124 
SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES. 
from the Transvaal, viz., that above mentioned from near Potchef- 
stroom, and one from tlie Lydenburg district taken by Mr. T. Ayres, 
the expanse of wings reaches i J inches. If it were not for some inter- 
mediate specimens from the Eastern districts, I should have been dis- 
posed to treat S toll's Gorgias as distinct ; and it is perhaps entitled 
to rank as a Variety, especially as it exhibits a decided tendency to a 
constant greater development of the hind-marginal white rings. This 
is most remarkably shown in an aberrant $ taken near Pinetown in 
1879 by Colonel Bowker, where each wing presents three perfect white 
rings with black centres, besides two superior imperfect white rings ; 
the whole upper-side colouring of this specimen is paler and more 
metallic than usual. An abnormally small ^, which I took near Cape 
Town in April i860, is only 8 lines across the expanded wings. 
Specimens of both sexes, taken in Basutoland by Colonel Bowker, 
are rather darker than usual, and with the under-side markings strongly ' 
developed. They are of moderate size, and the wings of the J are 
rather blunt. In two examples {$ and the ocelli of both wings are j 
on the upper side ill defined, the white rings being very imperfect ; and 1 
in one of them (the $) the upper ocellus is wanting in the fore-wing. 
I found the butterfly uncommon in Natal. The specimens I took 
inland were like the Western Cape Colony form, though larger ; but 
the solitary male I met with on the coast had the acute wings and 
other peculiarities of Stoll's Gorgias very pronounced. The latter form 
of $ has, however, been sent me from Estcourt (far inland) by Mr. J. 
M. Hutchinson. 
Larva. — Pale- green ; head, front edge of second (?) segment, and i 
a median dorsal line lake-red ; on each side a row of very small black 
spots. Feeds on Cotyledon cuneahtm. 
Pupa. — Rather darker green than larva ; a faint median line of j 
red along hinder half of back of abdomen. Attached head downward 
to under side of leaf of Cotyledon cuneatum. 
Larva and pupa described from a drawing of specimens observed 
near Grahamstown by Mrs. Barber, which is reproduced in Plate 11. 
ff. I, la. (Mrs. Barber gave me the name of the larva's food-plant; | 
and it is interesting to observe in her drawing how closely the green, | 
red-edged colouring of the insects accords with that of the Cotyledon.) 
This delicately-marked little species is very easily recognised by its peculiar \ 
colouring and the conspicuous ocelli at the posterior angles of the wings. It 
frequents broken rocky ground at the foot or on the ascent of hills, and often 
occurs at considerable elevations. I have taken it in every month of the j 
year, but it is scarce in the winter months. Its flight is rapid and frequent, 
but never far from the ground ; on the wing it is particularly indistinct. 
Besides perching on twigs of low plants, it is fond of settling on stones, 1 
keeping the wings half open. I have not very often noticed it on flowers. 
I have not found any record of Lara's occurrence within the tropical ! 
parte of the continent, except near Bamangwato (Shoshong), where Mr. H. I 
Barber took an acute- winged in 1878, and the very remote locality of Shoa | 
in Abyssinia. 
