OCR Text |
Show 704 MR. W. L. DISTANT ON AFRICAN LEPIDOPTERA. [NOV. 18, bluish white and abbreviated ; the transverse blue fascia of lower wings much narrowed and white. Exp. wings 4 inches. Hab. Magila, East Africa. In structure resembling tbe $ of D. salmacis, Dr. DIADEMA DINARBA, Hew. Ex. Butt. iii. Diad. t. 2. f. 7 (1865). This species seems subject to extreme variation, and, as far as I have been able to examine specimens, appears under the following forms:- Var. a. Typical. Hew. ib. Var. b. Fore wings with transverse spots much enlarged, almost reaching row of submarginal spots. Hind wings with basal white portion enlarged, and almost occupying half of wing. Var. c. Fore wings with transverse spots enlarged and fused, occupying the whole discal portion of tbe wing, and merging with submarginal row of spots, some of which are absorbed. Hind wings with the basal white portion now increased till it occupies all the wings but a broad outer margin. Var. d. Both wings almost wholly white. The dark portions of the previous varieties only indicated, and the submarginal row of spots almost obliterated. Hab. Vars. a, b, d, Calabar; var. c, Sierra Leone. It will be thus seen that variation extends from the melanic form, a, through gradually increasing albinism, till the extreme form, d, is reached; or, of course, vice versa from d to a. Besides which, though these typical varieties are indicated, there are numerous intermediate forms which destroy their value as to constancy. Similar variation may be seen in another African species of the genus, D. dubium, Beauv., some of the forms of which are regarded by competent lepidopterists as specific. PARADIADEMA, gen. nov. Allied to Diadema, from which it differs in the hind margin of the fore wings being scarcely excavated, and the apical angle of the same, which is only faintly prominent; lower subcostal nervules emitted nearer apical margin; costa of bind wings more arched, precostal nervure curved outwardly. PARADIADEMA HORA, n. sp. (Plate LIV. fig. 1.) S. Above ferruginous. Fore wings crossed by a transverse white fascia, commencing near costa a little beyond end of cell, and terminating a little below centre of hind margin; this fascia is straightened outwardly, but inwardly, near end of cell, deeply toothed; interior of cell bluish black, with four or five white spots, outer one somewhat linear and perpendicular. Hind wings crossed by a broad yellowish-white fascia toothed outwardly, and widened towards inner margin. Underside much paler in colour, fasciae as above ; cell of fore wings with the white spots bordered with black, a black spot near base, and two irregularly waved black lines, situated |