506 Rev. K. St. Aubyn Rogers' JBionomic Notes mi 



and white markings, it approaches most nearly to the 

 central members of the group. Moreover it is extremely 

 variable in size, some of the largest females nearly equal- 

 ing Amauris ochlea, whilst the smallest males are no 

 larger than average specimens of marpessa and melicerta. 

 The species of Ncptis are very conspicuous on the wing 

 and have a leisurely floating flight, but they are very 

 active and are not taken nearly so easily as one would be 

 led to expect. 



Besides these three species of Ncptis we have two species 

 of another Nymphaline genus which strongly resemble 

 them, i. e. NeiMdojisis ophione, Cram., and N. fvlgurata, 

 Boisd., &\xh-s^. 2)laf,ijptcra, Rothsch. and Jord. Now although 

 these belong to a genus so distinct in structure, being in 

 fact Enrytelids, yet during life they bear a very strong 

 resemblance to the genus Ncptis both in appearance and 

 in habits. N. ophione is certainly an abundant species, 

 and I should regard N. ftdgurata j^l^f-iyp^cra as quite 

 common, though, as far as my experience goes, its range 

 is far more restricted. 



Associated with these species of Neptis I should place a 

 most interesting Lycsenid, Alxna picata, E. M. Sharpe, 

 which departs widely from the style of colouring usual in 

 the family, and assumes the strongly contrasted black and 

 white markings characteristic of this great combination. 

 This species is not common, but I think it possible that it 

 may frequently be overlooked on account of its strong 

 resemblance to a small Ncptis. It is true that the details 

 of pattern differ somewhat from those of any species of the 

 genus Ncptis with which I am acquainted, but I have 

 found the Lyca3nid very difficult to distinguish on the 

 wing. Its flight is even more feeble and may exhibit 

 something of the "floating" appearance of Neptis, while it 

 frequents exactly the same localities: even in size it 

 approaches the smaller specimens of e. g. N. melicerta. 

 Moreover, the genus Almna has been shown by Mr. G. A. K. 

 Marshall to be in all probability distasteful, and this 

 renders it likely that the species is a Mlillerian member 

 of the combination. 



[Rahai, May 1, 1906. 



This species \_A. picata] when taking its longer flights 

 looks almost like a moth, moving its wings with consider- 

 able rapidity.] 



H 



