NYMPHALIX^. 237 



brown than above ; the transverse band very conspicuous, white, with 

 a creamy tint on its edges, and with a faint violaceous lustre. Fore- 

 wing : some scarcely distinguishable, thin, dark, transverse lines in 

 cell ; between which lines are occasionally a few scattered whitish 

 scales ; row of spots conspicuous, the lowest one geminate ; apex 

 more or less clouded with white scales ; double row of lunules dis- 

 tincter than on upper side, some of them marked with white scales. 

 Hind-wing : spots in band as on upper side ; an ochreous-yellow tinge 

 on inner margin at conclusion of band; lunular streaks as in fore- 

 wing. 



This near ally of F. Archesia (Cram.) is easily known by its paler, 

 wider, differently- coloured transverse bands, which on the under side 

 are very conspicuously creamy-white, and most distinctly defined on 

 both edges. On the upper side also it almost totally wants every 

 trace of the pale-blue markings of Archesia ; while the ground of the 

 under side is uniform dark-brown, with little if any paler stri« or 

 varied clouding. 



P. Chapunga (Hewits.), from the Zambesi, is still more closely related to 

 Pelasgis. The two examples on which the late Mr. Hewitson founded the 

 species both exhibit the striking features of the discal common band being so 

 reduced as to consist (except as regards the costal bar at the upper extremity) 

 only of reddish rings round the small black spots. The lunulate marginal 

 rows on the upper side of the fore-wing are of the same reddish tint and well 

 marked. On the under side the band is of the same character as in Felasgis, 

 but considerably narrower. 



The range of P. Pelasgis agrees nearly with that of P. Archesia, and the 

 habits of the two butterflies are much the same. I have frequently found them 

 in company, haunting the same spots, and settling on the same rocks or flowers. 

 At Highlands, near Grahamstown, I noticed, however, a habit in the ^ Felasgis 

 which I have never witnessed in the case of Archesia, viz., that of perching 

 himself on tlie projecting twig of some high bush at the edge of a wood, and 

 thence giving chase to other passing butterflies. Mrs. Barber informed me 

 that in the same locality she had noticed the 9 Pelasgis laying her eggs on 

 a white-flowered Labiate of the genus Plectranthus. This butterfly also keeps 

 on the wing during part at least of the winter season, as I saw several examples 

 at Grahamstown during June 1883. 



Localities of Freds Felasgis. 



1. South Africa. 

 B. Cape Colony, 



h. Eastern Districts. — GrahamstoAvn. Bedford (/. P. Hansel Weale). 

 Keiskama Hoek, and King William's ToAvn {W, S. M. U Urban). 

 Windvogelberg, Queenstown {Dr. Batho). 



D. Kaflraria Proper. — Mouth of St. John's River {Sir H. Barldy). 



E. Natal. 



a. Coast Districts. — D'Urban. Verulam. Umhlali. Umvoti. Mapu- 



mulo. 

 h. Upper Districts. — Fort Buckingham. Hermansburg. Pieter- 



maritzburg {Miss Colenso). Estcourt {J. M. HuMmison) 



Korke's Drift (/. H. Boivker). 

 K. Transvaal, — Potchefstroom {T. Ayres). 



