LYC^NID^. 
213. (12.) Zeritis Palmus (Cramer). 
Papilio Palmus, Cram., Pap. Exot., iv. pi. cccxli. ff. f, g (1782). 
$ $ Zeritis Thyshe, Var., Trim., Kliop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 265, n. 1-65 
(1866). 
Uxp. aL, ((?) I in. — i in. 2I lin.; ($) i in. — i in. Hn. 
J Orange-red, suh-metallic near hases ; an irregular discal roio of 
small black sjjots ; and a narroiu hlach hind-marginal harder, hecoming 
obsolete in loiuer half of hind-iuing. Fore-wing : base (except on costa) 
with a narrow black suffusion ; costa with a linear edging of black ; a 
terminal disco-cellular spot, and a discal row of six spots, arranged 
quite as in Thysbe, Linn., but all considerably smaller and less quadrate ; 
hind-marginal border and external orange-red lunules as in Thysbe. 
Hind-wing : a basal black suffusion, broader than in fore- wing and 
prolonged somewhat widely along inner margin to considerably beyond 
middle, where it terminates in a point ; discal spots arranged as in 
Thysbe, but smaller and thinner, the sixth (last) spot of row minute or 
sometimes absent ; hind-marginal linear border quite as in Thysbe. 
Under side. — As in Tliysbe, except that the black discal spots of the 
fore-wing are smaller, and the ferruginous markings of hind-wing 
constantly well developed. 
$ Paler than ; less sub-metallic near bases ; basal blackish 
duller, and slightly narrower. Under side. — As in J". 
Seven specimens collected at Maseru, in Basutoland, by Colonel Bowker 
are smaller than usual ; the bases of the wings have a much wider though 
duller blackish suffusion, the hind-marginal border is wider, and the cilia 
strongly alternated with black and white. One $ has the costa of both 
wings (more especially that of the hind-wing) clouded with blackish ; all the 
hind-wing discal spots prolonged interiorly, and a total want of the external 
hmulate orange edging between hind-marginal border and cilia. A ? of 
this small dark description has been sent from Burghersdorp by Dr. Kanne- 
meyer. 
Though so conspicuously different from Thysbe (Linn.) in the total want 
of the splendid silvery-blue basal gloss, Palmus is so exceedingly close to that 
species that I have long doubted whether to treat it as distinct. The under-side 
pattern is identically the same in the two butterflies ; but the discal spots 
seem to be constantly smaller (except in the small northern examples just 
mentioned) on both surfaces ; and on the upper side the deeper red ground- 
colour and the more pronounced inner-marginal black of the hind-wing appear 
to be constant distinctions. 
As noted in Rliop. Afr. Aust., ii. p. 266, I possess a single ^ , taken near 
Cape Town, which has a faint but distinct blue lustre over the basal region 
of the hind-wings, but in no other way differs from ordinary specimens. 
Though not numerous in individuals, Palmus is more generally to be met 
with than Thysbe, especially near Cape Town. Its warm bright-red colouring 
makes it conspicuous during its short flights, or when perched on twigs or 
flowers of low plants. It appears from the middle of September to the end 
of April. 
