Notes on Seasonal JJlinorpldsm. 553' 



blackish suffusion in hindwings is usually more developed, 

 and in some specimens almost entirely obliterates the 

 red ground-colour. The forewings are much paler, 

 being in some cases creamy with ochieous basal suffu- 

 sion. 



Anacreon I have met with in Natal, where it occurs 

 commonly all the year round. This species also exhibits 

 a distinct dry season form (variety A of Trimen) in which 

 the wings are more elongate with the black markings 

 attenuated. Apart from the fact that anacreon itself 

 occurs abundantly during the wet season, if indiina is 

 really the wet season form of this very common species, 

 how is it that it has never been met with in Natal, and 

 anacreon has never been met with in Mashuna- 

 land? 



To summarise : We have here two species strikingly 

 different in appeai'ance, and of different habits, one of 

 which is only found within the tropic, while the other 

 only occurs to the south of it, and both of which exhibit 

 seasonal forms independently, yet we are asked to believe 

 that these are merely seasonal forms of one and the same 

 species. If such be the results of the theory that the 

 apical patch in Aci'xa is a seasonal and not a specific 

 difference, the sooner that theory is demolished the better. 



(2.) A. guiUimei, Oberth. = A. ■periphanes, Oberth. 

 I am quite unacquainted with either of these species, and 

 therefore cannot comment upon their association. 



(3.) A. (louhledaiji, Guer. = A.dirrfca, AVestw. ] 

 A. sttnohea, VVallg. = A. cahhi.rena, Hew.) 



This proposed alteration of nomenclature shows a most 

 lamentable confusion as to what are real specific differences 

 in Acrfea. I entirely agree with Trimen that A. dlrcxa, 

 Westw., is quite inseparable from A. caldarena, Hew., 

 being merely a seasonal variation of it, as is also A. 

 amphimalla, Westw. As in the case of anacreon, a 

 study of the geographical range of the forms under con- 

 sideration would in itself be sufficient to show the fallacy 

 of Mr. Butler's supposition. Caldarena is one of the 

 commonest butterflies in Mashunaland, and occurs 

 abundantly the whole year round, showing a slight 

 seasonal dimorphism. The 6 varies but little, showing 

 only a slight accentuation of the black markings in 

 summer, the ground-colour being of a richer pink ; but 

 in the 9 this accentuation is often carried to a much 



