IDENTIFYING ACRONYCTA TRIDENS AND A. PSI. 231 
some butterfly, and both sexes resemble Danais [cheria to 
a certain extent, being lazy on the wing, except when startled; 
they may not unfrequently be passed-over on that account, 
P, Pylades, of which two very well-marked vars. occur in Natal, 
is a very handsome butterfly; one var. is nearly identical with 
‘the West-African form; the other is considerably divergent both 
in markings and tint of colouring. It is accustomed to haunt 
special spots near the food-plant, and generally requires a long 
net and a jump to get at it. ‘he larva was discovered in 1878: —79 
at Durban, as before-mentioned, and very many perfect specimens 
bred from them; but I am not aware whether both varieties 
occurred, or to what extent if they did so. 
Mr. Spiller mentions P. Zenobius as amongst his captures ; 
before accepting the record, I should be glad to hear that it has 
been examined by Mr. ‘l'rimen, and reported “the real thing” ; 
and if not, I hope Mr. Spiller will send the specimen to the Cape 
by a safe hand, to be verified. ‘Till now, P. Zenobius has been 
considered very doubtful. 
Three more Papilios not mentioned by Mr. Spiller are, 
P. Hippocion,* P. Huphranor, and P. lcherioides. They occur in 
the wooded kloofs of the higher districts of Natal, and are not 
uncommon. Colonel Bowker has worked out the transformations 
of one of these, but I am not quite sure which. ‘I'wo of them are 
reputed female and male forms: one, the female, tailless; the 
other, male, tailed and allied to P. Merope and his ladies in this 
respect. IJ have never had an opportunity to work out the life- 
history of these insects. 
('o be continued.) 
IDENTIFYING ACRONYCTA TRIDENS AND A. PSI. 
By tun Riv. G. A. SMALLWoop. 
Au lepidopterists recognise the difficulty of distinguishing 
these two insects in the imago state, but many give up the task as 
hopeless. Even so eminent an entomologist as Mr. Stainton 
declares in his ‘Manual’ that the moths cannot be separated, 
though he has no doubt as to their being distinct species. I am 
not going to make so rash an assertion as that the moths in 
* This insect is r gaided as one of the female forms of P. Merope.—W. V’. K. 
