NYMPHALIS AFER.Plate XXXVI. fig. 1, 2. Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: NymphalidÆ, Swains. Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. Papilio (Nymph. Gemmat.), Drury. Nymphalis Afer. Alis supra violaceo-coeruleis margine externo nigro, anticis utrinque strig apicali punctorum alborum, posticis fusco nebulosis. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 1½ lin.) Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Afer, Drury, App. vol. 3. Stoll Suppl. Cramer, pl. 27. fig. 3. Papilio (N.) Æthiopa, Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 136. No. 420. Enc. MÉth. ix. p. 385. No. 119. (Nymph. Æth.) Habitat: "Sierra Leone, Mr. Smeathman, 1776" (Drury's MSS.). Upper Side. AntennÆ black. Thorax and abdomen blueish black. Wings, when viewed in a particular direction, fine shining light blue; but in any other are blueish brown. The anterior ones with six small white spots placed near the tips, the four uppermost being the smallest, and placed in a zigzag direction, parallel with the external edges, and with a few faint shadows. Posterior wings having, like the superior, only some faint shadows. Under Side. Palpi, legs, and breast clay-coloured. Abdomen brown. Wings having a variety of soft brown tints, of a light grey and dark brown colour, gradually softening into each other in a most agreeable manner. The six white spots in the superior wings are observable on this side; but there are no other marks either in the anterior or posterior wings sufficient to be regarded as characters. Margins of all the wings slightly dentated; the inferior ones being angulated. We learn from Mr. Smeathman that this butterfly is found in the gloomy paths of the forests on the continent of Africa. NYMPHALIS ALPHÆA.Plate XXXVI. fig. 3, 4. Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: NymphalidÆ, Swains. Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. Papilio (Nymph. Gemmat.) Drury. Nymphalis AlphÆa. Alis lutescentibus strigis undulatis communibus fuscis, puncto dilutiori anticarum subapicali, subtÙs brunneis fasciis nigricantibus. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 3 lin.) Syn. Papilio (Nymph.) AlphÆa, Drury, App. vol. 3. Habitat: "Sierra Leone, Mr. Smeathman, 1776" (Drury's MSS.). Upper Side. AntennÆ, head, thorax, and abdomen dark brown. Wings clay-coloured, with only a light spot on the anterior ones near the tips, and a number of small faint waved lines crossing the wings from the anterior to the posterior and abdominal edges. Under Side. Palpi long, grey brown. Breast and abdomen the same. Wings rather darker than on the upper side, being of a reddish brown. The two spots on the anterior wings are more conspicuous on this side than the other; and the waved lines here become bars in the posterior wings of a darker colour than the general ground, having two conspicuous ones, the lowest being the broadest. Margins of the wings slightly dentated. NYMPHALIS DORICLÆA.Plate XXXVI. fig. 5, 6. Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Diurna. Family: NymphalidÆ, Swains. Genus. Nymphalis, Latr. Papilio (Nymph. Gemmat.), Drury. Nymphalis DoriclÆa. Alis lutescenti-fuscis suprÀ strigis duabus punctorum nigrorum, posticis subtus puncto baseos atro. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 3 lin.) Syn. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) DoriclÆa, Drury, App. vol. 3. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 248. No. 772. Enc. MÉth. ix. p. 386. 124. Habitat: Sierra Leone. Upper Side. AntennÆ brown. Thorax and abdomen dark brown. Wings dark clay-coloured. The anterior ones having three black marks placed at the middle of the anterior edges, being about a quarter of an inch long, and a few very faint dark marks at the external edges. Posterior wings with only two rows of small faint dark crescents placed along the external edges. Under Side. Palpi, legs, breast, abdomen, and anterior wings light clay-coloured; the latter having two black streaks placed close to the anterior edges, near the middle, and a shade of dark brown along the external edges. Posterior wings along the upper part light clay; but towards the abdominal corners are darker. A dark-coloured narrow band rises at the middle of the anterior edges, which runs circularly towards the abdominal groove, but is lost in the general colour of the wing before it reaches that part. About the middle of this inner compartment is a small round black spot, being the only one either on the upper or under side. Margins of the wings entire, the posterior being slightly angulated. |