HESPERID^J. 315 



208. *Nisoniades Sabadius. 



Thymele Sabadius, Boisd., Faune Ent. de Mad., pi. 9, f. 2. 

 Pterygospidea Nottoana, Wallgr., Lep. Rhop. Caffr., p. 54. 



Exp. 1 in. 2 lin. 1 in. 6 lin. 



Very closely allied to N. Ophion, Drury. 



. Dark-brown, more or less tinged with reddish. Fore' 

 wing : no central row of vitreous spots, but only an indistinct 

 macular blackish band ; costal vitreous dots, and short 

 blackish streak before middle, as in Ophion. Hind-wing : 

 darker than fore-wing ; two transverse rows of blackish 

 spots very indistinct ; no whitish hind-marginal clouding. 

 UNDER-SIDE. Glossy, tinged with fulvous, paler than on 

 upper-side. Hind-wing : no trace of white ; spots all but 

 wanting ; a yellowish tint towards inner-margin. 



? . Much paler, with a sub-violaceous gloss ; markings 

 identical with those of Ophion. Hind-wing: no whitish 

 hind-marginal clouding. UNDER-SIDE. Paler. Hind-wing : 

 markings usually faint ; a whitish line edges hind-margin ; 

 inner-marginal region very pale, in one specimen nearly 

 whitish. 



I very much doubt whether this is not in reality a variety of Ophion, 

 Drury, though the absence of the central vitreous spots iu fore-wing of $ , 

 and of white in hind-wing of both sexes, together with its smaller size, 

 give it a very distinct superficial aspect. There is certainly an in- 

 clination towards a white under-surface of hind-wing in some ? specimens, 

 and the colouring of palpi, legs, and body is the same in both insects. 

 However this may be, Sabadius seems a constant race, especially as re- 

 gards the 



Not common : in woods and copses. 



October (b) November (m) February (m) April (m). 



An active, alert butterfly, fond of keeping about one spot or clump of 

 bushes, settling frequently, usually on leaves. When settled, the wings 

 are kept fully expanded ; but I cannot say that they are never closed, for I 

 did not on any occasion see the insect thoroughly at rest, it was always 

 on the qui vive to be off. 



Knysna. Plettenberg Bay. Coll. Tri. 

 " Mauritius and Bourbon." Boisd. 



209. Nisoniades Prodicus. 



Papilio Prodicus, Stall, SuppL Cram., pi. 33, f. 6. 

 Hesperia DoubL, Westw., Hewils., Gen. D. Lep. 



Exp. 1 in. 2 lin. (fig.) 



Nearly allied to N. Ophion, Drury. 



Y 2 



