UYCJEmDJE. 185 



213. (12.) Zeritis Palmus (Cramer). 



Papilio Palmii,% Cram., Pap. Exot., iv. pi. cccxli. K f, g (17S2). 

 (? 5 Zeritis Thi/she, Var., Trim., Khop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 265, n. 165 

 (1866). 



Rqj. al., Q) I in. — i in. 2^ lin.; ($) i in. — i in. 31 lin. 



$ Orange-red, suh-mctallic near bases; an irregular discal roio of 

 small black s^ots ; and a narrow black hind-marginal border, becoming 

 obsolete in loioer half of hind-ioing. Fore-iving : base (except on costa) 

 with a narrow black suffusion ; costa with a linear edging of black ; a 

 terminal disco-cellular spot, and a discal row of six spots, arranged 

 quite as in Thysbe, Linn., but all considerably smaller and less quadrate ; 

 hind-marginal border and external orange-red lunules as in Thysbe. 

 Hiiul-iving : a basal black suffusion, broader than in fore-wing and 

 prolonged somewhat widely along inner margin to considerably beyond 

 middle, where it terminates in a point ; discal spots arranged as in 

 Thysbe, but smaller and thinner, the sixth (last) spot of row minute or 

 sometimes absent ; hind-marginal linear border quite as in Thysbe. 

 Under side. — As in Thysbe, except that the black discal spots of the 

 fore-wing are smaller, and the ferruginous markings of hind-wing 

 constantly well developed. 



^ Paler than $ ; less sub-metallic near bases ; basal blackish 

 duller, and slightly narrower. Under side. — As in ^. 



Seven specimens collected at Maseru, in Basutoland, by Colonel Bowker 

 are smaller than usual ; the bases of the wings have a much wider though 

 duller blackish suffusion, the hind-marginal border is wider, and the cilia 

 strongly alternated with black and white. One $ has the costa of both 

 wings (more especially that of the hind-wing) clouded with blackish ; all the 

 hind-wing discal spots prolonged interiorly, and a total want of the external 

 lunulate orange edging between hind-marginal border and cilia. A $ of 

 this small dark description has been sent from Burghersdorp by Dr. Kanne- 

 meyer. 



Though so conspicuously different from Thysbe (Linn.) in the total want 

 of the splendid silvery-blue basal gloss, Pahmis is so exceedingly close to that 

 species that I have long doubted whether to treat it as distinct. The under-side 

 pattern is identically the same in the two butterflies ; but the discal spots 

 seem to be constantly smaller (except in the small northern examples just 

 mentioned) on both surfaces ; and on the upper side the deeper red ground- 

 colour and the more pronounced inner-marginal black of the hind-wing appear 

 to be constant distinctions. 



As noted in Rhop. Afr. Aust, ii. p. 266, I possess a single ^ , taken near 

 Cape Town, which has a faint but distinct blue lustre over the basal region 

 of the hind-wings, but in no other way differs from ordinary specimens. 



Though not numerous in individuals, Palmus is more generally to be met 

 with than Tltyshe, especially near Cape Town. Its warm bright-red colouring 

 makes it conspicuous during its short flights, or when perched on twigs or 

 flowers of low plants. It appears from the middle of September to the end 

 of April. 



