African Species of the G-enus Acraea. 71 



•only distinction between it and obeira. Even the peculiarity 

 of the irregular structure in relation to nervules 6 and 7 is 

 equally noticeable in both forms, and the male armatures 

 are also similar. 



The subspecies hurni appears to be not uncommon on 

 the Tugela River, Natal, from whence all the examples in 

 the Oxford and National collections have been received. 



21. Acraea mahela. PI. VII, f. 6. PI. XVI, f. 3. 



Acraea mahela, Boisduval, Faune Mad., p. 31, pi. 6, f. 1 (1833) ; 

 Mabille, Hist. Nat. Mad., Lep., 1, p. 90, pi. 11, f. 13 

 (1885-7) ; Aurivillius, Rhop. Aeth., p. 87 (1898). 

 = A. madhela, Staudinger, Exot. Schmett, 1, p. 83 (1885). 

 Madagascar (Jaliora, Andranohinaly, Menabe, Marovoai) ; 

 Juan de Nova I.; '? Mozambique. 



^. Expanse about 56 mm. F.-w. Semitransparent owing to 

 substitution of elongated bifid scales for the usual roimded form. 

 A basal suffusion of pale or medium ochreous extending some 

 distance beyond cell and a little beyond hind angle. A slight 

 dusting of pale ochreous at the apex. Black spots as follows, 

 one transverse spot in cell beyond middle, one irregular spot on 

 discocellulars, a row of three in 4, 5, and 6, not quite half way 

 between end of cell and apex, one small spot in 3 and 2 near the 

 cell, and in lb a somewhat larger spot usually rather nearer 

 margin than base. Occasionally there is a second spot in 

 lb half way between the base and the origin of nervure 2. 

 H.-w. moderately thickly scaled with ochreous and spotted 

 with black as follows. Six coalescent spots on hind margin on 

 ends of nervules beginning with 2. An irregular discal band of 

 eight, the first four in 7, 6, 5, and 4 respectively, and lying 

 parallel to margin, the fifth in 3 and nearer to base, the sixth 

 in 2 close to origin of nervule 3, the seventh in Ic and on a 

 level with the fifth, the eighth in lb and on a level with 

 the sixth ; one spot on end of cell at origin of nerv^ile 5. 

 Sometimes also a very small one at origin of 6. One spot near 

 middle of cell and five basal spots, one in la, one in lb more 

 distally placed, one larger in Ic, one in cell, and one in area 

 7. These spots and also the lowest of the discal row are really 

 on the under surface but are visible through the wing membrane. 

 Underside resembles the upper. Thorax black, spotted above and 

 below with ochreous. Abdomen black above for about half its 

 length, the remainder and underside ochreous. Claws unequal. 



$. Resembles the i^ , sometimes rather larger and paler. 

 Abdomen with less black and of a oaler ochreous. 



