208 
MESOXANTHA; ERGOLIS. By Dr. C. Aurivillius. 
acheloia. B. acheloia Wallengr. (49 b). The type-form may be at once known by the entire absence of the white 
dots at the distal margin of the hindwing beneath and lias broad, dark chestnut-brown transverse bands on 
the underside of the hindwing; the white or whitish bands placed between them are narrow and often broken up 
into spots; the underside of the fore wing is broadly chestnut-brown at the distal margin with 3 or 4 whi- 
milgaris. tish subapical spots in cellules 5—8. South Africa to Abyssinia, f. vulgaris Stgr. (49 c upper surface) is the rainy- 
season form of acheloia and has like this on the underside of the forewing a broad, continuous, costally wi¬ 
dened distal band, which, however, is lighter brown or yellow; the hindwing is very different beneath, having 
distinct white marginal dots and lighter transverse bands; the third band is distally broadly black with white 
albitrima- dots. South Africa to Abyssinia. An aberration with large white longitudinal spots in cellules 2, 3 and 5 on the 
eulct. f orew i n g h as been named albitriniacula by Strand. — crameri Auriv. (49 c, as vulgaris underside) is very 
similar to the preceding form, only differing in the forewing having beneath at the distal margin in cellules 
4—8 short and almost free yellow submarginal spots; it is the West African race and is distributed from Sierra 
iasciata. Leone to Angola and Uganda, f. fasciata Rothsch. & Jord. is the rare dry-season form of crameri and is as 
yet only known from the Gold Coast; on the underside of the hindwing it resembles the form acheloia. — 
boydi. boydi Dixey differs from the others in the very small, anteriorly pointed, yellow discal spot in cellule 1 b on 
the upperside of the forewing; otherwise it most nearly approaches the form crameri, but has very dark black- 
brown transverse bands on the hindwing beneath. Socotra. 
anvatara. B. anvatara Bdv. The marginal band on the underside of the forewing as in acheloia and vulgaris ; 
scriata. the hindwing beneath agreeing with that of vulgaris. Madagascar and Comoros, f. seriata Rothsch. & Jord. 
is the dry-season form and agrees very exactly with acheloia as regards the colouring of the hindwing beneath. 
Madagascar and Comoros. 
2. Genus : Mesoxantha Auriv. 
The sole species of this genus was formerly referred to Eurytela, but differs entirely in the shape of the 
wings and is distinguished from all other Eurytelids by the peculiar markings. The under surface of both 
Avings shows distinct mimetic relations with the Acraeids. The early stages are unknown. 
cthosea. M. ethosea Drury (49 b). Both wings black above, in the middle broadly light yellow, the light yellow 
colour on the fore wing covers cellules 1 b—3 except at the distal margin and a narroAV stripe of the cell and in 
the $ also a great part of cellule 4; on the hindwing only the margins are black. The under surface is dull 
ochre-yellowish or grey-yellow with black veins and with a black dot in the cell of the forewing and several 
at the base of the hinclwing, of which three at the inner margin are ring-shaped with yellow centres; distal 
margin with whitish spots, accompanied proximally by thick black streaks on the folds. Sierra Leone to Angola 
and Toro. 
3. Genus: Ergolis Wj.stw. 
Medium-sized butterflies with broad dark-coloured Avings and without light spots. The foreAving has 
sharp apex and angled distal margin; the hindwing is rounded Avith the margins undulate. The markings con¬ 
sist in all the species of black or brown transverse lines or bands. 
enolrea. E. enotrea Or. (49 c). The ground-colour of the upper surface at the base and the distal margin 
black-brown (<3) or reddish brown ($), in the middle more or less extended blue-grey; the transverse lines fine 
and but little prominent. Sierra Leone to Angola and Kavirondo. 
pagen- E. pagenstecheri Stiff. (= murina Bartel) (49 c). Both wings above with uniform grey ground-colour 
stecheri. an( j brown transverse bands, of which the discal is broad and continuous; a small Avhite subapical spot at 
the costal margin of the forewing; the under surface is much darker, Avith red-broAvn bands; distal margin of 
aurantiaca. both Avings strongly undulate or dentate. Cameroons, Ruwenzori, Ruanda and German East Africa, ab. au- 
rantiaca Heron only differs in the lighter, yellow-grey ground-colour and the reddish transverse markings of 
the upper surface. 
alphaea. E. alphaea Drury Avas knoAvn as long ago as 1782 from a specimen from Sierra Leone figured and described 
by Drury, but has not been found since. The figure is perhaps badly executed and does not agree aa^II 
with the description. According to the description the wings are clay-coloured above with a light spot near the 
apex of the foreAving and fine undulate indistinct transverse lines. The description fits fairly Avell to 'pagen¬ 
stecheri. 
actisanes. E. actisanes Hew. (48 d) is larger than the other species and has the ground-colour of the upper sur¬ 
face uniform dark grey-broAvn with blackish transverse lines, between which the colour is often red-brown; 
the under surface is darker and the distal margin of both wings much more weakly undulate than in the other 
species. Cameroons to the Congo. 
