228 SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTEEFLIES. 



tinct parallel rows of paler lunules, of wliicli the inner are slightly 

 bluish-tinged. Hind-iving : basal fuscous very broad (especially along 

 costa, where it almost reaches hind-marginal fuscous border), marked 

 with a whitish-fulvous spot between costal and subcostal nervures, 

 and with a large fulvous space (outwardly connected with ground- 

 colour) in outer half of discoidal cell ; discal waved row of five spots, 

 smaller than in fore-wing ; hind-marginal border considerably wider 

 than in fore-wing, its inner edge irregularly and bluntly dentated, 

 its two rows of lunules almost as indistinct as in fore-wing. Cilia 

 fuscous, with inter-nervular white spots. Under side. — Paler, the 

 ground-colour tinged with whitish ; basal fusco^is and its included 

 markings of the ground-colour very distinctly defined ; the lunules of 

 hind-marginal border much whiter and distincter than on upper side. 

 Fore-wing : basal fuscous not irrorated with fulvous, its external edge 

 only bluntly angulated, containing a basal and a terminal disco-cellular 

 bar (the latter narrowly continued to submedian nervure), and an 

 irregular thin streak beyond cell ; fuscous costal bar near apex obsolete, 

 so that first and second spots of discal row are distinct. Hind-iving : 

 basal fuscous much narrower on costa, extending only slightly beyond 

 middle ; disco-cellular markings corresponding with those of fore-wing, 

 but smaller and whiter ; spot between costal and subcostal nervures 

 near base large and conspicuous ; immediately above it a small indis- 

 tinct fulvous spot ; curve of costa at base bordered with fulvous ; a 

 sixth spot near costa in discal row. 



As above stated, I formerly referred Simla, Wallengr., with doubt to 

 Octavia, Cram., judging from the author's description only. But in November 

 1881 I received a very carefully coloured drawing of Wallengren's type (most 

 kindly procured for me by M. Aurivillius, of the Royal Stockholm Museum), 

 and on my return to the Cape found a worn specimen of Simia, which had 

 been sent to the South-African Museum by Colonel Bowker. A comparison 

 of this specimen with the drawing and with Wallengren's description has 

 convinced me that the latter author was justified in separating this butterfly 

 from Octavia. Its small size and duller, more fulvous colour distinguish it 

 widely in appearance from the southern examples of Octavia, but it is much 

 more like the West-African type-form. As regards the upper side, the wider 

 extension of the basal fuscous, and its fulvous irroration and singular external 

 angulation in the fore-wing, together with the narrower hind-marginal border, 

 are distinguishing marks of Simia ; and, on the under side, the entire basal 

 field of fuscous completely enclosing all the ground-colour markings, hid 

 wanting the ttvo conspicuous hasi-costal pale spots of Octavia, as well as any 

 trace of the blue irroration, are characters by which the butterfly can well be 

 recognised. 



Colonel BoAvker's specimen of this apparently very rare species is a (J , and 

 was taken in the Park at D'Urban, Natal, in June 1881. I sent a drawing 

 and note of the insect to that excellent observer ; but he has not again met 

 with an example. 



Localities of Precis Simia. 

 I. South Africa. 

 E. Natal. 



a. Coast Districts. —D'Urban {J. H. Boicher). 



