LYC.ENID^.. 143 



margin of the fore-wing is not elbowed. If the locality of Boisduval's 

 example be correctly recorded, it would appear that M. Jicedula, or a 

 very near ally, inhabits Western Africa in company with M. Silenns. 

 That this is probably the case is further indicated by some specimens 

 from Ambriz (Congo) in Mrs. Monteiro's collection, which do not differ 

 from the Southern species except that the $ s have less ferruginous in 

 the apical hind-marginal area of the fore-wing.^ 



Larva. — Length, 9 to i i lin. ; greatest width, 3;| lin. A^ery 

 strongly convex on back, but flattened ventrally ; lateral margin 

 throughout produced into a fleshy border, concealing head and legs ; 

 each segment from second to ninth (both inclusive) with a dorsal hump, 

 most prominent on fourth, eighth, and ninth segments. Yellowish- 

 green ; first and last segments, as well as a more or less interrupted 

 median dorsal stripe, pale-ashy ; the stripe irregularly varied with 

 ferruginous-ochreous, slightly narrowing from first segment to dorsal 

 hump (ferruginous-ochreous) on fourth segment, but widening much from 

 sixth segment so as to cover all dorsal portion of seventh and eighth 

 segments excejjt a large and conspicuous pure-Avhite spot on eighth 

 segment terminating in white hump. On ninth segment, dorsal hump 

 pale-ashy, and a good-sized pure- white spot on each lateral margin. 

 All darker parts distinctly speckled with black ; the green parts only 

 very thinly so. Head and legs black. Spiracles and pro-legs ferru- 

 ginous-ochreous. Feeds on Ficus nataknsis and on the cultivated fig 

 {F. carica). — Plate i, ff". 7 (from my own drawings). 



Pupa. — Stout and broad, not unlike the contracted larva in gene- 

 ral form, constricted about middle; back of thorax bluntly ridged; 

 abdomen very wide and rotund, varying from greenish-brown to dull 

 brownish- ochreous, the wing-covers and under side generally, and a 

 narrow median dorsal stripe dull dark-brown. Frontal region of 

 thorax varied with paler brown, which also forms a broad border on 

 each side of dorsal stripe on abdomen. Li some specimens the hinder 

 part of the thorax and the sides of the abdomen are on the back varied 

 with white. Attached by the tail only, but in a horizontal position, 

 to leaves of the food-plant — usually on the under side, or to its twigs. 

 — Plate I., ff! 7« (from my own drawings). 



This very handsome Mijrina first makes its appeai^ance at the end of 

 January, and worn individuals occur as late as the end of Apiil. Though 

 very swift when it does take flight, the butterfly is disinclined to move 

 except in chase of other individuals of its species, and is perpetually resettling 

 on the twigs and leaves of its food-plant. In these brief excursions it soon 

 gets worn, and is apt to lose its long tails. It is fond of sucking the rij^e 

 figs split open by birds, and when so engaged may with caution be taken by 

 hand. 



The larva? found by me in March 1859 at Knysna (see Rlioih Afr. Aiisf., 

 ii. p. 220, note), feeding on the cultivated fig, were proved to belong to this 



^ I have since seen exaiDples of J/. Jicedula marked " West Africa " in the Collection of 

 thu British Museum. 



