50 SOUTH- AFEICAN BUTTERFLIES. 



Lysimon, Hiibu., may be regarded as the type, its under side being of 

 similar pattern tliougli more strongly marked. The species, however, 

 with which it best agrees in the vinder-side markings, is L. lucida, 

 Trim. ; but, as compared with the latter, it has a somewhat more 

 yellowish tint, and its hind-wing markings are less distinct, not having 

 black centres. The upper side, however, is quite unlike that of any 

 species in the Lysimon group, and, indeed, that of any other known 

 Lyccena, both sexes presenting on a blackish ground the under-side pattern 

 in finely-depicted white annulets and sp)ots. In the total absence of 

 blue in both sexes, and in its very small size, L. stellata resembles L. 

 3Ietophis, Wallengr,, and i, Barbercc, Trim. ; but its under side is of 

 very different pattern, and quite wants the row of metallic-dotted ocelli 

 so conspicuous in the hind-wing of those two species. 



I am indebted for the knowledge of this most interesting little butterfly 

 to Dr. D. R. Kannemeyer, who noticed it for the first time in November 

 1882, and sent me, in February 1883, two specimens to identify. On receipt 

 of my reply he several times visited the spot (about a mile from the village 

 of Burghersdorp, in the Albert District) which the species frequented, and 

 by the first week in March had captured a considerable number of examples 

 of both sexes. Dr. Kannemeyer describes the insect as being numerous in 

 this special haunt of a few yards in extent. The ground is near a brook, and 

 sedgy ; and the little Lyccena kept flying about some legummous and other 

 flowers, close to the ground, in a rapid, jerky manner and in a circular direc- 

 tion. In these respects it evidently much resembles its even minuter con- 

 geners, Z. Barbene, Trim., and L. Metop)liis, Wallengr.^ 



Locality of Lycmna stellata. 



I. South Africa. 

 B. Cape Colony. 



h. Eastern Districts. — Burghersdorp, Albert District {D. R. Kan- 

 nemeyer). 



143. (25.) Lycsena Gaika, Trimen. 



^Lyccena Lysimon, Wallengr., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1857, Lep. 



Rhop. Caffr., p. 39. 

 ^ Lycoiua Gaika, Trim., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 3d Ser., i. p. 403 (1862). 

 ^ , 9 Lyccena Lysimon, Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 256, n. 158, pi. 4, f. 7 



[,?](i866). 

 Lyccena pygmcea, Snellen, "Tijdschrift voer Ent., xix. p. 153, 6, 7 f. 3 



(1876);" Moore [Zizera pygmceci\, Lep. Ceylon, ii. p. 78, pi. 35, ff. 5, 



5a[c?](i88i). 



Exp. cd., {^) 9-10^ lin. ; (?) 9-1 1 lin. 



^ Pcde-blue ; a brownish-grey border (of varicd)le width in fore-wing) 

 on hind-margins; cilia whitish; hind-iving tailless. Under side. — 



^ In April 1883 Dr. Kannemeyer wrote that he had found the true home of the Stel- 

 lata in the plateau of the Stormberg range, eight miles east of Burghersdorp. At Botma's 

 Farm it occurred in great abundance, frequenting a minute leguminous plant (probably a 

 Trifolium) growing in moist places. This plant is almost certainly the food of the larva, 

 the butterfly keeping about it exclusively. Dr. Kannemeyer also noticed the insect at the 

 farm Kulfontein, si.x miles further eastward. 



