African Species of the Genus Acraea. 1 27 



The forms above described occur in any long series 

 of tliis species. I have called them wet and dry season 

 forms since the extremes are mostly taken nt those 

 periods, but the variation in depth of colour and size of 

 spots is very considerable and corresponds only approxi- 

 mately to the seasons. 



In some cases the heavier black markings associated 

 with the wet season may be well developed in the dry. 

 A ^ now before me, taken by Neave near Mporokoso in 

 N.E. Rhodesia in July, is of a bright brick red, and though 

 the h.-\v. spots are smaller than in typical wet season 

 forms, the black basal suffusion and h.-w. margin are 

 unusually broad and heavy. 



Trimen's figures of omrora omrora (/. c. as asema) cor- 

 respond to dry season examples. The female is shown 

 as having a white abdomen, but I do not observe this 

 feature in any of the examples of omrora umhrata, though 

 the lateral spots are usually white. 



I have examined the specimens of Herr Wichgrafs 

 violarum umhrata presented by him to tlie S. Ken- 

 sington collection, and they do not ditfer from several ot 

 those taken by Neave in N.E. Rhodesia. 



44. Acraea lofua. PI. I, f. 8 ((^ ), f. 9 ( $ ). PI. IX, ff. 12, 1.3. 

 Acraea lofua, Eltringham, Novit. Zool., xviii, p. 150(1911). 

 N.E. Rhodesia (Lofu R.). 



^. Expanse 46 mm. F.-w. dull pinkish ochreous with a 

 very slight black basal suffusion. Apex black for a depth of 

 3 mm. Hind margin very narrowly black. Small black spots 

 as follows : — One in cell over origin of nervule 2, one on dis- 

 cocellulars. Beyond cell a transverse row of four, that in 5 

 vertically beneath that in 6, the third linear, its lower end 

 pointing outwards, the fourth beneath the outer end of the 

 third. A spot close to base of area 2, and one in lb' nearer 

 margin. H.-w. more decidedly pink than f.-w., a black basal 

 sufi'usion and a heavy black hind-marginal border, 5 mm. wide 

 between nervules 2 and 3, and tapering off at hind angle. Some 

 black basal and discal spots more easily observed beneath. 



Underside paler than above. F.-w. as on iipperside but spots 

 less distinct; no basal, and very little apical black. H.-w. with 

 faint pinkish basal internervular marks ; very slight black basal 

 suffusion. Hind margin black, narrower in middle than on 

 upperside, its inner edge sharply dentate between the nervules, 

 and having a submarginal row of seven triangular greyish white 



