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Show 1896.] FROM NYASA-LAND. 115 As an example of the inconsistency of those lepidopterists who have been styled "Lumpers," Hewitson's separation of two palpable forms of the present species is noteworthy. 30. ACR,EA EXCELSIOR. Acrcea excelsior, E. M . Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1891, p. 192, pi. xvii. fig. 3. 3 3, Kondowi, Lower Nyika, W . of Lake Nyasa, April 4th and 6th ; 2 2 , Nyankowa Mt., 6500 feet alt., April 9th ; 3 , Lumpi R. valley, Lower Nyika, April 21st, 1895. " Deep-bordered orange and black Fritillary " (R. ft). This rare species is one of the most beautiful in the genus. 31. ACR^A YENTURA. Acrcea ventura, Hewitson, Ent. Mouth. Mag. xiv. p. 51 (1877). 3, Lumpi R,, Lower Nyika, W . of Lake Nyasa, Feb. 2nd; 2 , Nyankowa Mt,, 5575 feet alt., Nyika, April 10th, 1895. " Orange and black Fritillary." 32. ACRCEA SERENA, var. BUXTONI. Acrcea buxtoni, Butler, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xvi. p. 395(1875). 3 3, Deep Bay, W . coast of Lake Nyasa, Feb. 14th, and Ngerenge Plains, W . coast of Lake Nyasa, Feb. 24th, 1895. " Small orange and black Fritillary " (R. ft). Whether this is a race or a sectional form of A. serena can only be decided by breeding it; but with our present extensive series I find it impossible to regard the following as distinct species :- A. serena = eponina=janisca = rougetii = manjaca= buxtoni =per-rupta = balina. Probably the Linnean name terpsichore should stand over A. serena, but there is so much doubt connected with the identification of that species that the better-known name seems preferable at present. 33. ACRJEA LYCIA, var. SGANZINI. Acrcea sganzini, Boisduval, Faune Madag. p. 34, pi. vi. figs. 6, 7 (1833). 3 , Mrali, W . coast of Lake Nyasa, March 2nd, 1895. " Lesser speckled brown and white Fritillary " (22. ft). A. lycia separates roughly into three forms, which are linked together by numerous intergrades ; they are- 1. Acrcea sganzini, vaguely resembling Limnas chrysippus. 2. Acrcea daira=usagarce, like 1, but wanting black at apex. 3. Acrcea lycia - braunei, pattern of 1, ground-colour white. Every link between these varieties is now represented in the Museum collection. A. daira appears to be an Eastern and Central-African sport of the species, occurring together with the two normal forms ; it is completely linked to the A. sganzini type by intergrades, and therefore cannot be regarded as a race of 8* |