The insects of this genus are generally below the middle size, and of a brownish-red colour, variously striped and spotted with black. With the exception of a small division, which ought probably to be referred to another genus, they are natives of the old world, principally of the western coasts of Africa. The palpi are slender and nearly cylindrical, the terminal joint minute, forming a kind of nipple on the apex of the second which is very long; antennÆ rather short and terminating somewhat suddenly in a club; anterior tarsus spatulate, scarcely toothed at the extremity; internal edge of the inferior wings not embracing the abdomen. The caterpillars are either spiny, like those of Argynnis, or covered with rigid hairs, but we are yet acquainted with very few of them. The chrysalis is suspended by the tail.

ACRÆA PASIPHÆ.
PLATE XII. Fig. 4.

Godart.—Helic. PasiphÆ, Fabr.—Pap. Media, Cramer, Pl. 81, fig. C, D.

Surface of the wings white, with a slight tinge of blue, a large space at the base, and the nervures brown; the whole of the middle portion clouded with black spots of various dimensions, and the extremity bordered with a rather wide black band, sinuated on the inner side. The under side is paler and has the marginal band interrupted by a row of small greyish-blue quadrangular spots preceded by a reddish macular line. Body black above, variegated with white marks on the back, and yellowish beneath.

Found in Guinea, and other countries on the west coast of Africa.