( xxxvi ) 



" N. nemeies as well as metella have a similar though not 

 identical clasper, agreeing in this respect better with iV. 

 sccclccva than do i^^ dametorum a,nd frobenia. 



" In dametorum (Fig. B) the dorsal lobe is almost half- 

 crescent-shaped when looked at from the apical side, the 

 dorsal surface of the lobe being much wider than in JV. saclava, 

 and the dorsal angle of the lobe projects much more than in 

 J^\ saclava. I have examined two S 6- 



" In frobenia, of which I have examined only one specimen, 

 the lobe is more compressed than in i\\ dumetorum. The apex 

 of the lobe is dentate and the dorsal angle is produced into a 

 thorn-like process. 



" I may add that the tawny Oriental Xeptis have quite a 

 different claspei', the similarity in colour with frobenia and 

 dumetorum being superficial. I have not been able to examine 

 N. comorarum and mayottensis" 



This convergent evidence renders it certain that the four 

 tawny-marked species of Neptis in the islands surrounding 

 Madagascar, are all closely related to one another and to the 

 white-marked saclava in Madagascar itself. The next point 

 which required clearing up, was the distribution ; for although 

 each tawny species is known to exist in a separate island (or 

 perhaps group of islands in the case of comorarum), outside 

 Madagascar, yVoSenia and dumetorum have both been stated to 

 occur in Madagascar as well. In settling this point it was 

 convenient to decide with it the precise distribution of the 

 species of Eaploe,a in the outlying islands, for some of these 

 have also been affirmed to exist in Madagascar. Upon this 

 subject Monsieur diaries Oberthlir can speak with greater 

 authority than any living natui'alist, and he has kindly 

 answered my questions in detail. Writing on April 30th and 

 May 4th, he says : — 



'■'■Neptis dimietormii. — Tons les exemplaires que j'ai vus 

 viennent de File Bourbon. Jamais je n'ai vu dumetorum 

 provenant d'une autre localite. 



" N. comorarum. — Tous les exemplaires ont ute pris aiix 

 Comores ; jamais ailleurs. 



'^ N. mayottensis. — J'ai rei;u seulement un petit nombre 

 pris a Mayotte. Toujours mayotteiisis." 



