170 RHOPALOCERA AFRICA AUSTRALIS. 



servable on the upper surface, which are those mentioned in 

 my description. The female is certainly a well-marked and 

 distinct variety, and has hitherto only been brought from 

 Port Natal. 



This splendid Ni/mphalis, tlie largest found in South Africa, 'is by no 

 means uncommon in the woods of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay : but, as 

 Mr. Stainton remarks of the beautiful English "Purple Emperor" Butterfly 

 {Apatura Iris, Linn. Sp.), "is oftener seen than caught." Their favourite 

 haunts are the open spots on, or near, the outskirts of a wood ; where they 

 settle on the bark, or projecting twigs, of the trees, frequently glancing off, 

 suddenly disappearing among or over the opposite trees, and as suddenly 

 returning to the spot so abruptly left. I have several times seen three or 

 four specimens together, settled high up on a lofty tree-stem, busily imbibing 

 the moist exudations from its bark. When so engaged, they walk over a 

 little space with much importance of action, contemptuously snapping their 

 glossy wings at impertinent Diptera and other insects, who presume to share 

 their repast. I have sometimes suddenly roused the female from quite a 

 low bush, but she darted up and away with such velocity on these occasions, 

 that a single vain stroke of the net was the most I ever had an opportunity 

 of making. One day, however, this single instinctive sweep of the net was 

 isuccessful : — for Mrs. Xiphares, as if indignant at her noontide repose being 

 intruded on, darted from her seat of withered wild-vine stem, aud actually 

 rushed straight at me ! Another half-minute, and, with the loss of one of her 

 four tails, she lay impaled in my collecting-box, where I could gaze on her 

 wild beauty without fear of her suddenly leaving me disconsolate. Xiphares 

 himself (formerly known as Thyestes) I never succeeded in capturing, though 

 many narrow escapes has his violet-robed Majesty had from my hands. In 

 fact, with the species of NympJialis, it is generally only by some bit of good 

 fortune that the collector ever obtains the Imago ; though, by watching 

 their habits, and constantly practising his strokes whenever they give him 

 a chance, he has of course a greater likelihood of capturing these Butterflies. 

 Four other specimens in my collection were taken at Knysna by some friends, 

 who kindly presented them to me. 



Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. — Coll. mihi. 

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

 " Bashee River, British Kaffraria."— W. S. M. D'Urban, 

 in litt. 



98. Nymplialis Ethalion. 



Charaxes Ethalion, Boisd., Jpp. Vuy. de Dcleg., p. 593, 



[n. 83. 

 Nymplialis Erithalion, Doubl. Westw. Hewits., Gen. Diurn. 



[Lep., pi. 48, f. 1. 

 Nymplialis Erythalion, CJienu, Enc. d'Hlst. Nat. — Pap., f. 



[267. 

 $ . Nymplialis Ephira, Hewits. 

 Expands 2 in. 6 lin. — 3 in. 1 lin. 



$ . Black, witJi a Jew blue dots. Fo7-e-wing : dusted with 

 a few blue scales ; beyond middle, close to costa, a shining- 

 blue dot ; two faint blue dots at anal angle. Hind-wing : 



