106 RHOPALOCERA AFRICA. AUSTRALIS. 



middle ; four spots in discoidal cell, viz., two small rounded 

 ones near base, only divided from the first two on costa by 

 subcostal nervule, — a large kidney-shaped one, as long as 

 cell is wide, just above insertion of third median nervule, — 

 and a rounded spot, not so large as the last, at extremity of 

 cell ; a good-sized spot below median nervure, before in- 

 sertion of third median nervule ; a sinuous, irregular, trans- 

 verse row of seven spots commencing beyond extremity of 

 cell on second sub-costal, and extending to inner-margin 

 about middle, — the last spot being small, but with a pro- 

 longation towards base ; parallel and near to hind-margin a 

 row of six round spots between nervules, the upper two 

 generally merged in apical blackish, but quite perceptible. 

 Hind-wing : arrangement of spots very similar to that of 

 fore-wing ; two rounded spots above subcostal nervure, 

 before middle ; three in discoidal cell, the outer one at ex- 

 tremity ; between eel] and inner-margin about six spots ; a 

 transverse, sinuous row of eight spots beyond middle, con- 

 tinuous of that in fore-wing, from costa to inner-margin ; 

 parallel and near to hind-margin, a row of six rounded spots 

 between nervules, also continuous of that in fore-wing ; a 

 blackish, hind-marginal border, broader than that of fore- 

 wing, and forming rounded projections on ground colour 

 between nervules. Under-side. — Paler, with a slightly 

 glistening surface ; position and number of spots precisely 

 as above. Fore-wing : no basal blackish ; apical blackish 

 limited to a faint and narrow border ; hind-marginal border 

 also wanting, but its projections represented by separate 

 spots between nervules. Hind-wing : no basal blackish ; 

 spots on hind-margin as in fore-wing. 



This very pretty Acraa always reminds me of the Cheetah or Hunting- 

 Leopard, from the sioiilarity of its colouring to that of the mammal 

 mentioned. It may be readily known by the large number of spots, which, 

 exclusive of the hind-marginal projections, amount to about forty-eight on 

 the two win^s together, or 96 on the whole surface. 



M. Boisduval has called the Natal specimens of this Butterfly by the 

 specific name of Stidica, but at the same time states his opinion that it is 

 " probably only a local variety of A. punctatlssima, as it differs solely in the 

 greater size of the spots." After a careful comparison of Natal specimens 

 with the figure and description in the " Fauue de Madagascar, &c.," T have 

 come to the same conclusion : though the figure of the small-sized and 

 minute-spotted Madagascar specimen looked at first sight very distinct. 

 M. Goudot found this insect " in damp woods in the neighbourhood of 

 Tamatave." It probably haunts the same description of locality at Natal. 



Natal.— Coll. S. A. Mus. 



Tort Natal.— Coll. Brit. Mus. 



** Amazoulu Country. Madagascar." — Boisd. 



