African Species of the Genus Acraea. 297 



into Abyssinia, and southwards into German E. Africa. 

 I have not yet found the dividing line between the typical 

 form and the subspecies rhodiiia, nor between the latter 

 and the subspecies orientis. The species does not occur 

 in Neave's collections from N. Rhodesia and Katanga, nor 

 have I seen examples from E. of the Kikuyu Escarpment. 

 It would appear, therefore, to extend into German E. 

 Africa by way of the Urundi Country. It is remarkable 

 that at L, Kivu the subspecies tenchrosa represents a form 

 which, in the absence of clear spots in f.-w. lb and 3, 

 agrees with the German E. African form orientis, whilst 

 in the dark red brown areas of the underside it shows 

 affinity with the subspecies rhodina. The much-reduced 

 yellow patch of the h.-w. separates it from either form. 



The occurrence of the form which I have named reversa, 

 adds one more to the many difficulties of classification 

 which the genus Acraea presents. An examination of hun- 

 dreds of typical servona together with the few available 

 specimens of reversa, reveals no constant difference which 

 would serve as a basis for specific distinction, with the sole 

 exception of the structure of the male tarsal claws. In 

 the other species of the genus these claws are constantly 

 either equal or unequal, but in this one case their 

 structure appears to be inconstant. The genitalia are as 

 closely alike as possible, within the limits of individual 

 variation. I have retained this form reversa under the 

 heading oi servona since there seems no sufficient evidence 

 of specific difference. Moreover, to separate it would at 

 once raise still greater difficulties. The type of servona is 

 a $. Amongst the examples before me are many $^ which 

 are certainly servona. Assuming servona servona and 

 servona reversa to be different species, to which species 

 do all these $$ belong ? Breeding experiments and the 

 acquisition of further material may one day throw some 

 light on the matter. Meanwhile I prefer merely to record 

 the fact that there occur amongst large series of male 

 servona, certain examples differing from the rest only 

 in the structure of the tarsal claws. I have not yet 

 discovered any means of deciding whether such forms are 

 or are not specifically distinct. 



110. Acraea circeis. PI. XIII, f. 23. 



Acraea circeis, Dniry, 111. Exot. Ins., 3, p. 24, pi. 18, f. 5, 6 

 (1782) ; Herbst, Naturs. Scbmett., 5, p. 13, pi. 81, f. 6, 7 

 (1792); Aurivillius, Rhop. Aeth., p. 114 (part), (1898). 



