200 
NEPTIS. By Dr. C. Atjrivillius. 
gratilla. 
nemetes. 
obtusa. 
kikiddi. 
agatha. 
lativittata. 
jordani. 
livingstonei. 
seeldrayersi. 
nysiades. 
imally to the median band is yellow with numerous sharply defined, rounded blackish spots. The cell of the 
forewing at its hindmargin with long white longitudinal stripes, slightly widened distally; the hindmarginal 
spot very small, discal spots 2 and 3 rather large, not or narrowly separated from one another, cliscal spots 
4—-6 small and separated; marginal line 1 is placed far from the distal margin and consists of small, irregu¬ 
larly arranged, free spots, closely approximated to the discal spots; marginal line 4 is absent on both wings 
above and is only weakly marked beneath; median band of the hindwing 3—4 mm. in breadth, on the under 
surface distally bounded by black spots; the first margined line of the hindwing dull and separated by large, 
free blackish spots from the second marginal line, which is broader and whiter. Sierra Leone to the southern 
Congo and the Victoria Nyanza. —• gratilla Mob. only differs in the larger and more sharply prominent white 
markings. Madagascar. 
3. Agatha Group. 
The forms of this group may be at once recognized by the underside of the hindwing having 2 or 3 continuous white 
transverse bands at the base (cf. agatha underside, 48 d) and by the cell having white dots or being only striped with white 
at the anterior margin. Some of the numerous forms are very nearly allied. 
N. nemetes Hew. (48 c). The first basal transverse band on the underside of the hindwing very short 
and narrow, only covering the base without following the costal margin, which is consequently dark nearly 
to the base; the second basal transverse band is placed nearer to the base than usual and almost reaches the 
costal margin. The discal spots of the forewing form only two groups, the first consists of spots 1 a— -3, is proxi- 
mally almost smooth, but distally deeply incised, spot 2 being much longer than spot 1 b; spot 4 is very small 
or absent; the first marginal line consists in cellules 1 b—-5 of very obliquely placed, discontinuous streaks; the 
cell of the forewing above unspotted or dotted with white, beneath at the anterior margin with a white, curved 
and distally cleft line. Sierra Leone to Angola and Uganda. —• obtusa Rothsch. & Jord. only differs in the 
somewhat stumpier forewing and the narrower median band of the hindwing, and occurs in Abyssinia. 
In all the following species of the group the white basal hands on the underside of the hindwing are typically ar¬ 
ranged and the fust covers not only the base but also at least the first third of the costal margin. The first marginal line 
of the forewing is uniformly curved or entirely absent. 
N. kikideli Bdv. (48 d) differs from the others in having discal spots 1 b and 2 broadly joined together, 
forming a broad white half-band between the hindmargin and vein 4; discal spot 4 is absent or quite small; 
the median band of the hindwing is 8—-10 mm. in breadth. Madagascar. 
N. agatha Stoll. (48 d). Discal spots 1 b and 2 on the forewing in this and the following species are di¬ 
stinctly separated by an interspace of the ground-colour; cliscal spot 4 is elongate and as well developed as 
spots 3 and 5; the cell of the forewing above with three sharply prominent white dots and 3 or 4 duller whitish 
punctiform spots; the marginal lines of the forewing in cellule 3 and sometimes also in cellule 6 entirely sup¬ 
pressed or indistinct; the discal band of the forewing continuous from vein 2 to the costal margin and at the 
costal margin as broad as in cellule 2 (spot 6 is longer than or at least as long as the one in cellule 2); the 
median band of the hindwing reaches vein 7 and is broadest in cellules 4 and 5. Common and widely distributed; 
Sierra Leone to Abyssinia and Natal. —• ab. lativittata Strand has a broader median band, 8 mm. in cellule 5 
of the hindwing. Among the type-form. 
N. jordani Neave (48 d, as agatha ab.) is marked almost exactly like agatha, but the white discal band 
of the forewing is narrowed towards the costal margin and is not broader there than in cellule 2. Rhodesia 
and Katanga. 
N. livingstonei Stiff, is also similar to N. agatha , but the median band of the hindwing is much narrower 
and only reaches vein 6, its spot in cellule 5 is small and not so long as the one in 2; the first marginal line 
is thicker and placed further from the distal margin and the marginal lines are not interrupted in cellule 3 of 
the forewing; the discal band of the forewing is narrowed towards the costal margin, as in jordani. German 
East Africa: Lukuledi. 
N. seeldrayersi Auriv. (48 d). The cell of the forewing above unicolorous or only with 2 or 3 minute 
white dots; the marginal lines are continuous, not interrupted in cellule 3 of the forewing; discal spots 4—-6 
on the forewing are long and narrow, distally somewhat diverging, and project further basally than spots 2 
and 3; spots 3 and 4 are narrowly separated by the ground-colour; the median band of the hindwing is narrow, 
its proximal edge straight, its distal incised at the veins; the second marginal line on both wings beneath much 
thickened. The first marginal line of the forewing strongly incurved in 1 b, but not nearly reaching the middle 
of vein 2. Wing-expanse about 60 mm. Congo. 
N. nysiades Hew. (48 e) agrees almost entirely in the markings with seeldrayersi, but is smaller, with 
an expanse of 44—48 mm., and can be most certainly distinguished by the first marginal line on the upperside 
of the forewing forming in cellule 1 b an acute angle proximad, which reaches the middle of vein 2; discal spots 
3 and 4 on the forewing are more or less broadly separated. Old Calabar to Angola. 
