LYC^NID^. 
coidal nervule to leyond middle, where it unites ivith the fourth spot of a 
very irregular discal row of seven or eight linear spots ; immediately 
beyond this row, a dark-brown narrow fascia ; hind-margin paler, with 
a submarginal row of more or less distinct blackish lunules. 
% Similar to ^ ; the orange spots larger, those of discal row of 
fore- wing confluent. Fore-wing : sometimes an additional orange spot 
between second and first median nervules, close to their origin. Hind- 
wings : some two or three small orange marks on disc before lunular 
row, of which the spots are larger and brighter. Under side. — All 
markings more clearly defined. 
Var. a. and 
Orange markings feebly developed, — in % almost obsolete in one 
example, and in another broad and suffused in fore-wing only. Under 
SIDE. — Grey of a hoarier tint, the brown clouding indistinct. Fore-iving : 
dark band beyond discal row more suffused, and marked mesially with 
a row of seven small rather indistinct hoary-grey spots. Hind-iving : 
silvery-ivhite spots reduced in member, those present attenuated, especially 
the large elongate marking from extremity of discoidal cell ; all spots 
before middle (except lowest of row of four) obsolete, — the absence of the 
usually conspicuous spot in cell very noticeable. The subapical angu- 
lation of the fore-wing is much less marked, especially in the ^. (Hab. 
— Namaqu aland. Cape Colony.) 
An approach to this variety is exhibited by a taken by Colonel Bowker 
between Somerset East and Murraysburg, Cape Colony. In this example, 
while the upper side is normal, there is almost as much failure of the silvery- 
white spots on the under side of the hind-wing, where, however, the dark- 
broAvn clouding remains. 
Specimens of both sexes taken at Uitenhage by the same gentleman are 
larger than usual, and, while they resemble the variety as far as the hoary-grey 
and rather attenuated markings of the under side of the hind-wings are con- 
cerned, differ remarkably from it on the upper side, having the orange mark- 
ings extremely well developed, — the $ s, in particular, exhibiting one four and 
the other j^ye conspicuous spots in the submarginal row of the hind-wings, and 
having the lowest of them tinged with lake. These very handsome examples 
further differ from the variety in having the dark-brown clouding of the under 
side of the hind-wings well marked. 
This very handsome and distinct species attains a wider expanse of wings 
than any other South-African Lyca3nide. The large and conspicuous silvery- 
white marking (which, as Linne remarks {Mtis. Lud. Ulr. Reg., p. 328), is 
hooked at the extremity), is a central feature of the under side of the hind- 
wings quite peculiar to the species, and often catches the eye when the butter- 
fly is at rest. Thero frequents shrubs in waste sandy places, and seems 
specially to delight in the hardy rigid plants that grow on sandhills close to 
the sea. JSTear Malmesbury I observed that it was very partial to the common 
Melianthus major. It is very wary and its short flights are very rapid, but 
it settles so frequently on exposed twigs or shoots, that, with a little patience, 
the collector will not fail to secure specimens. When flying it much resembles 
an Erebia or Pseudonympha in size and colour, but its motions are very 
different. September and October are the months in which it is most pre- 
valent, but it is not uncommon in August and November, and I once took 
it early in Januar}'. 
