RHOPALOCERA AFRICA ATJSTRALIS. 



to inn'3r-marginal edge, which is also narrowly white ; between 

 this portion of the streak and lobe of anal angle, much greyish- 

 white irroration ; a pale streak along lower part of hind-margin ; 

 spot on lobe usually half-hidden in fold of wing. 



$ . Blue much less brilliant, occupying a smaller space, so 

 that its black bordering is proportionally much broader, 

 especially in hind-wing, where the apical and hind-marginal 

 border is wider than that of inner-margin. Hind-wing : 

 streak of bluish scales prolonged hind-marginally as far as 

 discoidal nervule. UNDER-SIDE. Quite as in $ .* 



February (m) April (e). 



Very local : usually in gardens, on fig-trees, sometimes on vines. The 

 blue of the upper surface of this curious species is so rich and brilliant, that 

 the other "Blues" of the country appear dingy in comparison. Even 

 lolaus Silas, splendid as he is, is second in depth and intensity of hue to 

 Alcides. The flight of this butterfly is very rapid, but very brief, resembling 

 that of the Hesperidtf, and seldom extending beyond three or four yards at 

 a lime. I have twice met a specimen carried off by the wind. It is a most 

 pugnacious insect, and soon loses its long tails in its constant combats 

 among the rough leaves of the fig. Alcides, like his great namesake of old, 

 is as fearless as he is strong-, and is not at all inclined to quit his favourite 

 seat on the approach of the collector : I have struck at a specimen as many 

 as five times successively without inducing it to move more than a foot or 

 two away. The insect is not easily seen when at rest, its colour closely 

 resembling that of the dry fig-leaves and stems. Miss Rex informed me 

 that she had occasionally taken specimens in tlie ripe figs split open by 

 birds. 



Knysna. Coll. Tri. 



Bashee River, Kaffraria (J. H. Bowker). Coll. S. A. Mus. 

 "King William's Town. Newlands, Kakoon River."- 

 W. D'Urban, in litt. 

 Natal. West Africa. Sierra Leone. Coll. Brit. Mus. 



126. Loxura dermaptera. 



Loxura dermaptera, Wlgr., Lep. Rhop. Caffr., p. 34. 



Myrina (?), DoubL, Westw., Hewits., Gen. D. 



[Lep. 



(?) (?), Angas, Illustr. S. Afr., pi. of 



[Lep , f. 9. 

 Exp. 1 in. 7 lin. 



Brownish-Hack ; a blue space in each wing. Fore-wing : 

 blue forming a semicircular patch on inner-margin, reaching 



* I append a description of what I imagine is the Larva of this species ; 

 but the death of the few individuals I tried to rear prevented me from 

 verifying this belief. 



About three-quarters of an inch long : onisciform. Pale-green, thickly 

 irrorated with minute black atoms ; except ninth segment, which is ashy, 

 mixed with ferruginous. A narrow ashy stripe down the back. Each 



