SATYEIX.E. 127 



Larva. — Pale bluish-green ; a conspicuous black, dorsal stripe from 

 head to tail. Head chestnut-red ; legs ochreous ; spiracular rings black. 

 " Found on Hebcnstreitia and on several species of Compositcc, in high 

 sheltered situations among rocks, September and October. The young 

 larva is of a much yellower green than in its full-grown state." — M. 

 E. Barlcr. 



In 1863 twenty larvae were hatched from eggs laid by a specimen 

 captured near Cape Town. When just emerged, they were about 

 \ inch in length, rather closely set with bristly hairs, and with the head 

 large. Their colour was sandy-yellowish. They would not eat various 

 plants which I offered them, and I therefore liberated the survivors. 



Pupa. — " Semi-transparent, Frencli-ioliite in colour " (M. E. B.) 

 Abdomen with a dorsal row, and on each side three rows, of small 

 black spots ; rest of surface irrorated with black dots for the greater 

 part ; some larger black spots at dorsal and lateral angles, and about 

 head, and a row of them across outer portion of wing-covers. Anal 

 prominence at point of suspension black. " Suspended to ferns or 

 other plants growing under shelving rocks. Imago emerged from pupa 

 after two months " (M. E. B.) 



On 24th December 1876 Mr. C. A. Fairbridge took two examples 

 (^ and ^) in his garden at Sea Point, near Cape Town, of which the 

 ^ individual had only just emerged from the chrysalis. The pupa- 

 skin, which he forwarded with the butterfly, was attached to a slight 

 silken web among dry stalks and leaves on a trellis immediately above 

 a bank thickly covered with the " Kweek " grass (Stcnotai^hrum gla- 

 hrum) ; and Mr. Fairbridge conjectures that this grass was probably 

 the food-plant of the larva. Mrs. Barber informed me that she doubted 

 if the larva fed on the plants on which she found it, as she had not 

 seen it eating any of them. 



This very fine insect is peculiar to South Africa, but seems generally distri- 

 buted wherever mountains or high rocky hills exist. It keeps very closely to 

 elevated stations, as a rule, but will sometimes haunt lower ground, especially 

 when strong winds prevail. Its flight is tolerably swift, and sometimes long- 

 sustained, but usually it settles frequently, either on rocks, under overhanging 

 banks, or on flowers. It exhibits a decided liking for red flowers ; — I have 

 noticed it on Nerine, HcBmanthus, Antholyza, and Disa cornxita, and have 

 taken two examples with the pollinia of the last-named plant attached to the 

 head. Mrs. Barber found that at Highlands the butterfly was fond of the 

 aloe flowers. When settled on flowers, it is easily approached and captured, 

 but is very wary when resting on the ground or on rocks. Specimens which I 

 have noticed in Cape Town flew along under the eaves of houses, and occasionally 

 entered open windows ; and two were thus captured in the Exhibition room of 

 the South- African Museum. It is most prevalent during February, March, and 

 April ; but I have known it to occur as early as the 24th December and as 

 late as the i8th May. 



The northern limit of TulhaglMs range is not known, but its most northerly 

 locality yet recorded is the district of Lydenburg, in the Transvaal, whence Mr. 

 T. Ayres sent a specimen in 1879. This example, and those I have received 

 from Bnrghersdorp, in the north-east corner of the Cape Colony, and from 

 Basutoland, are rather smaller and darker than usual. 



