benguelae. 
pechueli. 
204 CRENIS. By Dr. C. Auriyilltos. 
5. Subfamily: Eunicinae. 
This subfamily belongs essentially to the Neotropical Region and is only represented in the Old 
World by the Ethiopian genus Crenis. It is distinguished by the forewing having the lower median as far 
as vein 2 and the base of vein 12 slightly but distinctly thickened. Veins 10 and 11 of the forewing arise 
free from the anterior margin of the cell and the cells of 'both wings are closed. 
1. Genus: Crenis Bdv. 
Some authors employ Hubner’s name Asterope for this genus. Hubner, however, only referred three 
species to Asterope : amulia, sapphira and theane, of which amulia was removed as long ago as 1833 by the erec¬ 
tion of the genus Crenis, so that according to the rules of nomenclature laid down by the International Zoolo¬ 
gical Congresses the name Asterope must be left to one of the other species. Sc udder also stated quite correctly 
in 1875 that sapphira must be considered as the type of Asterope. The action of some lepidopterists in regard¬ 
ing the first species as typical stands in manifest contradiction to the international rules of nomenclature, 
takes no notice of the whole previous history of the name and would consequently occasion the most whole¬ 
sale and entirely unnecessary revolutions in the existing appellations of the commonest butterflies. Among 
Linne’s generic names we should have to employ Papilio for priamus, Sphinx for ocellata, Bombyx for atlas, 
Noctua for the Cossid Duomitus strix, Geometra for lactearia, Tortrix for Hylophila prasinanaW, Tinea for Apho- 
mia sociella (a Pyralid!), and in other insects the alterations would be quite as great. Among other generic 
names we should have to use Pieris Schrank for apollo, Hesperia F . for cupido, Cupido Schrank for virgaureae, 
Erebia Dalm. for aegeria, Euploea F . for plexippus, etc. It is therefore to be hoped that everyone who has taken 
the trouble to investigate the consequences of this doctrine will strongly oppose it. 
Crenis is however so extremely near the South American genus Eunica that it is a question whether 
it can be permanently retained as a separate genus. 
The species prefer wooded districts and have a short and weak flight; several of them often fly together 
and they frequently rest on the stems and branches of trees; they are fond of drinking the sap of wounded 
trees and fruits. Larva cylindrical with 6 rows of small spines, which are more or less branched. Pupa with two 
points on the head, conically raised mesothorax and angled shoulders. 
The species are divisible into natural groups. 
First Group. 
Porewing broad with the distal margin straight or slightly convex and the apex broadly rounded. The wings above 
light violet-blue to greenish or brown with strong violet reflection. Both wings beneath with bright orange-yellow ground¬ 
colour or at least the forewing at the base to the apex of the cell bright orange or ochre-yellow. 
C. benguelae Chapm. (49 b) may be at once known by having the underside of the forewing ochre- 
yellow only at the base as far as the apex of the cell and in cellule 1 b to vein 2, then bluish green with large 
black discal spots and two rows of black spots before the distal margin; the hindwing is blue beneath 
with 4 transverse rows of black dots or streaks, black marginal line, four large red-yellow.spots in the basal 
part and two curved transverse bands of the same colour behind the middle; these transverse bands unite 
at vein 1 b and border the blue, black-pupiiled eye-sj:>ots at both sides. Above the wings are light grey-blue 
in the with white fringes, black marginal spots, triangularly lengthened on the forewing, at the extremities 
of the veins and a submarginal row of black dots, which, however, are absent in cellules 2 and 3 of the 
forewing. In the $ the wings are greenish above with broad black marginal band on the forewing and a large 
black spot, not sharply defined, in the middle behind the apex of the cell. Congo and Angola. 
C. pechueli Dew. Both wings pale grey-blue above, with whitish reflection; fringes white with black 
spots at the extremities of the veins; a fine black marginal line, thickened at the veins, and just before 
the distal margin a row of black dots or streaks and a complete or almost complete jwstdiscal row of black 
dots. Eorewing beneath bright goldy ochre-yellow to beyond the middle without markings, then as above 
in cellules 1 b—8 with black postdiscal dots, the first three, in cellules 6—8, margined with grey-blue; a narrow 
grey-blue marginal band, proximally bounded by the black submarginal spots, and a fine black marginal line, 
not thickened at the veins. Hindwing beneath very variegated, with grey-blue ground-colour, two irregu¬ 
larly dentate black transverse lines, one before and the other at the middle, a row of black postdiscal 
dots and a black submarginal line; at the base and between the lines in cellules 1 b and 4r—7 are placed 
large yellow-red spots and the postdiscal dots on both surfaces are bounded by a similarly coloured arcuate 
band 1—2 mm. in breadth. The $ only differs in having the cell and a subapical spot on the upperside of the 
forewing blackish. Congo, Angola, Ovamboland and on the upper course of the Zambesi. 
