RHOPALOCERA AFRICJE AUSTRALIS. 



with paler rings, but upper one minute and occasionally 

 represented by a white dot ; lower ocellus large, externally 

 ringed with dark-brown and with a wide violaceous halo 

 bounded with brown. Hind-wing : a row of seven small 

 ocelli beyond middle, of which the fifth and sixth are largest, 

 and the first, second, and third minute and sometimes almost 

 obsolete. In both wings, besides hind-marginal line of 

 upper-side, an inner, much angulated brown line, widening 

 on fore-wing to half-encircle larger ocellus. 



$ . Paler ; without tuft on hind-wing. Fore-wing : 

 besides the third ocellus sometimes seen in $ , there is 

 occasionally a fourth just above large ocellus. Hind-wing: 

 a small ocellus rarely present between second and third 

 median nervules. UNDER -SIDE. More of one colour, 

 especially in hind-wing, paler, more ochreous ; sometimes 

 much clouded with violaceous scales. For e- wing : inner 

 cellular streak not so indistinct. Hind-wing : a dark, curved, 

 transverse line near base ; median transverse streak only 

 represented by its dark inner edge. 



Var. $ (Eusirus, Hpfr.). Darker : the range of ocelli 

 on under-side of hind-wing much larger, all well marked, 

 and brought out more prominently by a dark-brown clouding 

 surrounding them, and a suffusion of the same colour beyond 

 the pale transverse streak. 



There can be no doubt that Hoppfer's Eusirus is nothing more than a 

 strongly-marked example of the $ Evemts. Such was my decided 

 impression on merely comparing the excellent figures in Peters* "Reise;" 

 and a specimen of the variety since received from Kaffraria entirely confirms 

 it. Variability in the size and number of the ocelli is a character common 

 to the greater part of the Satyrida, and Myealesis is no exception to the 

 rule. In the specimen referred to, there is a further very minute ocellus 

 close to the termination of the pale streak. Wallengren's M. Injusta 

 appears to be this variety, especially as he notes its resemblance to Cramer's 

 Justina, to which it certainly seems very nearly allied. Cramer's figure, 

 however, gives two ziczac lines beneath, between ocelli and the line parallel 

 to hind-margin, and depicts no strise in discoidal cell. He states the species 

 to inhabit Coromandel. M. Caffra, Wlgr., is very clearly a pale ? of 

 Evenus, only varying as regards the number and distinctness of the ocelli. 



Woods and copses. ^ 



October (b) December (b), and February (e) May (b). "September." 

 D'Urban. 



This butterfly is only found in woods and patches of "bnsh," keeping to 

 the thickest shades, and delighting to settle on dead leaves and twigs in the 

 narrow foot-paths. In such situations it is difficult to distinguish when at 

 rest, its colour agreeing so well with surrounding objects. 



The flight is weak and close to the ground, and two or three specimens 

 may often be observed flying round together in small circles, and then 

 abruptly settling. 1 have noticed a female quietly seated with four or five 

 ira'es excitedly circling about her ; and the instant one admirer settled all the 

 others would do so, when, after a little jostling, off they would all start again. 



