19i RHOPALOCERA AFRICA AUSTRALIS. 



Var. A {$). — Considerahly larger than usual; bands 

 of fore-wing and rings of ocelli of hind-wing paler, of the 

 former the larger is more irregular ; the outer broader, more 

 continuous, commencing on costal edge ; hind-marginal border 

 of fore-wing suffused with greyish-white. Under-side. — • 

 Hind-whig : transverse streaks much less dentate, their 

 whitish edging nearly obsolete; sixth and seventh ocelli, and 

 space of wing near them, often dusted with blue scales. 



Var. B. ( ^ ). — Considerally smaller and rather darker than 

 usual. Fore-wing : ocellus very small, occasionally nearly 

 obsolete; outer band entirely wanting ; inner band narrow, 

 much separated into spots, touching ocellus, its upper part 

 nearly white, its lower tinged with fulvous. Under-side. — 

 Very dark ; markings indistinct, but all present, even to 

 streaks in cell and hind-marginal line. Hind-wing : streaks 

 as in Var. A, but hardly a vestige of the white scaling over 

 the whole surface : ocelli very indistinct, save for their white 

 centres. 



? Var. C ( ? ).— [ ? Mintha, Hiibn.]— Rather small (two 

 inches in expanse), paler ; fore-wing flushed with fulvous in 

 centre; inner transverse band also fulvous-tinged, and ocellus 

 tripupillate. Under-side. — Hind-wing: markings indistinct; 

 nervures white. 



Of the three varieties here noted, A and B are from Kaffraria, C from 

 some locality not stated. Variety B is certainly the most remarkable, and 

 seems, though far more aberrant from its type-form, to correspond with the 

 small, very dark variety of L. Cassus which frequents the low-lying country 

 near Cape Town, but I am not aware whether, as in the latter species, the 

 difiference of aspect is attended by a difference of locality. Mr. Bowker, 

 however, notes Variety B as being confined to high hill-ridges in the Bashee 

 River district. In contrast with the finely-developed Variety A, also from 

 Kaffraria, very striking is the apparent distinctness of this dwarfed and 

 darkened race, but a long and careful comparison has convinced me of its 

 being truly Clytus. Concerning Variety C (which is in the British Museun>, 

 from the collection of Dr. And.ew Smith) I do not feel quite so certain, but 

 I agreed with Mr. Westwood in considering it as Clytus, when describing it 

 at the close of 1859. 



Very abundant. Fields, hill-sides, and open ground generally. 



Pebruary (m) — May (e). 



The abundance of this species during the three months in which it is out 

 is wonderful, attaining its maximum in March, when grassy spots are quite 

 enlivened by the multitude of glossy dark wings constantly in tremulous 

 motion. The flight of Clytus, though low, is capable of considerable exten- 

 sion ; when undisturbed, assuming somewhat of a circular direction. But 

 few of the female sex appear among these swarms : I think the proportion 

 of 3^ s to ? s rannot be less than as 50 to 1. I have seen no typical 

 exaniples from Kaffraria Proper, but Mr. D'Urban found them abundantly 

 iu British Kaffraria. 



