114 DR, A. G, BUTLER ON BUTTERFLIES [Jan. 14, 
No two examples of this species are absolutely alike, and thus 
the unfortunate creature has received the following names since 
Mr. Godman first made it known :—M. Oberthiir calls it A. pro- 
teina, flavescens, semifulvescens, fulvescens, and semialbescens ; Herr 
Rogenhofer calls it A. telekiana, comfusa, and fallaw; and Herr 
Karsch denominates it A. octobalia: the species thus has ten 
names; it divides itself very vaguely into four varieties, as 
follows :— 
1. A. johnstoni, in which the sexes differ greatly ; the typical 
male is described by M. Oberthiir as A. semifulvescens, and the 
typical female as A. proteina. 
2. A. fulvescens, Oberth.= A. telekiana, Rghfr. 
3. A. semiallescens, Oberth. 
4, A. flavescens (it a male)= A. kilimandjara, Oberth.= A. confusa 
and A. fallax, Rghfr., and A. octobalia, Karsch. 
In the last-mentioned form both sexes have adopted the female 
dress; but the male sometimes has the spots on the primaries 
yellowish. 
Acreu is a very variable genus, and it has been the custom of 
lepidopterists to regard all the different phases of each species as 
distinct ; the genus, when properly studied, reduces itself to about 
a third of its supposed magnitude. The triangular black apical 
patch, which has been made to serve as a specific character in 
several instances, is of no value whatever, being a purely indi- 
vidual characteristic dependent on presence or absence of moisture. 
28. ACR@HA CABIRA. 
Acrea cabira, Hopffer, Ber. Verh. Akad. Berlin, 1855, p. 640; 
Peters’ Reise n. Mossamb. p. 378, pl. 23. figs. 14, 15 (1862). 
3 d.Chifumya, Lower Nyika, 20th April; 9, Munchewi R., 
Lower Nyika, April 8th, 1895. 
“ Yellow and black Fritillary. Q full of orange-coloured ova ” 
(R. C.). 
29. ACR#A VINIDIA. 
Acrea vinidia, Hewitson, Ent. Month. Mag. xi. p. 130 (1874); 
Exot. Butt. v. Acr. pl. 7. figs. 45, 46 (1875). 
Var. Acrwa acerata, Hewitson, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, 
vol. xiii. p. 381 (1874); Exot. Butt. v. Aer. pl. 7. fig. 44 (1875). 
Albino: Aerea tenella, Rogenhofer, Ann. Hof. Mus. Wien 
(1891). 
Acrea abbotii, Holland, Entomologist, Suppl. xxv. (1892). 
2, Ngerenge, W. coast of Lake Nyasa, Feb. 27th, 1895. 
‘Pale orange and black Fritillary ” (2. C.). 
This species, like most of the Acree, is very variable, and 
especially in the female sex ; the present example is straw-yellow, 
with the normal black border, subapical bar, and basal marking ; 
it may therefore stand as the female of the albino form A. tenella, 
a male example of which we have from Kilima-njaro. 
