OCR Text |
Show 34 MR. R. TRIMEN O N BUTTERFLIES F R O M [Jan. 16, interrupted by internervular black spots, along the hind-marginal edge of the hind wings. Mr. Selous met with this species flying about the bed of a small ravine, and settling on the overhanging bushes. The three Mineni Valley specimens were captured on 6th March, the variety from Christmas Pass on 27th February. 39. PRECIS OCTAVIA (Cram.). Papilio octavia, Cram. Pap. Exot. ii. t. cxxxv. figs. B, C (1777). All the thirteen specimens-11 from Christmas Pass and 2 from the Mineni Valley-belong to the larger, more brightly coloured southern form, which Staudinger has figured (Exot. Schmett. pi. 38, 1885) as " var. natalensis." 40. PRECIS SESAMUS, Trim. Precis sesamus, Trim. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1883, p. 347; S.-Afr. Butt. i. p. 231, pi. 4. fig. 3 (1887).) Eight examples from Mineni Valley and one from the Pungwe Eiver present no material variation from more southern specimens. 41. PRECIS ARCHESIA (Cram.). Papilio archesia, Cram. Pap. Exot. iii. t. ccxix. figs. D, E (1782). In the only two specimens, both male, from the Mineni Valley, the common dull-red band is throughout much narrower than in the typical form and submacular, in this respect resembling the Angolan form P. staudingerii, Dewitz (Nov. Act. Acad. Leop.- Carol. xli. p. 193, t. xxv. n. 15, 1879). 42. PRECIS PELASGIS (Godt.). Vanessa pelasgis, Godt. Enc. Meth. ix. Suppl. p. 820. n. 38-39 (1819). Out of 14 examples collected, 5 of the males (3 from Christmas Pass and 2 from Mineni Valley) and 1 female exhibit a variation in the direction of the Zambesian form P. chapunga (Hewits.), having the common creamy-rufous band much narrowed on the upperside, and the corresponding creamy-white band on the underside somewhat narrowed. 43. PRECIS NATALICA, Feld. Precis natalica, Feld. Wien. ent. Monatsch. iv. p. 106 (I860). Five specimens from Christmas Pass and thirteen from the Mineni Valley present the usual variation in the tints of the underside. 44. PRECIS ELGIVA (Hewits.). Junonia elgiva, Hewits. Exot. Butt. iii. p. 25, pi. 13. fig. 1 (1864). Here also the customary variation of the underside colouring is observable in the 9 examples collected-8 from Mineni Valley and 1 from Vunduzi Eiver. |