LYCiENID^. 1 87 



coidal ncrvuh to hcijond middle, where it vnitcs with the fourtlh s^wt of a 

 very irregular discal row of seven or eight linear spots ; immediately 

 bej'ond this row, a dark-brown narrow fascia ; hind-margin paler, with 

 a submargiual row of more or less distinct blackish lunules. 



$ Similar to ^ ; the orange spots larger, those of discal row of 

 fore- wing confluent. Fore-wing : sometimes an additional orange spot 

 between second and first median nervules, close to their origin. Hind- 

 wings : some two or three small orange marks on disc before lunular 

 row, of which the spots are larger and brighter. Under side. — All 

 markings more clearly defined. 



Var. a. (^ and $). 



Orange marhings feebly developed, — in ^ almost obsolete in one 

 example, and in another broad and suffused in fore-wing only. Under 

 SIDE. — G-rey of a Iwarier tint, the hroiv/i clouding indistinct. Fore- wing : 

 dark band beyond discal row more suffiised, and marked mesially with 

 a row of seven small rather indistinct hoary-grey spots. Hind-vjing : 

 silvery-white spots reduced in, nuviher, those present attenuated, especially 

 the large elongate marking from extremity of discoidal cell ; all spots 

 before middle (except lowest of row of four) obsolete, — the absence of the 

 usually conspicuous spot in cell very noticeable. The subapical angu- 

 lation of the fore-wing is much less marked, especially in the %. (Hah. 

 — Namaqualand, Cape Colony.) 



An approach to this variety is exhibited by a (^ taken by Colonel Bowker 

 between Somerset East and Murraysburg, Cape Colony. In this example, 

 wliile the upper side is normal, there is almost as much failure of the silvery- 

 white spots on the under side of the hind-wing, where, however, the dark- 

 brown clouding remains. 



Specimens of lioth sexes taken at Uitenhage by the same gentleman are 

 larger than usual, and, while they resemble the variety as far as the hoary-grey 

 and rather attenuated markings of the under side of the hind-wings are con- 

 cerned, differ remarkably from it on the upper side, having the orange mark- 

 ings extremely well developed, — the $ s, in particular, exhibiting one four and 

 the oi\\Qv five conspicuous spots in the submargiual row of the hind-wings, and 

 liaving the lowest of them tinged with lake. These very handsome examples 

 further differ from the variety in having the dark-brown clouding of the under 

 side of the hind-wings well marked. 



This very handsome and distinct species attains a wider expanse of wings 

 than any other South-African Lyca^nide, The large and conspicuous silvery- 

 white marking (which, as Linne remarks {Mus. Lud. Utr. Reg., p. 328), is 

 liooked at the extremity), is a central feature of the under side of the hind- 

 Avings quite peculiar to the species, and often catches the eye when the butter- 

 fly is at rest. Thero frequents shrubs in waste sandy places, and seems 

 specially to delight in the hardy rigid plants that grow on sandhills close to 

 the sea. Near Malmesbury I observed that it was very partial to the common 

 Melianthus major. It is very wary and its short flights are very rapid, but 

 it settles so frequently on exposed twigs or shoots, that, with a little patience, 

 the collector will not fail to secure specimens. "When flying it much resembles 

 an Erehia or PseudonympTta in size and colour, but its motions are very 

 different. September and October are the months in which it is most pre- 

 valent, but it is not uncommon in August and November, and I once took 

 it early in January, 



