SOUTH-AFRICAN BUTTERFLIES. 
wing, and the small development of the adjacent hind -marginal lunulate 
whitish streak — that it represents the species with orange-banded under 
side ; but it must be admitted that much uncertainty attends this conclusioi]. 
My A. caffer being thus sunk in Natale^isis, Westw., the reputed Natalensis 
(purple-banded beneath) must take Wallengren's name of Masilikazi, pro- 
posed in 1857. 
From the latter, the form under notice is separated on the upper side by 
its paler, less purplish blue, by the much more constant and well- developed 
ochreous-yellow stripes of the fore-wing, and by the brighter and wider 
anal-angular orange of the hind-wing ; while on the under side the stripes 
are orange or ochreous instead of dull-purple ; the fore-wing has no spot on 
costa at base or at origin of inner submarginal streak ; and the hind- wing 
has the base and inner margin orange-ochreous, the band beyond middle 
inclining outward more than inward, and always joining the inner submar- 
ginal streak, which latter is orange instead of dull-purplish. 
A. Natalensis is nearer than A. Masilikazi to the Indian A. Etolus, Cram., 
having the under-side stripes of the same colour ; but both the African species 
want the hind-marginal and sub-marginal orange stripes of the fore-wing, 
and the additional sub-basal orange stripe of the hind-wing which Etolus 
displays. 
Remarkably diminutive specimens of Natalensis occur ; one ^ , taken in 
Natal by Mr. T. Ayres, expands only 10 lines, and a $ from the Transvaal 
country barely 1 1 lines. 
I found this butterfly not uncommon in the upland grassy hills in the 
interior of Natal. 1 It was swift and active in flight, but settled very fre- 
quently on the leaves and flowers of low plants. I captured the paired sexes 
in the Noodsberg on the i6th March 1867. Basutoland the slight variety 
found abundantly by Colonel Bowker was described by him as usually sitting 
on the ground or on stones, keeping much in pairs, and only flying for a very 
few yards at a time, so as to be easily captured. 
t 
I 
Localities of Aplinxus Natalensis. ^ 
I. South Africa. 
B. Cape Colony. 
c. Griqualand West. — Kimberley. 
d. Basutoland. — Maseru (/. //. Bowlcer). rji 
E. Natal * 
h. Upper Districts. — Great Noodsberg. Udland's Mission Station. 
K. Transvaal. — Potchefstroom District {T. Ayres). 
I 
195. (3,) AphnsBus Masilikazi, (Wallengren). 
$ 9 Sjmidasis Masilikazi, Wallengr., K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl., 1857, 
Lep. Rhop. Caffr., p. 45. 
Amhlypodia Natalensis, Hopff., Peters' Reise n. Mossamb., — Ins., p. 399 
(1862). 
$ „ Trim., Rhop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 227, n. 131 (1866). 
Exp. al., I in. 2-7 lin. 
J Bull molaceous-hlue shot luith rich puijjle, vnth broad brownish- 
black borders. Fore--wi7ig : blue forms a semicircle on inner margin 
^ Colonel Bowker has this month (August 1885) sent specimens taken at Mtilvern, ten 
miles from D' Urban. 
