284 Mr. Roland Trimen on 



PSEUDONYMPHA SaBACUS. (p. 93) . 



Erehia Sahacus, Trimen, Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 200, 

 pi. 4, f. 1. 



PsEUDONYMPHA Trimenii, Butler, sp. nov. (p. 94) . 



Erehia 8ahacus, var. A, Trimen, lib, cit., p. 201, pi. 4, 



f. 2. 



Mr. Butler, after stating his inability to regard these 

 two forms as one species, observes (p. 93) :— " The posi- 

 tion of the ocelli is quite different in the white-veined 

 form,^^ [i. e. TrinieoiU]; '''and the central strigje, which 

 appear to constitute the most constant character in the 

 present family, are different in outline. ^^ These remarks 

 apply to the under-surface of the hind-wings, and are 

 correct as regards the central transverse streak, which 

 seems always to be much less angu-lated than in the type 

 Sahac/its ; but I find the miniher, rather than the '' posi- 

 tion" of the ocelli different, — the form Trimenii con- 

 stantly presenting six, instead of the smaller number 

 (never exceeding five) found in Sahactis proper. 



As noted in my work (ii. pp. 201, and 202 foot-note) , 

 Sahacus is a very variable and widely-spread species, 

 especially as regards the clouding and ocelli of the 

 underside of the hind-wings, some examples from the 

 Eastern parts of South Africa having white nervures 

 without the other peculiarities of the form Trimenii ; * 

 and I was therefore inclined to regard the solitar}" speci- 

 men of the latter figured in my book, as an unusual 

 variety or aberration rather than a distinct species. 

 Since that example was figured, however, I have met 

 with the same form, not uncommonly, in three distinct 



* I have just seen (Sept. 18tb) two specimens, lately added to the col- 

 lection of the South African Museum, which were taken by Mr. J. H. 

 Bowker (I believe in British Kaffraria), and which form a further link 

 between the form Trimenii and Sahacus propel". These examples present 

 distinctly whitish veiniug as in Trimenii, and the central streak is strongly 

 marked and angulated, while the ocelli are reduced to six black spots, 

 without pupils or external rings ; and on the underside of the fore-tvings 

 the red is paler and wider, and (as in Sahacus proper) the crossing streak 

 from costa is all but obliterated. On the iipperside, the ocellus oi fore- 

 wing is enlarged, and the basal portion of the red field ahnost obsolete; 

 while the red of the hind-wings is enlarged, and the six ocelli miusually 

 apparent. Both examples are larger than the ordinary Trimenii, and all 

 the markings are singalarly dark and suffused, the pupils of the forewing 

 ocellus being bluish. 



