NYMPHALIDiE. 139 



at anal angle, and more rarely at apex, is a whitish-violdceous 

 tinge. Hind-wing : a small slatey-black spot in discoidal cell ; 

 an irregularly- waved, slatey streak, crossingwing before middle, 

 closes cell ; a similar, but more regular stria beyond this, and 

 continuous of the third stria in fore-wing, extends nearly to 

 anal angle ; ocelli very indistinctly defined, much smaller than 

 on upper-side, rather conspicuously tufted in their centres 

 with pale-yellowish hairs ; similar, but longer, hairs are scat- 

 tered over base and margins of wing, but are most abundant 

 and longest on inner-marginal portion covering abdomen ; a 

 bluish tinge at anal angle. 



A specimen with very pale under-side, in my collection, 

 has the ocelli much distincter and bluer than above described 

 without any hairs in their centres ; these hairs are, indeed, 

 almost universally wanting, except a few near bases of wings. 



$ . Without the rich purple lustre of $ ; but markings 

 quite similar to those of the other sex. Ocellate spots in both 

 wings larger, and comparatively with 7;iore J/we. Under-side. 

 — Quite like that of $ . 



Fore-wing somewhat truncate, slightly angulated on lower 

 discoidal nervule ; hind-wing angulated on discoidal nervule, 

 and with anal angle produced into an elongate, rounded 

 projection. 



Local : not imcommon where it occurs. Grassy kloofs and hollows on 

 hill-sides ; among long grass in fields. 



September (e) to February (ni). "October to April: abundant." — 

 D'Urbau, MS. 



This handsomely-marked Butterfly was very rare at Knysna during my 

 stay there, only a single specimen ever being taken by me in that locality. 

 At Plettenberg Bay, the species is common, particularly about the beginning 

 of February. Its habits are precisely those of a true Va>iessa, — presenting 

 the same combination of wariness and boldness. I found that, if I struck 

 at one while passing and missed it, the insect almost invariably re-passed 

 me almost immediately ; and, if I remained standing quietly, would, though 

 apparently much flurried, fly backwards and forwards repeatedly over the 

 same ground. If, however, I gave chase, its flight would generally be long- 

 sustained in one direction. I have seldom seen Cloantha on flowers, — it 

 usually alights on the ground, or on the lowest plants. Few Butterflies are 

 more beautiful and conspicuous than this species, when the sunlight falls on 

 its expanded wings, brightening the contrast of the blue ocellate spots with 

 the warm ochre of the ground-colour, — while a sudden movement of the 

 wings perhaps reveals the exquisite purple sheeu, tliat plays over their sur- 

 face in the male-insect. 



Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. — Coll. mihi. 



Butterworth, KafFraria (J. H. Bowker). Natal. — Coll. 

 S. A. Mus. 



Port Natal. West Africa.— Coll. Brit. Mus. 



Graham's Town. King William's Town.— Coll. W. S. M. 

 D'Urban. 



** Amazoulu Country." — Boisd. in Deleg. 



