African S2)ecics of the Genus Acraea. 249 



are necessary before we can be certain of the actual 

 relations obtaining between the forms.* 



As regards the rougeti form in which the subapical 

 patch of ground-colour is not isolated from that of the 

 remainder of the wing, this form is certainly characteristic 

 of the South and East, though the feature is scarcely, in 

 my opinion, sufficiently constant to warrant the separation 

 of rmigeti as a subspecies. 



GROUP XV. 



93. Acraea oberthcri. PI. XIIT, f. 17. 



Acraea oberthiiri, Butler, Ann. Nat. Hist., G, Ifi, p. 231 (1895) ; 

 Aurivillius, Rhop. Aetli., p. 107 (1898) ; Eltringham, Af. 

 Mim. Butt., p. 82, pi. 8, f. 14 (1910). 

 = honami, Staudinger, Exot. Schniett, 1, p. 84 (1885) (nnn 



Fabr.). 

 = cynthins, Oberthiir, Etud. d'Ent., 17, p. 27, pi. 1, f. 5 



(189.3). 

 Old Calabar; Nigeria (Lagos); Cameroon; F. Po ; 

 Gaboon (Abanza) ; Congo (Bangala, Ft. Beni to Ituri E.). 



f. confiuens, SnfTert, Iris, p. 23 (1904). 

 Cameroon ; Nigeria (Lagos). 



A. oberthuri obertJmri. PI. VI, f. 14 (larva). 



^. Expanse 42-58 mm. F.-w. dark umber brown. Base of 

 subcostal nervure usually reddish. An oblique subapical patch 

 of ochreous varying to orange ochreous in 10, 9, 6, 5, and 4. 

 An inner maj-ginal patch of the same colour 3 to 4 mm. 

 wide, its inner edge running from just before middle of area la 

 to a point on median midway between origin of 2 and 3. In 

 areas lb and 2 this edge is concave, being slightly invaded 



* Since the above was written I have had the advantage of 

 discussing the point with my friend Mr. S. A. Neave, whose 

 extensive experience in the field is of the utmo.st value in cases 

 of this kind. He considers the form which lias a very complete 

 central red band on the underside of h.-w. to be a distinct species. 

 Should this ultimately prove to be the case it seems probable that 

 a new name will have to be given to it, as Hewitson's type of 

 Ventura is apparently only an unusually red ti'rjhsv-hore and is 

 scarcely of the jaronounced red type of specimens which were 

 captured by Mr. Neave, and on which his opinion is based. "We 

 may hope to succeed in breeding these furjus at no distant date. 

 Meanwhile we can do no niore than recognise their very close 

 affinitv. 



