JRhopalocerous forms in South Africa. 271 



Esehria, Hew., and I may remark that every one of the 

 forms (not specimens) shown, has been raised by me from 

 larvse taken at random from one plant of a species of 

 Fleurya ( Urticaceoz) : (1) mai'kings in both wings white; 



(2) markings in fore wings white, in hind Avings yellow; 



(3) markings in both wings yellow; (4) markings in fore 

 wings Avhite, in hind wings brick-red; (5) markings in 

 fore wings yellow, in hind wings brick-red. 



Some larvse I confined in a dark box, and found that 

 the coloration of the pupce (usually white with thin black 

 and orange markings) was materially altered and darkened, 

 so as closely to resemble those of Acrcea Hurta, but the 

 imagines were as varied in colour as those raised under 

 ordinary daylight. This darkening of colour I have found 

 to be very common under the same circumstances in 

 pupse belonging to different families of butterflies. Both 

 the larvse and pup^ of those Acrceas known to me are 

 found in conspicuous places without any attempt at 

 concealment. 



I Avill next refer to a series of Junonias which exhibits 

 so close a gradation between the tAvo extreme forms, and 

 a slight tendency towards another form, as to lead me to 

 the belief that no actual separation exists between at least 

 the two in nature. These variations are not confined to 

 the upper surface, and extend to the colour, markings, 

 and even form of both winss. 



I believe entomologists have generally sepai'ated the 

 two as Junonia Pelasgis and J. Archesia. As I am at 

 present unacquainted Avith the larvas I refrain from ex- 

 pressing a decisive opinion, and can only refer to the 

 evidence afforded by the specimens exhibited. 



Those which display in a marked manner the light- 

 coloured transverse bands of Pelasgis are for the most 

 part fl-om the seacoast • or thereabouts, but not invari- 

 ably so, Avhile the intermediate forms allied to Pelasgis, 

 though common inland, are also met AA'ith on the coast. 



I may remark, that Archesia is in the neighbourhood 

 of Bedford a commoner insect than Pelasgis, though the 

 latter is by no means scarce, and is usually seen more fre- 

 quently in a Avet season Avith southerly Avinds. On the 

 coast Pelasgis is, I think, distributed in somewhat greater 

 al)undance than Archesia. The relative numbers of the 

 tAvo species vary in different years. 



With respect to Archesia itself I Avould particularly 

 note the purple sheen very apparent on Kaflrarian speci- 



