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Show 58 DR. W. J. HOLLAND ON THE AFRICAN [Jan. 14, GEGENES, Hiibn. (Philo'ddus, Ramb.) 200. G. NOSTRODAMUS, Fabr. Hesperia nostrodamus, Fabr. Ent. Syst. iii. 1, p. 328 (1793). Papilio pygmceus, Cyr. (nee Fabr.) Ent. Neap. pi. Ii. fig. 5 (1787) Hiibn. Eur. Schmett. i. figs. 458-460 (1798-1803). Papilio pumilio, Hoffm. 111. Mag. iii. p. 202 (1804). Hesperia lefebvrii, Ramb. Cat, Lep. And. p. 90, note (1858). Pamphila nostrodamus, Kirby, Syn. Cat. p. 598 (1871). Hesperia nostrodamus, Staud. Cat. d. Lep. p. 35 (1871). Gegenes nostrodamus, Wats. P. Z. S. 1893, p. 104. (For full synonymy consult works on European species.) Hab. Mediterranean coasts of North Africa. 201. G. HOTTENTOTA, Latr. ?2- Papilio niso, Linn. Mus. Ulr. Reg. p. 339 (1764); Syst. Nat. i. 2, p. 796 (1767). 3. Hesperia hottentota, Latr. Encyc. Meth. vol. ix. p. 777 (1823). Hesperia letterstedti, Wallgr. K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. 1857; Lep. Rhop. Caffr. p. 49. Pamphila letterstedti, Trim. Rhop. Afr. Austr. vol. ii. p. 300 (1866). Pamphila hottentota, Staud. Exot. Schmett. vol. i. pi. 99 (1888). Pamphila hottentota, Trim. S. Afr. Butt. vol. iii. p. 314 (1889). Gegenes hottentota, Wats. P. Z. S. 1893, p. 104. 2 . Thymelicus brevicornis, Ploetz, S. E. Z. vol. xlv. p. 290 (1884). Hab. Southern and Western Africa as far north as Senegambia. I follow Mr. Trimen in disregarding the somewhat forcible plea of Prof. Aurivillius for the identification of Latreille's species with the Papilio niso of Linnaeus, and the substitution of the latter name. The copies of Clerck's figures given by Prof. Aurivillius do not carry conviction with them. They may apply to several other obscure African forms as well as to the species named by Latreille, and the description given by Linnaeus is wholly inadequate. We shah for ever be in the dark as to the species intended by Linnaeus. The identification defended so learnedly by Prof. Aurivillius lacks altogether that positiveness which in such a case is essential, and is at best merely opinionative. In letters and orally Mons. Mabille has stoutly maintained to me the identity of Latreille's species H. hottentota with the species recently described by Mr. Trimen under the name obumbrata (see p. 59). The females of G. obumbrata are positively undistinguishable from the females of G. hottentota, and I am inclined to think that the form characterized by Mr. Trimen is a dimorphic variety. Typical males of G. hottentota and males of the form obumbrata are found in my collection, having been taken on the same day and in the same locality in coitu with |