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Show 706 MR. W. L. DISTANT ON AFRICAN LEPIDOPTERA. [Nov. 18, hind margin, as in R. harpalyce. Again, there is another variety which differs from R. lakuma in the greater width of the narrow oblique subapical ochreous band, and in the total absence of bluish markings above ; underside agreeing perfectly with that of R. lakuma. This has been recently described by M . Mabille (Bull. Soc. Zool. de France, 1876, p. 278) under the name of R. spatiosum. In some specimens of this form there are faint pale violet indications of the blue striae in R. lakuma. Mr. Butler, in Lep. Ex. p. 52, writes, R. lakuma "is allied to R. eupalus and R. harpalyce, which have been considered by some lepidopterists to be varieties of the same species ; but I am convinced, from a careful examination of many examples of both sexes of the two forms, that they are perfectly distinct. R. losinga is a third species of the same little group, and R. lakuma will make a fourth." Since this was written, R. wardi and R. spatiosum have been described, which bring the number of described forms of this group to six. They seem to be thus differentiated:- Wings generally marked with blue above. Apex of fore wings without or with very obscure yellow band. White markings on underside faint and obscure E. harpalyce. White markings on underside very distinct E. eupalus. Apex of fore wings crossed with yellow band E. lakuma. Wings without or with faint blue markings above. Apex of fore wings crossed with yellow band. White markings on underside very distinct \ r>' ?• ' White markings on underside faint and obscure E. spatiosum. Having examined the large number of duplicates that were in the possession of Mr. Horniman, and finding the above characters very inconstant, I much more incline to the opinion that we are dealing with the varietal forms of a protean species. The remarks of Smeatham, communicated to Drury, as to his own personal observations, may well be reproduced:-"There are several Papiliones nearly of this colour, that is to say, with the upperside of the wings having a changeable purple, and the undersides being inclinable to green, &c. The differences between them arise so gradually that I think them varieties of the same species, some, apparently very different, being found coupled together." Much of the same kind of variation may also be seen in Euryphene phantasia, Hew., from the same region. ROMALEOSOMA INANUM, Butl. Cist. Ent. i. p. 158 (1873). Three specimens of this form were in the collection. The first perfectly agrees with the description ; the second is without the black spot in cell of hind wings; and the third specimen has the sub-marginal row and other spots beneath as in R. ceres, Fab. HARM A LUCASII, Doum. (Nymphalis) Rev. Zool. 1859, p. 262, t. x. f. 2, 2 6- (Plate LIV. fig. 2.) I am glad to be able for the first time to describe the male of |