( 35 ) 



A . circeis of Drury from Sierra Leone. The other two while 

 differing in appearance from A. circeis were themselves exactly 

 alike, but for the fact that the two tarsal claws of the second 

 lxxxii] 



and third pairs of feet were equal and similar in one specimen 

 and unequal and dissimilar in the other. He pointed out 

 that in all the African Acraeas, except about sixteen species, 

 the male tarsal claws were unequal. A. circeis was amongst 

 the latter, and in many cases of close similarity of pattern 

 this feature provided a ready means of distinction. In such 

 cases, however, there was as a rule some difference of pattern 

 correlated with the structural difference in the claws. The 

 present case was an exception to that rule. He had hitherto 

 regarded the form now exhibited, which was recognisably 

 different from A. circeis, as A. servona, but the discovery of 

 a form identical in appearance with the supposed servona, 

 and differing only in the structure of the claws, raised a 

 serious difficulty, inasmuch as the type of servona was a 

 female, and since all female Acraeas had equal claws, it was 

 quite impossible to say to which of these males the type 

 servona belonged. There were female examples in the series 

 from which the present specimens had been taken, but they 

 were all alike. The equal and the unequal clawed forms 

 must apparently be regarded as different species in spite of 

 the absence of difference in wing pattern. If the females 

 of both these species were as similar in appearance as the males 

 the true identity of A. servona would never be discovered. 

 The male armature of these species was of a very simple char- 

 acter, and afforded but little evidence of a specific distinction. 

 In answer to an inquiry from Mr. Bethune-Baker, Mr. 

 Eltringham said that he had made many preparations of the 

 $ organs, but that in this group of Acraeas they did not 

 provide distinctive characteristics. A long and interesting 

 discussion followed on the question of the importance of the 

 tarsal claws as a means of specific distinction, and on the 

 possible correlation of uneven claws in the $ and the abdominal 

 sac in the ? , in which the President, Professor Poulton, both 

 the Secretaries, and Messrs. Gahan, Collin, Waterhouse 

 and Janson joined. 



