NYMPHALIN^. 
267 
it is figured by Cramer (t. 375, f. g, h) as Poliiiice^ The variety seems to 
have almost as wide a rancje in Africa as the typical form, but not to extend 
beyond the continent; K. anvatara, Boisd., inhabiting Madagascar and the 
Comoro Islands, though more nearly related to it than to llitliyia proper, 
being, I consider, a distinct species.^ 
I 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 9,3 
having the black markings strongly developed throughout ; 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 of | 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 the hind- wings 
on the under side dull-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 with 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. M'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 in copula. The 
sexes in each case were nearly alike, with the palest under-side colouring of 
the hind-wings, but the males had the faint yellow-ochreous bands rather more 
distinct from the general creamy-yellowish 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 Ilithyia 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 Melitaea, 
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 Ryjpanis 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. — Tijp.) 
t"" d. Basutoland. — Maseru (/. H. Boicher. — Typ.) 
D. Kaffraria Proper. — Butterworth and Bashee River (/. H. Boivher. — 
Var. A.) 
^ I think that Boisduval's Polinice {op. 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 <S for ? and vice versa, j 
