118 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History [Vol. XLIII 



I. Rhopalocera 



Danaidse 

 Danais'^ Latreille 



(1) 1. Danais chrysippus (Linnaeus) 



Papilio chrysippus Linn^us, 1758, Syst. Nat., 10th Ed., p. 471. 



Danaida chrysippus Aurivillius, 1911, Seitz, Gross-Schmett., XIII, p. 71. 



In the entire collection, consisting of one hundred and ninety-seven 

 specimens of this species, there are onl}'^ thirteen individuals which can 

 be referred to the typical form, D. chry sip-pus, and even these show traces 

 on the hind wings of the white squamation, which is characteristic of 

 the varietal form D. alcippus. As in the case of the latter form, they fall 

 into two categories, those in which the upper side of the wings is bright 

 rufous and those in which it is dark chestnut or maroon. Noki, Kwa- 

 mouth, Medje, Niangara, and Faradje. 



(2) la. Danais chrysippus alcippus (Cramer) 



Papilio alcippus Cramer, 1777, Pap. E.xot., II, p. 45, PI. cxxvii, figs. E, F. 

 Danaida alcippus Aurivillius, 1910, Seitz, Gross-Schmett., XIII, p. 72. 



One hundred and eighty-four specimens are referable to this varietal 

 form. There is great variation in the shading of the wings. Some have 

 the color of the fore wings bright rufous, others dark chestnut, while one 

 aberrant male has both the fore and the hind wings prevalently pale 

 argillaceous. The majority of the specimens have the hind wings 

 broadly white, which is the typical form, but there are many specimens 

 in which the white is reduced in extent until in some they nearly approach 

 the condition which prevails in typical D. chrysippus, in which the white 

 color is totally lacking. I find it utterly impossible by associating the 

 specimens under the dates of capture, or according to the localities 

 given upon the labels, to divide them into seasonal or local races. 

 According to the labels, captures took place in January and February, 

 then again in June, July, and August, and still later in November. 

 From this it appears probable that there are at least two annual broods, 

 ■ and the insect may be on the wing throughout the year. Isangi, Avakubi, 

 Gamangui, Risimu, Niangara, Medje, Bafwabaka, and Faradje. 



'As every student knows, the word Danaus, first introduced by Linnseus into entomological 

 nomenclature, was not by him and cannot be by us employed in a strictly generic sense. 



Aurivillius has resuscitated the name Danaida originally employed by Latreille, but for which he 

 latter substituted Danaus and finally Danais. An author surely has a right to correct himself and 

 amend his nomenclature. Latreille did this and, as Danais has been universally employed for a cen- 

 tury, it seems to the writer an excess of obedience to "the law of priority" to fish up Latreille's long 

 abandoned and forgotten name and apply it again. 



