SOUTII-AFKICAX BUTTERFLIES. 



Genus AL^NA. 



AlceJia, Boisd,, Voy. Deleg. dans I'Afr. Aust., App., p. 591 (1847). 

 Acrcea, Trim, [part], Rhop. Afr. Aust., i. p. 11 1 (1862). 



Imago. — Head small, liaiiy (especially in front) ; ci/cs smooth ; 

 2Kilpi extremely short, inferior hairy, — terminal joint minnte, not 

 visible ; antcnnce short, with large, broad, abruptly-formed, flattened, 

 spoon-shaped club. 



Thorax short, rather broad, slightly hairy on sides of back, pubes- 

 cent on prothorax. Fore-tvings elongate ; costa almost straight ; apex 

 slightly rounded ; hind-margin entire ; inner margin slightly hollowed, 

 thinly ciliated ; costal nervure short, ending a little beyond middle ; 

 subcostal nervure five-branched, — first and second nervules given off 

 before extremity of discoidal cell, — third and fourth not far from each 

 other, nearer to apex than to extremity of cell (fourth terminating at 

 apex) ; upper radial united to subcostal nervure a little beyond end of 

 cell ; discoidal cell of moderate length, rather narrow ; disco-cellular 

 nervules transverse, the inferior one slightly inclined outward and 

 joining third median nervule at some little distance from latter's 

 origin. Hind-wings elongate ; costa very prominent at base, thence 

 straight, ciliated throughout ; costal nervure rather short, ending some 

 distance before apex ; subcostal nervure branched at extremity of dis- 

 coidal cell ; discoidal cell rather short and truncate ; disco-cellular 

 nervules almost equal in length, slightly oblique, — the lower one join- 

 ing third median nervule (which is angulated at point of junction) at 

 some little distance from latter's origin ; internal nervure extending to 

 about middle of inner margin, which is fringed throughout with long 

 hairs. Fore-legs of $ stout, very hairy (especially the tibia), — tarsus 

 short, downy, without distinct articulations, finely spinose beneath, 

 without terminal claws ; — of $ fnlly developed, less hairy than in ^. 

 3 fiddle and hind legs stout, rather short, very hairy, with femora, tibia^. 

 and tarsi about equal in length, — tarsi strongly spinose beneath, hairy 

 above and laterally, with terminal claws robust, strongly hooked. 



Ahdomen of moderate length, thick (especially in $), arched dor- 

 sally, blunt at tip, hairy laterally and very hairy beneath (especially in 

 ^) towards extremity. 



This genus has undoubtedly been misplaced (from its foundation) 

 among the Aerecina', to which group it has merely a superficial like- 

 ness, and that not a strong one. Mr. H. W. Bates many years ago 

 expressed to me his doubt whether the then only known species, A. 

 Amazoida, Boisd., was really allied to Acrarc ; and the receipt since of 

 ample material for dissection has enabled me to ascertain that Alamcc 

 is an aberrant form of Lyca?nide related to D'Urhcmia and Pentila. 

 In neuration it more nearly agrees Avith the former genus, but differs 

 in the longer discoidal cells and longer costal nervure and upper disco- 



