138 ACRjEID^E. 



the females with the tarsus four or five-jointed ; each joint, except the fifth when present, armed 

 at the apex with a short pair of spines, sometimes covered by a bunch of stiff hairs arising from 

 the base of the following joints. First joint generally about as long as the rest combined ; the 

 second, third, and fourth progressively shorter, generally very obliquely truncate at the apex ; 

 fifth, when present, always very minute, barely distinguishable. 

 Middle and Posterior Legs rather short, with the tibia? and femora about equal in length. Tarsi 

 rather shorter. Tibia? spiny, especially towards the apex ; nearly cylindrical. Tarsi spiny, the 

 spines much longest at the sides ; the first joint more than equal to the two following combined, 

 nearly cylindric ; second and third rather flattened, elongate ovate, the second slightly longer 

 than the third ; fourth joint shorter than the third ; fifth rather longer than the second. Claws 

 without paronychia or pulvilli ; broad at the base, where there is a large lobe, then suddenly 

 narrowed, tapering to a very acute point, often much bent, especially the outer claw in the males, 

 which is much shorter than the inner in many species. 

 Abdomen elongate, clavate, much arched ; the last segment in the female often furnished with a corneous 

 appendage. 



Larva cylindric, spiny. 



Pupa suspended, slender, angular. 



The single genus of which this family is composed may he readily distinguished from the two preceding families 

 by the short abruptly clavate antenna;; and from the Nyrnphalida; by its posterior wings, the inner margins of which 

 do not form a channel to receive the abdomen. 



The peculiar structure of the claws in some species, especially in the males, the semi-transparent wings which, like 

 those of Doritis, are what the French call gaufrees, the abdominal pouch or plate in many females, indicate a 

 connexion with, or an analogy to, the aberrant Papilionidse ; the form of the antennas and palpi, and of the larva;, shows 

 an undoubted affinity to the Argynnina ; whilst the neuration and form of the wings, and the structure of the abdomen, 

 exhibit an equally evident alliance to the Heliconidre. 



There are some variations in structure which will serve to divide the genus into sections, but all the species have the 

 same short, rather abruptly clavate, antenna;; the palpi divergent, with the basal and apical joints very short, and the 

 middle joint swollen ; the cell of both wings always closed ; the posterior wings without any channel for the reception 

 of the abdomen ; the claws of the middle and posterior feet without pulvilli or paronychia. These claws are mostly 

 broad at the base, then suddenly narrowed and terminating in an acute point ; the inner claw, especially of the males, 

 being mostly much shorter and more curved than the outer. 



The Larvae bear a great resemblance to those of Argynnis, being cylindrical and spiny ; the spines long and set 

 with little whorls of hairs, or slender spines. Those of Acra;a Terpsichore are of a purplish black colour, with 

 numerous irregularly formed white spots, disposed in rows, three on each side ; each segment bears four spines, one on 

 each side, two near together on the back ; these spines are black, except at the base, which is yellow, the black part is 

 set with whorls of slender spines or stout hairs. That of Acrrea Viola; is brown, with numerous spines resembling 

 those of the larva of Acraea Vesta. Its i "> ■ ■ > ■ 1 is said to be some species of Viola and Borago. The Pupa is white, with 

 black lines down the wing-cases, a black vitta dotted with yellow on the lower side of the abdominal segments, and a 

 black line on each side. The skin of a larva of an African species preserved in the Linneau Cabinet, which probably 

 belongs to Acraea Zetes, much resembles Dr. llorstield's figure of that of Acra;a Terpsichore. 



Stoll represents the larva of Acraea Thalia as thickly covered with blackish spines fringed with brown hairs. It is 

 brown, with a black dorsal stripe, and is said to feed on the shrubby cotton. The Pupa is represented as stouter than 

 that of Acra;a Viola, white, with some black lines, and a dorsal series of five black spines. 



