- 
536 Dr. H. Eltringham on the 
seems to me unnatural and based on very insufticient 
characters. As Heron pointed out years ago (see Trans. 
Ent. Soc., 1911, p. 7), the palpi of Acraea johnston butleri 
differ from those of other species of Acraea, including all 
the other forms of johnstoni itself. As butleri is merely a 
local form of johnstoni, we have here an example in which 
the difference in the palpi is not even a specific character. 
It is perhaps not irrelevant to add that the name Nepti- 
domima is in any case undesirable, since it suggests a genus 
whose members mimic Neptis. Thus the generic names 
Crenidomimas, Mimacraea, Pseudacraea, ete., all have a 
significance W hich is well understood and supported by 
considerable evidence, whereas Neplis exaleuca and its 
allies, so far from being mimetic of other species of Neptis, 
are of all the genus the most aberrant in their facies. 
In the descriptions it will be noted that several species 
have a pearly iridescent area on the underside of the h.-w. 
in the male. Special scales can be observed in this area, 
and my friend Dr. F. A. Dixey has kindly examined them 
for me. It would not, however, appear that they are of 
specific importance. 
I have pleasure in acknowledging the kind assistance I 
have received from Dr. F. A. Dixey, F.R.S., Mr. J. J. 
Joicey, Dr. K. Jordan, M. Ch. Oberthiir, Prof. BH. +B: 
Poulton, F.R.S., Mr. N. D. Riley, Lord Rothschild, F.R.S., 
and Mr. G. Talbot. I should like also to express my appre- 
ciation of Mr. Alfred Robinson’s admirable photographs, 
from which the plates of imagines have been printed. 
KEY TO THE AFRICAN FORMS OF THE GENUS 
NEPTIS. 
(The sexes are alike in pattern.) 
Some or all of the discal spots and bands of 
upperside yellow. a. 
All paler markings above, white (rarely 
bluish). g- 
(a) F.-w. cell on underside contains white 
dots, usually also visible above. b. 
Cell without white dots. d. 
(b) F.-w. inner marginal spot absent or 
only faintly developed . : - comorarum. (545) 
