143 
margin of the fore-wing is not elbowed. If the locality of Boisdnval's 
example be correctly recorded, it would appear that M. ficediila, or a 
very near ally, inhabits Western Africa in company with M. Silemis. 
That this is probably the case is further indicated by some specimens 
from Ambriz (Congo) in Mrs. Monteiro's collection, which do not differ 
from the Southern species except that the $ s have less ferruginous in 
the apical hind-marginal area of the fore-wing.^ 
Larva. — Length, 9 to i i lin. ; greatest width, 3|- lin. Very 
strongly convex on back, but flattened ventrally ; lateral margin 
throughout produced into a fleshy border, concealing head and legs ; 
each segment from second to ninth (both inclusive) with a dorsal hump, 
most prominent on fourth, eighth, and ninth segments. Yellowish- 
green ; first and last segments, as well as a more or less interrupted 
median dorsal stripe, pale-ashy ; the stripe irregularly varied with 
ferruginous-ochreous, slightly narrowing from first segment to dorsal 
hump (ferruginous-ochreous) on fourth segment, but widening much from 
sixth segment so as to cover all dorsal portion of seventh and eighth 
segments except a large and conspicuous pure-white spot on eighth 
segment terminating in white hump. On ninth segment, dorsal hump 
pale-ashy, and a good-sized pure- white spot on each lateral margin. 
All darker parts distinctly speckled with black ; the green parts only 
very thinly so. Head and legs black. Spiracles and pro-legs ferru- 
ginous-ochreous. Feeds on Ficus natalensis and on the cultivated fig 
{F. carica). — Plate i, ff. 7 (from my own drawings). 
Pupa. — Stout and broad, not unlike the contracted larva in gene- 
ral form, constricted about middle ; back of thorax bluntly ridged ; 
abdomen very wide and rotund, varying from greenish-brown to dull 
brownish- ochreous, the wing-covers and under side generally, and a 
narrow median dorsal stripe dull dark-brown. Frontal region of 
thorax varied with paler brown, which also forms a broad border on 
each side of dorsal stripe on abdomen. In some specimens the hinder 
part of the thorax and the sides of the abdomen are on the back varied 
with white. Attached by the tail only, but in a horizontal position, 
to leaves of the food-plant — usually on the under side, or to its twigs. 
— Plate I., K ya (from my own drawings). 
This very handsome Myrina first makes its appearance at the end of 
January, and worn individuals occur as late as the end of April. Though 
very swift when it does take flight, the butterfly is disinclined to move 
except in chase of other individuals of its species, and is perpetually resettling 
on the twigs and leaves of its food-plant. In these brief excursions it soon 
gets worn, and is apt to lose its long tails. It is fond of sucking the ripe 
figs split open by birds, and when so engaged may with caution be taken by 
hand. 
The larv£e found by me in March 1859 at Knysna (see Rhop. Afr. Aiist., 
ii. p. 220, note), feeding on the cultivated fig, were proved to belong to this 
^ I have since seen exainples of M. ficcdula marked "West Africa" in the Collection of 
the British Museum. 
