CHARAXES. 183 



Charaxes xiphares, Trimen, S. Afr. Butterflies, i., p. 346 



(1887). 

 Papilio thyestes, Stoll Suppl. Cram., pi. 32, figs. 2, 2 B. 



(1790). 



This is a handsome South African Butterfly, measuring 

 from three and a half to four and a half inches across the 

 wings. 



The male is blue-black above, with rows of blue and white 

 spots on the fore-wings, and there is a broad blue band across 

 the hind-wings, which have two rows of sub-marginal lunules, 

 and two short tails. In the female the spots are larger and 

 whiter, and the blue band is replaced by a yellow one. The 

 under surface is light brown or grey, with numerous blue and 

 white lines, with a white band, less marked in the male, and a 

 sub -marginal row of black lunules bordered with yellow. 



Mr. Trimen (Rhop. Afr. Austr., p. 170) gives the following 

 account of the habits of this conspicuous species : " Their 

 favourite haunts are the open spots on, or near, the outskirts 

 of a wood, where they settle on the bark or projecting twigs 

 of the trees, frequently glancing off, suddenly disappearing 

 among or over the opposite trees, and as suddenly returning 

 to the spot so abruptly leit. I have several times seen three 

 or four specimens together, settled high up on a lofty tree-stem, 

 busily imbibing the rnoist exudations from its bark. When so 

 engaged, they walk over a little space with much importance 

 of action, contemptuously sn ^pping their glossy wings at im- 

 pertinent Diptera and other insects, who presume to share 

 their repast. I have sometimes suddenly roused the female 

 from quite a low bush, when she darted up and away with 

 such velocity that a single vain stroke of the net was the most 

 I ever had an opportunity of making. One day, however, 

 this single instinctive sweep of the net was successful." 



R 



