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Show 1891.] FROM SOUTH-WESTERN AFRICA. 85 similar very conspicuous hind-marginal black spot between 1st 2nd median nervules bounded internally by a wide pale-yellow lunule; costa rather prominently convex at a little distance from the base. Omrora (November). One male example. This species belongs to the group separated generically by Moore (Lep. Ceylon, i. p. 104, 1881) as Virachola, and in its blue upper-side colouring resembles the much larger D. perse, Hewits., which is given as the typical species. In the strong convexity or lobation of the wing-margins where they overlap near the bases, D. obscurata resembles Hypolyccena cceculus (Hopff.), while in the very conspicuous black patch or cloud on the upperside of the fore wings it bears some likeness to H. erylus (Godt.). Genus HYPOLYCCENA, Feld. 62. HYPOLYCCENA CCECULUS (Hopff.). (Plate IX. fig. 14 8 •) Iolaus cceculus, Hopff. Monatsb. k. Akad. Wissensch. Berl. 1855, p. 642. n. 17 ; and Peters, Reise Mossamb., Ins. p. 402, t. xxv. ff. 12-14 (8 ?). Omrora (August). Eight examples ; six males and two females. The examples under notice are rather larger (exp. al. 8 1 in. 3-5| lin., 2 1 in- 4|-5| lin.) than the types from Querimba and Tette described and figured by Hopffer, and also than the specimens I have received from Delagoa Bay. The males further differ on the upperside in presenting a decidedly more violaceous tint than the East-African males, and a narrower fuscous apical hind-marginal border in the fore wings ; while both sexes on the underside have the thin transverse streaks of a much more decided red. Besides the above-mentioned examples the collection contains six males (four from Humbe taken in October, and two from Omrora taken in November) which appear to constitute a very strongly marked seasonal form of H. cceculus, presenting the following distinctions from the earlier brood:-Size larger (exp. al. 1 in. 5-6 lin.) upperside of a deeper violaceous not inclining to blue, with the fuscous border of fore wings broader : underside with the red transverse streaks greatly (from more than twice to three times) broader. The underside markings correspond so exactly in position and form with those of ordinary cceculus that, notwithstanding their extreme development, it is impossible to regard them as indicating a distinct species. Genus IOLAUS, Hiibn. 63. IOLAUS BOWKERI, Trim. $. Lolaus bowkeri, Trim. Tians. Ent. Soc. Lond. 3rd ser. ii. p. 176 (1864); Rhop. Afr. Aust. ii. p. 225. n. 130, pi. 4. f. 4 (1866); and (8 $) S.-Afr. Butt. ii. p. 132. n. 186 (1887). Ehanda (September), Omrora (November), Okavango River (December), and Omaramba-Oamatako (January). Five examples ; three males, two females. |