GENUS. NYMPHALIS, _Latr. God._ Papilio (Nymph. Phal.), _Linn. Drury_.
NYMPHALIS MELICERTA. Alis denticulatis utrinque fusco-nigris, fasciâ latâ
strigisque albis, anticarum basi maculâ cuneiformi albâ. (Expans. Alar. 2
unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Papilio (Nymph. Phal.) Melicerta, _Drury_, _App. vol._ 2. _Herbst.
Pap. tab._ 238. _f._ 5. 6.
Nymphalis Melinoe, _Enc. Méth._ ix. _p._ 432. _No._ 261.
Papilio Blandina, _Cramer_, _pl._ 237. _fig._ E. F.
HABITAT: Sierra Leone.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ black. Thorax and abdomen dark brown. Anterior
wings sooty brown, with two white narrow lines running along the external
edges. From the shoulders runs a long white streak to the middle of the
wing, and a small one at the end of it; where are also six other white
streaks placed transversely, one of which is very small. Posterior wings
sooty brown, having the two narrow lines continued along the external
edges from the anterior wings. A broad straight white bar crosses these
{37}wings, being a little indented on the lower side; beginning at the
anterior edges near the upper corners, and meeting at the body on the
abdominal edges.
_Under Side._ Palpi, breast, sides, and legs ash-coloured; all the white
parts appearing broader and larger on this side than on the upper; the
lines along the external edges are broader, and the dark parts of the
wings have a few whitish marks on them that are not seen on the other
side. The wings are a little dentated.
The Melicerta of Fabricius and the Encyclopédie Méthodique appears to be a
distinct species, having the base of the anterior wings spotted with white.
I have restored Drury's name to the present insect, as it has the priority.