OCR Text |
Show 1897.] BUTTERFLIES COLLECTED IN NATAL. 851 The dry, intermediate, and wet phases of this species have been described as distinct species-T. brlgitta being the female of the dry phase, T. candace intermediate, T. zoe wet. The capture of all three phases in August looks somewhat curious, but the dry-season female is a good deal worn and the intermediate male a little broken. 89. TERIAS MARSHALLI, Butler. (Plate L. figs. 8, 9.) Terias desjardinsii, Trimen, nee Boisd. 2 2 , Malvern, 10th and 13th August, 1896. The specimens belong to the dry-season form of the species. T. regularis is a very distinct species. 90. TERACOLUS JOHNSTONI, Butler. Tugela Biver, near Weenen, 2500 feet, 22nd October, 3rd, 15th, and 16th November, 1897. This is the T. eris of Trimen and Marshall, but not of Klug. It differs from the North-African type in its slightly more elongated primaries and consequently greater elongation of the white area on these wings as well as of the ochreous streaks on the apical patch, and in the abrupt termination of the black costal border of the secondaries, which does not emit a transverse streak to the radial nervure as in T. eris- the internal black stripe on the primaries of the female is also constantly narrower. From the Eastern T. opalescens, and the Western T. malmuna, the differences are even more marked, aud nobody looking at a long series of each could hesitate for an instant respecting the local constancy of the characters which distinguish these four types of the T. eris group. 91. TERACOLUS BUXTONI, Butler. 3 3, wet-season ( = natalensis, Staud.), Tugela, near Weenen, 2500 feet, 10th and 15th November, 1896. Mr. Marshall labels this " T. phlegyas," but, in m y opinion, it occupies a central position between the latter and T. lone. The wet-season form nearly approaches this butterfly on the upper surface, whereas the under surface much more nearly resembles the wet form of T. Imperator. It must, however, be borne in mind that (in his " Notes on the Synonymy of Teracolus") Mr. Marshall has not distinguished between T. Imperator and T. phlegyas, the absence of any examples of T. natalensis in our collection, when he examined it, having perhaps led him to believe that the latter was indistinguishable from wet-season examples of T. imperator. The two differ much as our Ganorls rapce does from G. brasslcce; and as they do uot occur together, I am satisfied to regard them as distinct species. 92. TERACOLUS IONE, Godart. 3, dry-season, Malvern, 800 feet, 10th August, 1896. This is the form to which I gave the name of T. jobina. |