Africa, Southern -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Africa, Southern
31. (1) ACRÆA ATERGATIS, Westw. (Plate F, figs. 1, 2.)
Alis supra rufo-aurantiis, nigro-maculatis, anticis apice nigro et
sub apicem nigro-lineatis margine apicali omnium nigro. Expansio alar.
antic. unc. 2¹⁄₁₂.
Habitat prope “Victoria Falls;” mense Januario capta.
The upper side of the wings is of a rich orange-red colour, the base
of all the wings slightly powdered with black atoms; a black spot
is placed in the middle of the cell of the fore wings, followed by
a smaller transverse one at the extremity of the cell; at a little
distance beyond the cell is a short black, rather oblique fascia,
formed of five more or less confluent spots, the innermost being
incurved and placed between the 2d and 3d branches of the median
vein; this last spot is succeeded by two other spots, the three being
parallel with the apical margin of the wing; there is also a minute
round dot towards the base of the wing behind the basal part of the
median vein, and two small dots near the inner angle; the veins are
black in the apical part of the wing, with the interstices between
the veins marked with thin black lines, the margin itself as well as
the apex of the wing being also black; the hind wings are marked with
twelve round black spots; the six outer ones arranged in a very waved
line; the margin is also black. On the under side the fore wings are
of a more rosy tint, except towards the apex, where they are more
orange; the spots of the upper side are here reproduced: the hind wings
on this side are more variegated; the black spots are more numerous,
being about 18 in number, several close to the base of the wing being
visible, which are not seen on the upper side; the spots are placed on
pale greyish buff spaces, which gives them an ocellated appearance;
and the outer margin of the wing is pale greyish buff with a very thin
black marginal line, preceded by very thin black lunules, the veins
rather thickened and black along the margin, the spaces between the
veins being rosy red in the part of the wing between the terminal row
of spots and the lunules. Antennæ black; palpi fulvous, with the last
joint black; body black, spotted with white and rose-colour; legs
fulvous, tarsi black; abdomen, above black with thin yellowish edges to
the segments, each of which has two fulvous spots, beneath fulvous with
two rows of black specks.
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