76 



AFRICAN MIMETIC BUTTERFLIES 



PSEUDACRAEA GOTTBERGI. 



Dewitz, Berlin. Ent. Zeit., xxviii, p. 187, pi. i, f. 1 (1884). 

 Oberthiir {gazengeli), Etud. d'Ent., xvii, p. 30, pi. 3, f. 31 (1893). 

 Aurivillius, Rhop. Aeth., p. 175 (1898). 



I have been unable to obtain an example of this species to add to the illustrations. 

 It was figured from a single male in the Berlin Ent. Zeit. in 1884, and is evidently a member 

 of the Planema elongata association. The description given by Dewitz is as follows : — 



' Upperside, Fore-wings blackish-brown ; a red-brown discal band extending from 

 the subcostal to the inner-margin, and broken up by the black nervules. A deep black 

 longitudinal streak in the cell, and dark internervular streaks. Hind-wings reddish-brown, 

 blackish at base and margin, nervures and rays black, 



' Underside, Paler. Hind-wings with seven to eight round black basal spots in two 

 rows, 



' Head and thorax with white, and abdomen with reddish-brown spots. Differs from 

 eurytus and ruhama in the absence of black spots at base of fore-wing, and from kunowi in 

 the lack of the white band in the hind-wing,' 



The male thus described mimics the male Planema elongata. I have not seen any 

 description of the female, but it would be interesting to learn whether it is modified in the 

 direction of the female Planema. The species occurs in Cameroon and the Congo region. 



A. PHALANTHA AND P. HEGEMONE, 

 ATELLA PHALANTHA. 



Drury, 111. Exot. Ins., i, p. 41, pi. 21, ff. i, 2 (1773). 



Cramer {columhina) , Pap. Exot., iv, p. 92, pi. 337, ff. D, E (1782). 



Herbst ($ phalanthus), Naturs. Schmet., ix, p. 187, pi. 257, ff. i, 2 (1798). 



— {laudonius), 1. c, p. 186, pi. 256, ff. 3, 4 (1798). 



Trimen, Metamorph., S. Af. Butt., i, p. 191 (1887). 



Aurivillius, Rhop. Aeth., p. 126 (1898). 



Plate VII, Fig. 12 o^. 



This is one of the commonest butterflies in Africa and is found plentifully over the 

 greater part of that continent, and also over a large portion of Tropical Asia. It is somewhat 

 remarkable that so common and widely distributed a species has not more mimics in the 

 African region, 



PSEUDARGYNNIS HEGEMONE, 



Godart, Enc. Meth. 9, p. 258 (1819). 



Snellen (duodecimpunciata) , Tijd. v. Ent. (2), vii, p. 15, pi. I, ff. 1-3 (1872). 

 Druce {Aterica chlorana), Trans. Ent. Soc, p. 157 (1874). 

 Aurivillius, Rhop. Aeth., p. 179 (1898). 



Plate VII, Fig. 15. 



This species has a very wide range extending from Cameroon to Mount Ruwenzori, 

 It is probably not nearly so rare as was at one time supposed, Mr, Neave took a long series 

 in the upper reaches of the Congo, and he informs me that it is quite indistinguishable from 

 A. phalantha when on the wing, a fact which may be realized by a glance at the figures on 

 Plate VII, The same collector once took an example amongst fourteen individuals of 

 A. phalantha. The females often have darker spots, and the depth of the underside 

 ground-colour varies in both sexes. In the dry season all the markings are frequently 

 less distinct. 



