DANAID.E.. 87 



space occupies either side of it, but not to such an extent as 

 in D. Ochlea. UNDER-SIDE. Very similar in marking, but 

 paler than upper-side. Fore-wing : spots close to costa, and 

 near hind-margin, white,- row of white dots along hind-margin 

 clearly defined and numerous, arranged in pairs between 

 nervules, two pairs between third median nervule and sub- 

 median nervure ; apical portion of wing tinted dark-brown. 

 Hind-wing : glossed with brown, particularly in hind-marginal 

 portion ; two conspicuous white spots at base, close to thorax ; 

 inner and outer row of hind-marginal spots both white and 

 conspicuous, arranged in pairs between nervules, between 

 third median nervule and submedian nervure there are three 

 spots in the inner row, and four in the outer. Fringes of both 

 wings white-dotted. 



A variety occurs, in which all the spots in fore-wing are 

 pure white, and in which the under-side is much paler, the 

 apex of fore-wing and ground-colour of hind-wing being 

 conspicuously pale-brown. M. Boisduval notices this in his 

 Appendix to M. Delegorgue's Travels, stating that the Natal 

 specimens differ in this respect from Stoll's figures. Three 

 jEcheria from Natal, in the South African Museum, possess 

 the peculiar colouring mentioned ; and I took a single spe- 

 cimen of the same variety at Knysna. 



Woods and copses. Frequent where it occurs. 



October (b) January (m). Again in March. 



The flight of this handsome insect is more graceful and floating than 

 that of any other South African Butterfly I have seen on the wing. At 

 the Knysna, where it was common in the woods, it was one of the earliest 

 on the wing of the forest Butterflies ; and very pleasant it was to stand 

 quietly in some dewy open and watch Echeria take her gentle flight through 

 the cool air. On a warm, still day, this species will keep at a considerable 

 elevation, floating across an open spot, flapping its wings twice or thrice ; 

 and then, quietly pitching on some projecting twig, remain motionless, 

 generally with the wings closed and hanging downwards. On a windy day 

 they fly lower, and settle more frequently, when they are usually not difficult 

 to capture. When pursuing, or being chased by, one of its fellows, this 

 species can considerably increase its rate of flight ; and the collector, when 

 he has thoroughly alarmed Echeria, will often be suddenly deprived of her 

 company by the unlocked for rapidity of her retreat. ^ This is the Butterfly 

 mentioned in my notes on Papilio Cenea, Stoll, as being so curiously similar 

 to the latter species in colour and arrangement of marking. This likeness 

 will strike any one when he compares the two species ; it is also well shown 

 on Stoll's pi. '29, where both insects are figured. The singular smooth patch 

 of scales on the upper-side of the hind-wings, mentioned in my description, 

 is said by Mr. Doubleday (in the " Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera ") to be 

 peculiar to the males of the African group of the Genus Danais. If this be 

 the case, the female of this species must very rarely fly, as I have only found 

 one, amongst the numerous Knysna specimens of D. Echeria that I captured, 

 without the peculiarity in question. In common with D. Chrysippus and 

 many of the Acrace, so elastic is the thorax of this Butterfly, that numerous 



