124 SOUTH-AFKICAN BUTTERFLIES. 



from the Transvaal, viz., that above mentioned from near Potchef- 

 stroom, and one from the Lydenburg district taken by Mr. T. Ayres, 

 the expanse of wings reaches 1 1 inches. If it were not for some inter- 

 mediate specimens from the Eastern districts, I should have been dis- 

 posed to treat Stoll's Gorgias as distinct ; and it is perhaps entitled 

 to rank as a Variety, especially as it exhibits a decided tendency to a 

 constant greater development of the hind-marginal white rings. This 

 is most remarkably shown in an aberrant $ taken near Pinetown in 

 1879 by Colonel Bowker, where each wing presents three perfect white 

 rings with black centres, besides two superior imperfect white rings ; 

 the whole upper-side colouring of this specimen is paler and more 

 metallic than usual. An abnormally small ^, which I took near Cape 

 Town in April i860, is only 8 lines across the expanded wings. 



Specimens of both sexes, taken in Basutoland by Colonel Bowker, 

 are rather darker than usual, and with the under-side markings strongly 

 developed. They are of moderate size, and the wings of the ^ are 

 rather blunt. In two examples (^ and ^) the ocelli of both wings are 

 on the upper side ill defined, the white rings being very imperfect ; and 

 in one of them (the ^) the upper ocellus is wanting in the fore-wing. 



I found the butterfly uncommon in Natal. The specimens I took 

 inland were like the Western Cape Colony form, though larger ; but 

 the solitary male I met with on the coast had the acute wings and 

 other peculiarities of Stoll's Gorgias very pronounced. The latter form 

 of $ has, however, been sent me from Estcourt (far inland) by Mr. J. 

 M. Hutchinson. 



Larva. — Pale- green ; head, front edge of second (?) segment, and 

 a median dorsal line lake-red ; on each side a row of very small black 

 spots. Feeds on Cotyledon cuneatum. 



Pupa. — Rather darker green than larva ; a faint median line of 

 red along hinder half of back of abdomen. Attached head downward 

 to under side of leaf of Cotyledon cuneatum. 



Larva and pupa described from a drawing of specimens observed 

 near Grahamstown by Mrs. Barber, which is reproduced in Plate II. 

 fi". I, la. (Mrs. Barber gave me the name of the larva's food-plant; 

 and it is interesting to observe in her drawing how closely the green, 

 red-edged colouring of the insects accords with that of the Cotyledon.) 



This delicately-marked little species is very easily recognised by its peculiar 

 colouring and the conspicuous ocelli at the posterior angles of the wmgs. It 

 frequents broken rocky ground at the foot or on the ascent of hills, and often 

 occurs at considerable elevations. I have taken it in every month of the 

 year, but it is scarce in the winter months. Its flight is rapid and frequent, 

 but never far from the ground ; on the wing it is particularly indistinct. 

 Besides perching on twigs of low plants, it is fond of settling on stones, 

 keeping the wings half open. I have not yery often noticed it on flowers. 



I have not found any record of Lara's occurrence within the ti-opical 

 parts of the continent, except near Bamangwato (Shoshong), where Mr. H. 

 Barber took an acute-winged (^ in 1878, and the very i^emote locality of Shoa 

 in Abvsshiia. 



