78 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



Axiocerses, pt. Kirby, Cat. Diurn. Lepid. p. 337 (1871); 

 Schatz & Rober, Exot. Schmett. ii. p. 271 (1892). 



There are a considerable number of African species, usually 

 classed under the names Axiocerses or Zcritis, which we may 

 notice here. They are stout-bodied insects, and differ from 

 true Axiocerses in the sub-costal nervure being four or five- 

 branched. Ultimately they will be divided into several genera 

 (for although many genera have already been separated, the 

 remainder are far from homogeneous), for some of which the 

 names quoted above will be available, as their types mostly 

 represent different groups. 



In general terms we may say that the species are of rather 

 small size, and of a coppery-red, or orange, with broad brown 

 borders. There is no tail in this group, but the hind-wings 

 are frequently more or less produced at the anal angle. They 

 are sometimes flushed with blue towards the base ; and many 

 of the species are marked with metallic spots beneath. 



The type of Phasis is P. thero (Linnaeus), the largest species 

 of the group, sometimes expanding two inches. It is dark 

 brown above, with eight red spots on each of the fore-wings, 

 one in the cell, one beyond, a row of five on the disc, and a 

 larger one nearer the base towards the inner-margin ; the hind- 

 wings are dentated and sub-caudate (somewhat as in Lyccena 

 phlaas (Linn.) ), and the fore-wings are strongly emarginate on 

 the hind-margin below the middle. In fact, the general 

 appearance of the Butterfly is somewhat between a Lyccena 

 and a Libythea. The under side of the fore-wings is fulvous, 

 with black borders and markings ; the three black spots in the 

 cell are centred with silver. The hind-wings are brown, with 

 silvery-white spots, one of which (a large curved spot in the 

 middle) is very conspicuous. The orange spots of the upper 

 side vary in size and number, and some of them are confluent 

 in the female. It is a common South African Butterfly. 



