarcely sepa- 

 rated from a large irregidar white marldng oecitp)ying extremity of cell, 

 and extending to a hoary-grey hind-marginal suffusion ; this marking 

 is joined, at its upper portion, by an oblique white stripe from costa about 

 middle ; between median and submedian nervures an ill-defined longi- 

 tudinal white stripe, extending from near base to join hind-marginal 

 hoary-grey near anal angle. 



$ All the spots rather larger ; especially {in fore-iving) the disco- 

 cellular spot, which is broader and reniform or subreniform, and the 

 fourth and fifth spots of transverse row ; and {in hind-iving) the disco- 

 cellular spot, which is quite distinct, though suffused and tinged with 

 yellowish. Under side as in ^. 



This species is at once distinguished from all its congeners in South 

 Africa by the remarkable disposition of the white markings of its under 

 side, which indeed are unlike those presented by any member of the 

 Hespcridai that I can call to mind. 



I liave named this curious butterfly in honour of my friend Mrs. Barber, of 

 Highlands, near Graharastown, Avhose kind and valuable aid in working out the 

 Ehopalocerous fauna I have had such frequent occasion to acknowledge. A single 

 ? specimen was taken by Mrs. Barber in October 1871, "among long grass 

 and rushes near water," in the Stormbergen, a range of mountains forming the 

 boundary between the Queenstown and Albert Divisions. The only other Cape 

 Colony example I have seen is a. $ sent from Burghersdorp in 1883 by Dr. 

 D. R. Kannemeyer ; but ten years previously I received a fine pair captured in 

 the Transvaal by Mr. H. Barber. The insect must be exceedingly local, as 

 the four specimens mentioned are the only ones that have come under my 

 notice. 



