African Species of the Genus Acraea. 



17 



many species which are quite clearly defined and exhibit 

 no close alliance with others. On the other hand, such a 

 community of forms as are grouped together under the name 

 of Acraea acrita oflfers material for prolonged and careful 

 study — a study to which we cannot hope to do justice, 

 until we possess a vastly greater material from every part 

 of the range, and taken at various seasons. Again, whether 



\9 



"»<* 



-or 



we regard zetes, chilo, oscari, and hypoleuca, as four species 

 or as one, must remain largely a matter of the convenience 

 of the moment. In a few such cases I fear that I may 

 be accused of a certain amount of inconsistency in the 

 arrangement of the genus. If so, I can only say that 

 in many cases it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to 

 decide whether a form lias yet passed over that dividing 

 line which separates one true species from another. The 

 difficulty experienced is merely a confirmation of our 

 TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1912. — PART I. (JULY) C 



