African Species of the Gcnvs Acraea. 69 



limit in some cases nearly parallel to hind margin and extending 

 a little beyond end of cell, in other cases almost reaching the 

 margin at apex and anal angle, whitish on inner margin. 

 Remainder of discal area transparent. A narrow dusky marginal 

 border beset with internervular red spots. These vary in 

 number from 3 or 4 to 7 and become less distinct towards the 

 apex. That in area Ic may be doubled. Basal and discal 

 black spots as follows. A discal row of eight, the first three (in 

 7, 6, and 5) lying parallel to margin, the fourth nearer to base, 

 the fifth nearer to margin, and the sixth, seventh, and eighth 

 nearer base and in a straight line which, if produced, would pass 

 through tip of cell and apex. Two small spots, sometimes 

 indistinct, on end of cell at origin of 6 and 5. Basal spots, two 

 in cell close together, one in 7, one in Ic, lb, and la, that in lb 

 more distally placed. One or two black spots against the 

 thorax. These spots are often large and more or less confluent. 

 A slight basal black suff"usion (not always present). Underside 

 f.-w. not scaled, h.-w. as on upperside but basal suffusion pale 

 pinkish, creamy white along inner margin. Thorax black with 

 yellowish lateral spots. Abdomen black above, paler beneath, 

 with pale yellowish rings and lateral spots Claws unequal. 



The size of the h.-w. spots is very variable. In some cases 

 they are small and well separated, in others large and confluent. 



5. Expanse 63 mm. The rusty yellow of the $ replaced by 

 yellowish white. The h.-w. spots sometimes larger than in the 

 (^, the red marginal spots of the h.-w. ochreous and obsolescent. 



The examples figured by i\Iabille (L c.) Plate 10 appear to be 

 9 9 ^^^ iiot (J (^ as there indicated. 



MabiJle states (/. c.) that he has examined Guenee's type 

 and that the Acraea piva of that author is synonymous 

 with A. obeira. Further I cannot separate Grose-Smith's 

 A. andromha. The distinguishing feature of this form is 

 the possession of six rounded red marginal spots, instead of 

 three or four elongate spots in obeira, but even a small 

 series of the latter species shows these spots to be extremely 

 variable in number, shape, and depth of colour. 



A curious feature of Acraea^ obeira is the instability of 

 structure in the origin of nervures 6 and 7 in the h.-w. 

 These may arise independently, or from a common stalk at 

 some distance from the cell. They may even be stalked 

 in one wing and independent in the other in the same 

 specimen. 



In 1801 (Trans. Eat. Soc, p. 1*72) Trimcn described 



