African Species of the Genus Acraea. 67 



present in ranavalona). Spots as in ^ but smaller. Discal 

 spot in area 7 sometimes absent. Underside as upper but 

 almost devoid of scales except at the spots. Lateral abdominal 

 spots white. 



In distinguishing between machequena and its near ally 

 rctncivalona, Trimen states (/. c.) that in both sexes of the 

 former the basal spot in area 7 is absent, and that in the 

 ^ the discal spot in the same area is also wanting. I find 

 however that these characteristics are variable. One $ 

 now before me has the basal spot well define'l, whilst one 

 ^ has the discal spot. Some % ^ of rctnava/o/ia have both, 

 though the basal spot seems to be always wanting in 

 iiiaehequena. Perhaps the most constant features by which 

 machequena may be distinguished from ranavalona are the 

 greater extent of red or brown suffusion in the f-w., the 

 black basal suffusion in li.-w., the duller red of the h.-vv, in 

 the ^ and of the hind marginal spots in both sexes. 



The male armature is very like that of rnnavalona but 

 tlie claw-like claspers are slightly stouter, and the penis- 

 sheath shorter. 



I'J. Acraea lia. PI. VII, f. 10. 



Acraea lia, Mabille, Bull. See. Philom. (7), 3, p. 132 (1879) ; 



Hist. Nat. Mad. Lep., 1, p. 97, pi. 9a, f. 8, 8a 



(1885-7) ; Smith & Kirby, Khop. Exot., 29 {AcraeM), p. 15, 



pi. 5, f. 1-3 (1894) ; Aurivillius, Khop. Aeth., p. 88 (1898). 



S. W. Madagascar (Andranohinaly, Morondava), 



(J. Expanse 30-40 mm. F.-w. transparent owing to reduc- 

 tion in width of scales which are very rarely bifid. Costa, 

 apex, and hind margin dusted with blackish. A basal red flush 

 to a little beyond middle of cell, not extending into area 2, 

 but slanting outwards from origin of 2 nearly to hind angle. 

 H.-w. red with a narrow brownish marginal border, the 

 dark colour extending slightly along each nervule. Black spots, 

 more or less confluent, as follows : — A discal series of eight, the 

 first large, in area 7, the second much smaller, in 6, and the next 

 three gradually increasing in size, the fifth being as large as the 

 first. These five are jjarallel to the hind margin. The sixth 

 much nearer base, the seventh and eighth nearer margin. Two 

 small spots on end of cell on discocellulars. Basal spots, one in 

 area 8, one in 9, two in cell, two in Ic, one in lb, and la. 

 Underside f.-w. devoid of scales except in basal area which is 

 nearly as red as on upperside. H.-w. ground colour pink, 



F 2 



