CHARAXES. By Dr. 0. Aumvillius. 
133 
vein 2 on the hindwing and vein 2 on the forewing is formed just as in the <$, then follow in each cellule 
from 2—7 on the forewing two rounded, light yellow spots, the proximal one in cellule 4 placed at the apex 
of the cell; the marginal spots of both wings and the submarginal spots of the hindwing are yellowish. A rare 
species occurring from Sierra Leone to the Congo. 
Ch. ameliae Doumet (31 b). forewing above black with the following blue markings: a broad Ion- ameliae. 
gitudinal streak in the cell, an angular spot at the apex of the cell, a spot behind the middle of the costal 
margin, 8 rather large submarginal spots and small marginal spots. On the hindwing an anteriorly narrowed 
median band, rounded submarginal spots and fine marginal streaks are blue. On the under surface the black 
transverse streaks in cellules 2, 4—7 are placed in an almost straight line and are' distally accompanied by 
a whitish band. The $ is much larger and has the ground-colour above black-brown and all the markings white 
or yellowish white. The cell of the forewing is unmarked; the median band of the hindwing reaches the inner 
margin, is basally widened and is continuous on the forewing as far as vein 2; the proximal spots of cellules 
2—7, which in the $ are almost all wanting, are here large and distinct, but the distal ones scarcely larger 
than in the on the underside of the hindwing the light median band is broader and more distinct. The 
tail at vein 2 is short in both sexes, much shorter than the one at vein 4. This magnificent species occurs every¬ 
where in the West African forest-region and is distributed to Aruwimi and to Nyassaland. 
7. Hadrianus Group. 
This group is only represented by a single species of characteristic appearance. Hindwing above and both wings 
beneath with white ground-colour. The black transverse streaks in the basal part of the under surface are very fine and 
in part indistinct or entirely suppressed; in cellule lb of the forewing near the hinder angle a large, deep black spot. The tails 
of the hindwing are obtuse, the one at vein 2 about 2 mm., that at vein 4 nearly 5 mm. in length. Sexes alike in colour 
and markings. 
Ch. hadrianus Ward (31 d). Forewing at the base red-brown nearly to vein 3, then black with a white hadrianus. 
median band, at the hindmargin about 15 mm. in breadth, but rapidly narrowing anteriorly and terminating 
at vein 5, with two small white discal spots in cellules 5 and 6, white submarginal spots in 2—6 and a white 
marginal spot in lb. Hindwing above narrowly red-brown at the base, with black submarginal and marginal 
streaks at the distal margin. Beneath the hindwing has in the middle a thick black transverse line, distally 
accompanied by a deeply dentate red-brown transverse band; this transverse band shows through above. A 
beautiful but rare species, occurring from the Niger to the Congo. 
8. Nobilis Group. 
This small group differs from all the other African species of Charaxes in having the cell of the hindwing beneath 
black with (silver-) white transverse spots. The hindwing with two tails of equal length, in the $ bent away from one an¬ 
other. Abdomen above in the o white or whitish at least towards the tip, in the $ black. The forewing beneath near the 
hinder angle in cellule lb with a large orange-yellow, black-margined spot; a similar but smaller spot placed in cellule 2. 
The hindwing beneath with white or whitish ground-colour to far beyond the middle, before the middle with 5 or 6 thick, 
deep black transverse lines, some of which are more or less joined together, forming only two bands at the costal margin. 
Ch. nobilis Druce (32 c). $: wings above black with a common cream-coloured median band, on the nobilis. 
hindwing very broad (about 20 mm.), on the forewing gradually narrowed and terminating in cellule 3 in a 
free spot; the forewing in addition with a light yellow spot in cellules 5 and 7; the black marginal band of 
the hindwing about 9 mm. in breadth, with blue submarginal spots and marginal streaks and an orange-yellow 
anal spot; hindwing beneath with three thick, curved, black transverse lines beyond the middle, enclosing 
three rows of white spots, the middle one composed of large, the others of streak-like spots; at the anal angle 
a large orange-yellow spot enclosing two black eye-spots with bluish pupils. The $ differs in having the median 
band on the upper surface much broader (on the hindwing 23—25 mm., on the forewing in cellule 2 19—20 mm.) 
and almost white, and bears in addition an elongate white spot in cellule 6 on the forewing above. Old Calabar, 
Cameroons, Congo; everywhere rare. 
Ch. superbus Am. Schultze is very similar to the preceding species, but differs in having the forewing superbus. 
narrower with the distal margin little excised, in the larger, dull sulphur-yellow marginal spots of the forewing, 
in the blue-grey band, up to 4 mm. in breadth, which in cellules 2—6 separates the median band of the hind¬ 
wing from the black marginal band, in the larger and more complete white transverse spots in the cell of the 
forewing beneath, in the black, white-spotted marginal band on the underside of the hindwing, which is only 
half as broad as in nobilis (about 5 mm.) and is proximally bounded by an orange-yellow band 5 mm. in breadth 
in cellule 2, and in the white markings in the apical half of the fore wing beneath. In superbus the median band 
on the underside of the forewing covers the base of cellule 3 and then follows a white band, about 5 mm. 
in breadth, in cellules 3—6, a broad transverse spot, formed as in nobilis , in celhdes 5—7 and finally before 
the distal margin in cellules lb-—7 seven crescentic spots of uniform breadth, of which those in cellules lb and 2 
are orange and the rest silvery white. Cameroons. Schultze observed this beautiful species drinking in a na¬ 
tive latrine. 
