230 SOUTH-AFRICAX BUTTERFLIES. 



Larva. — (Cast skin of final moult.) Apparently wholly black, 

 except the head, which is shining yellowish-brown, with a central 

 arrow-head black mark in front and a conspicuous rounded black spot 

 on each side. Spines of the body very acuminate, set with whorls of 

 strong acicular bristles ; the pair on the summit of the head also black, 

 very thick and long, blunt and rounded at the tips, quite erect, bearing 

 short, stout, thorn-like branches throughout. 



Pupa. — (Cast skin.) Pale yellowish -brown, mottled irregularly 

 with darker-brown on abdomen generally and on back of thorax ; 

 three darker-brown sub-quadrate spots on wing-covers near base. 



Colonel Bovvker reared a specimen of Octavia at Pinetown, in Natal, 

 in October 1883, and sent me the exuvice above described, with the 

 note that the duration of the pupal state was twelve days. As far as 

 can be judged from the shrivelled skin, the larva must closely resemble 

 that of P. Scsamus, described by Captain Harford. 



The much larger size and brigliter, clearer red of the Southern examples 

 give them a very distinct look from the Tropical West-African type-form, 

 which also in fore-wing has the discal row of black spots less curved inwardly, 

 and in both wings on upper side the rows of bluish lunules almost obsolete. 

 But, on a close comparison, I have not judged it advisable to separate the 

 Southern form as a distinct species, though it certainly constitutes a marked 

 variety. 



I found this beautiful Precis widely spread over JSTatal in the summer of 

 1867, but did not notice it near D'Urban. It frequents open, grassy hills, 

 especially their summit ridges or highest points, and is very conspicuous, 

 whether flying or settled. Its companions on these exposed spots are usually 

 its own congeners, P. Sesamus, Archesia, and Pelasgis, though the last-named 

 species often prefers a station on the edge of a wood. All are active, bold 

 butterflies, and their size and striking colouring give much animation to their 

 favourite haunts. 



"While in ISTatal, I captured, near Verulam, on 25th February 1867, a very 

 fine example of what I took to be a dark example of Octavia, but which, on 

 examination, exhibited manifest indications of an approach toAvards the char- 

 acters of P. Sesamus^. I have had this example figured (see PI. IV. fig. 4), 

 and it will be observed that the basal black is much more developed than 

 usual, and in the fore-Aving is irrorated with blue ; that a black-edged blue stria 

 crosses the discoidal cell of the fore-wing, while a triple blue and black striated 

 marking occupies the extremity of the cell ; that the two upper spots of the 

 discal row in the fore-wing, Avhich in Sesamus are white-centred, are centred 

 with Avhitish-blue ; and that the under side presents, immediately beyond the 

 ordinary basal markings, an irregular fuscous bluish-varied stripe, corresponding 

 in position to the similar marking in P. Sesamus. I saw a second individual 

 of apparently quite the same pattern in the Umvoti District during the follow- 

 ing March, but did not succeed in capturing it. 



These tAvo butterflies recalled to my mind two singular specimens taken by 

 Colonel Bowker on the Tsomo River, Kaff'raria, in December 1865, Avhich pre- 

 sented in the main the characters of Sesamus, but Avith a very decided inclina- 

 tion in the direction of Odavia. To these latter specimens I shall revert 

 under the heading of P. Sesamus. 



It Avas not until 1879 that I found, in the fine collection acquired from 

 !Mr. T. Ayres for the South- African Museum, two examples from the Lyden- 

 burg District of the Transvaal Avhich closely resembled my Natal example ; 

 but in the absence of any basal blue irroration, and in having only faint traces 



