African Sjiecics of the Genus Acraea. 



17 



many species wliicli are quite clearly defined and exliibifc 

 no close alliance with others. On the other hand, such a 

 community of forms as are grouped together under the name 

 of Acraea acrita oifers material for prolonged and careful 

 study — a study to which we cannot hope to do justice, 

 until we possess a vastly greater material from every part 

 of the range, and taken at various seasons. Again, whether 



we regard zetes, chilo, oscari, and hypoleuca, as four species 

 or as one, must remain largely a matter of the convenience 

 of the moment. In a few such cases I fear that I may 

 be accused of a certain amount of inconsistency in the 

 arrangement of the genus. If so, I can only say that 

 in many cases it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to 

 decide whether a form has yet passed over that dividing 

 line which separates one true species from another. The 

 difficulty experienced is merely a confirmation of our 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1912. — PART 1. (JULV) (' 



