NYMPHALIN^. 267 



it is figured by Cramer (t. 375, f. a, h) as PoUnlce.^ The variety seems to 

 have ahnost as wide a range in Africa as the typical form, but not to extend 

 beyond the continent; H. ativatara, Boisd., inhabiting Madagascar and the 

 Comoro Islands, though more nearly related to it than to Ilitlnjut proper, 

 being, I consider, a distinct species. 2 



Many of the West- African specimens of this variety approach in appear- 

 ance Cramer's figures (a and b, t. 213, and c and d, t. 214) of (J and $,3 

 having the black markings strongly developed tliroughout ; the submarginal 

 band of fore- wing being not only continued rather widely to costa, but broadly 

 united just above third median nervule to the broad projection of the costal 

 bar, so as to completely isolate an oblique subapical ray off the ground- 

 colour. I also possess a $ from D'Urban, Natal, in which the black hind- 

 marginal bands are very wide, and so completely coalesce as to leave only five 

 small spots of the ground-colour. 



The specimen figured by Drury, and stated to be from " Senegal," is a large 

 well-coloured and strongly-banded $ , with the ground-colour of tlie hind-wings 

 on the under side dvdl-ferruginous, yet with tlie white-spotted black sub- 

 marginal and hind-marginal bands quite distinct though narrow. I possess a 

 very similar $ , taken by Mr. T. Ayres in the Transvaal in 1870, but it is not so 

 large, and the upper-side markings are rather narrower, the base of the hind-wing 

 being suffused witli fuscous. A very small $ of the typical form, from Damara- 

 land, has all the upper-side markings much attenuated, and the under side of 

 the hind-wing uniform deep-ferruginous, except for the three white bands and 

 narrow white black-edged hind-marginal border. 



Along the Eastern Coast of South Africa it is the Variety A. which prevails ; 

 but the late Mr. M. J. INI'Ken sent me a (^ of the Ilithyia proper, which he 

 took at D'Urban, and I met with one not far to the northward, in the Victoria 

 Country. The variety |is very common about D'Urban, and I took many 

 examples there in the summer of 1867, including two pairs 171 copula. Tlie 

 sexes in each case were nearly alike, Avith the palest under-side coloiirino' of 

 the hind-wings, but the males had the faint yellow-ochreous bands rather more 

 distinct from the general creamy-yelloAvish ground-colour. Colonel Bowker 

 in 1878 and 1881 captured two quite similar pairs, and in 1880 sent me a 

 pair with ferruginous under sides. In the latter, the ferruginous was less deep 

 in the $ than in the $ . Farther inland the typical IlWiijia seems to replace 

 the variety, but it is by no means so numerous in individuals. 



This very pretty butterfly, which has somewhat the look of a large Melitcea, 

 frequents grassy and bushy spots on the borders of woods. It is conspicuous 

 on the wing, flying low and not rapidly, and often settling on the ground or on 

 the herbage. I do not recollect having seen it feeding on any flower. It 

 comes out in the winter, but is not then so numerous as in the hotter months. 



Localities of Hypanis Ilithyia. 



I. South Africa. 

 B. Cape Colony. 



h. Eastern Districts. — King William's Town {H. J. Atherstone). 

 c. Griqualand West. — Vaal Eiver (M. E. Barber. — Typ.) 

 V d. Basutoland. — Maseru (/. H. Bowlier. — Typ.) 



D. Kaffraria Proper. — Butterworth and Bashee Eiver (/. H. Bowlier. — 

 Var. A.) 



^ I think that Boisduval's Pollnicc {ojh cit.), from "Senegal," is of the typical form, but 

 as he only figures the under side, cannot be certain about it. 



^ A constant distinguishing character in //. anvatara is the waved and dentated form 

 of the bands crossing the under side of the hind-wings. 



^ Cramer in his text gives J for ? and vice versa. ■ 



