112 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES. 



Pupa. — Smooth, thick, rounded (especially about middle) ; cephalic 

 prominence obtuse, dorso-thoracic prominence rather acute. 



I have felt obliged to unite GnopJwdes to Melanitis, not being able 

 to discover any characters warranting its being held generically dis- 

 tinct. Westwood himself {loc. cit.) doubted the propriety of treating 

 it as a separate genus, noting that the tuft of hair and dilated inner 

 margin of the fore- wings of the ^ were the chief distinguishing features, 

 and that the former character was wanting in the West-African G. 

 Morpena (= Pythia, Fab.) The only other differences from Melanitis 

 that I have detected are the longer upper and middle disco-cellular 

 nervules in the fore-wings, and the less curved lower disco- cellular 

 nervule in both fore and hind wings.-' 



The rather large and striking insect, M. Leda of Linnseus, which 

 is the type of this genus, is one of the most variable of known butter- 

 flies, and has an immense geographical range over the Ethiopian, 

 Oriental, and Australian Regions. Although several Indian and 

 Malayan variations are still marked in collections as distinct species, 

 I am most strongly disposed — looking to the large number of so-called 

 species which have, with common consent, been sunk as varieties of 

 Leda, and knowing the remarkable extent to which this butterfly 

 varies, alike in outline of wings, pattern, and colouring in one and 

 the same locality even (e.g., Port Natal) — to think that there exists in 

 reality (besides the species hitherto referred to Gnophodcs) but one 

 Melanitis, spread over all the warmer parts of the Old World. 



The nocturnal habits of Melanitis lend it an additional interest. 

 During the day it frequents the darkest and shadiest spots in woods 

 or plantations, sitting on the ground or among dead leaves, where its 

 under-side colouring well conceals it from notice. When roused from 

 these retired spots, it takes a short but wild, uneven, flapping flight, 

 and drops again into some shaded nook. At sunset it becomes active, 

 and ventures into open spots, where it may be observed sporting 

 about until dark. 



29. (1.) Melanitis Leda (Linnaeus). 



Papilio Leda, Linn., Syst. Nat., i. 2, p. 773, n. 151 (1767). 

 „ ,, Dru., 111. Nat. Hist., i. pi. xv. ff. 5, 6 (1770). 

 ,, „ Cram., Pap. Exot., iii. t. cxcvi. ff. c, n, and iv. t. ccxcii. 

 f. A (1782). 

 Fab., Ent. Syst., iii. i, p. 108, n. 333 (1793). 

 Oreas mannorea Leda, Hiibn., Samml. Exot. Schmett., i. t. 91 (1806). 

 Satyrus Leda, Godt., Enc. Meth., ix. p. 478, n. 4 (181 9). 



^ Mr. A. G. Butler [Cat. Sat. Brit. Mas., p. 5, pi. ii. f. i) describes and figures an 

 Indian butterfly which he names Melanitis Gnophodes, with the following note, viz. : — " The 

 i of this species i-esembles Gnophodes Parmeno on the upper side ; the ? has a brighter 

 orange band, and resembles the Natal form " [afterwards named by Mr. Butler G. diversa'\ 

 " of the same insect. It may possibly be a link between the two genera, though a true 

 Melanitis." 



