OCR Text |
Show 224 MR. A. G. BUTLER ON NEW OR RARE LEPIDOPTERA. [Mar. 26, I much doubt if we actually possess the Cramerian species ; for even the most nearly allied form in the National Collection, though nearly agreeing with his figure in the banding of the wings, differs considerably in size and general coloration. The only perfect specimen representing the species (and the true type of Mr. Walker's genus) differs considerably from Hesparia, but more particularly in the golden colour of the anal tuft of its abdomen, that of Hesparia being scarlet; the third specimen, agreeing with Mr. Swanzy's insect, differs chiefly in the form and position of the central white band. The two following may therefore be characterized as follows:- MESSAGA MARITONA, sp. nov. (Pl. XVII. fig. 1.) Messaga hesparia (part.), Walker [type]. f . Alee nigrce, purpureo cyaneoque nitentes; fascia regulari trans-versali ad angulum ani posticarum extensa, nivea; venis supra cceruleis: corpus viridi-nigrum ; capite, palpis, prothorace et pedibus anticis coccineo hirtis; cauda fulvo hirta. Hab. Sierra Leone. B.M. Presented to the Collection by the Rev. D. F. Morgan. MESSAGA DELICIA, sp. nov. (Pl. XVII. fig. 2.) Messaga hesparia, b. (part.), Walker. <f . Affinis M . hesparise.- alis nigris, cceruleo venosis albo irregulariter fasciatis; fascia anticarum in medio extus producta, posticarum undata, alarum margini subparallela nee ad angulum ani extensa: alis subtus haud cceruleo venosis, aliter similibus : corpus supra nigrum, capite, palpis, prothorace, pedibus anticis caudaque coccineo hirtis. Exp. alar. une. 1\^. Hab. Gold Coast (Colls. Swanzy and B. Mi). Nearly allied to M. hesparia, with which it agrees in the colour of the anal tuft, but differs entirely in the form of the transverse white bands. This species seems to vary slightly in the outline of the fore wings; for the Museum specimen has them pointed at the apex as in M. maritona. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XVII. Fig. 1. Messaga maritona. p. 224. 2. delicia, p. 224. 3, 4. Crenis amulia, p. 222. 5. Zeritis thysbe, p. 223. 6. Planema macarina, p. 221. 7, 8. Euryphene swanzyana, p. 222. 9. Idmais tripuncta, p. 221. 10. Cirrochroa Johannes, p. 221. |