106 



RHOPALOCERA AFRICA AUSTRALIS. 



middle ; four spots in discoidal cell, viz., two small rounded 

 ones near base, only divided from the first two on costa by 

 subcostal nervule, a large kidney-shaped one, as long as 

 cell is wide, just above insertion of third median nervule, 

 and a rounded spot, not so large as the last, at extremity of 

 cell ; a good-sized spot below median nervure, before in- 

 sertion of third median nervule ; a sinuous, irregular, trans- 

 verse row of seven spots commencing beyond extremity of 

 cell on second sub-costal, and extending to inner-margin 

 about middle, the last spot being small, but with a pro- 

 longation towards base ; parallel and near to hind-margin a 

 row of six round spots between nervules, the upper two 

 generally merged in apical blackish, but quite perceptible. 

 Hind-wing : arrangement of spots very similar to that of 

 fore-wing ; two rounded spots above subcostal nervure, 

 before middle ; three in discoidal cell, the outer one at ex- 

 tremity ; between cell and inner-margin about six spots ; a 

 transverse, sinuous row of eight spots beyond middle, con- 

 tinuous of that in fore-wing, from costa to inner-margin ; 

 parallel and near to hind-margin, a row of six rounded spots 

 between nervules, also continuous of that in fore-wing ; a 

 blackish, hind-marginal border, broader than that of fore- 

 wing, and forming rounded projections on ground colour 

 between nervules. UNDER-SIDE. Paler, with a slightly 

 glistening surface ; position and number of spots precisely 

 as above. Fore-wing : no basal blackish ; apical blackish 

 limited to a faint and narrow border ; hind-marginal border 

 also wanting, but its projections represented by separate 

 spots between nervules. Hind-wing : no basal blackish ; 

 spots on hind-margin as in fore-wing. 



This very pretty Acraa always reminds me of the Cheetah or Hunting 

 Leopard, from the similarity of its colouring to that of the mammal 

 mentioned. It may be readily known by the large number of spots, which, 

 exclusive of the hind-marginal projections, amount to about forty-eight on 

 the two wings together, or 96 on the whole surface. 



M. Boisduval has called the Natal specimens of this Butterfly by the 

 specific name of Stictica, but at the same time states his opinion that it is 

 " probably only a local variety of A. punctatissima, as it differs solely in the 

 greater size of the spots." After a careful comparison of Natal specimens 

 with the figure and description in the " Faune de Madagascar, &c.," I have 

 come to the same conclusion : though the figure of the small-sized and 

 minute-spotted Madagascar specimen looked at first sight very distinct. 

 M. Goudot found this insect " in damp woods in the neighbourhood of 

 Tamatave." It probably haunts the same description of locality at Natal. 



Natal. Coll. S. A. Mus. 



Port Natal. Coll. Brit. Mus. 



" Amazoulu Country. Madagascar." Boisd. 



